By Jessica Micallef
A Sunbury resident wants the Calder Park Raceway to be returned to it’s “former glory”
Sarah Allen has started a petition to save the raceway from “sitting abandoned” and “slowly wasting away.”
“Every time I drive pass the raceway, I feel sad because of how much it has deteriorated,” she said.
“I want it to be restored to it’s former glory because the site has a lot of history. When I was a kid, my dad took me there to see races and it’s sad to see where it is now.”
The track has been mostly unused in recent years following a family dispute between former owner Bob Jane and his son Rodney Jane in the early 2010s.
In December, tumble weed from the site invaded nearby properties, while a fire in January damaged fences of nearby houses.
Ms Allen said the raceway had the potential to hold events that attracted a big audience.
“New South Wales has Bathurst, why not have something of similar significance here in Victoria to help boost revenue?” she said.
“We would undoubtedly attract a lot of tourists and help stimulate our economy.
“And if the drag strip was open to the public, less people would die on the roads from reckless behaviour.”
More than 1000 people have signed Ms Allen’s petition.
Brimbank councillors raised concerns about the track and the overall site at a council meeting last month, following concerns from residents.
Mayor Ranka Rasic said residents are concerned about the condition of the site and what appears to be a lack of maintenance.
“This includes not only the race track component but also the open paddocks,” she said.
“Residents are concerned about the apparent deterioration of the racetrack, buildings and the safety of the race track site.
The council will write to Calder Park Raceways Pty Ltd as owners of the Calder Park site outlining concerns about the general condition of the raceway grounds and surrounding land and requesting site and fire management plan.
They are also seeking a meeting with owners to discuss the site , the recent serrated tussock seed (tumbleweed) event and recent grassfires.
They will also write to the Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, the Environment Protection Authority, Agriculture Minister Mary Anne Thomas and Fire Rescue Victoria in regards to the site.
To view the petition: bit.ly/3l4BEEC
