TAMWORTH could soon become a regional motorsport mecca with plans for a major upgrade of Oakburn Park promising a huge economic potential for the city.
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Council will consider a $2 million development application proposing a suite of new racing facilities at the Gunnedah Rd site, which local motorsport organisers say could equal the profits brought in by the city’s equine hub.
The proposal includes a new circuit racing track, a drag strip, as well as updated facilities and amenities.
Warwick Steed, chair of the Tamworth Motorsport Association, said there’s already groups eyeing off Tamworth as a location.
“It is definitely a ‘build it and they will come’ thing,” Mr Steed said.
“For a few years now we’ve had enquiries from a number of groups and they are now just waiting for this to happen.”
Using Morgan Park in Warwick, Queensland, as a model, Mr Steed said a similar circuit in Tamworth had potential to bring in up to $4 million per year to the local economy.
“At the moment, Oakburn brings in $1 million to $1.5 million,” he said.
Mr Steed said a circuit race track was the missing piece of the Oakburn puzzle.
President of the Tamworth Motorcycle Club, Paul Slade, urged council to back Oakburn Park and said the potential was huge.
“There’s enormous opportunity which could be equal to, if not more than, the equine centre,” Mr Slade said.
“It’s just about getting council recognise it.
“It could host drag racing, karting, car and motorbike road races, motocross. There’s up to 10 different facets.
“There could be a different race meet every week.”
Mr Slade said Tamworth already had a big “out-of-town” presence in its clubs.
“Our club has about 130 members and I’d say at least 80 to 90 of them are out-of-towners,” he said.
“We have members from Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and out west.”
Mr Slade said his club was happy at Oakburn, he said it was important to have quality facilities.
“You’ve got to have good spectator facilities because we need to get people out of their loungerooms,” he said.
Tamworth Regional Councillor Russell Webb said it was important for the whole city to see the motorsport facility grow and increase its capacity to host premier events.
“I’ve watched what's happened at Oakburn Park,” Cr Webb said.
“They now have a number of events which are prominent on the motorsports calendar.
“Council needs to stand behind groups like this because they good for the community, so it’s important they prosper.”
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
