The Palmyra Drag Racing Club has announced it has received $160,000 of funding from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Infrastructure Stream.
This funding commitment follows on from the club receiving $120,000 as part of the Palaszczuk Government re-election promise late in 2017, which played a significant part in the track being able to access this new level of funding which was announced recently by Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, and the Federal Member for Dawson, George Christensen.
The Palmyra Drag Racing Club says the new funding will allow the track to lay a new hot mix surface down from just past the 60 foot mark (after the concrete) to 40 metres past the quarter-mile finish line.
Upgrades to safety barriers will also be undertaken which will also help with flood water mitigation in the long term.
“Our current track surface is approximately 28 years old, so it is very exciting that we are able to confirm this resurfacing activity thanks to this new funding along with the club’s own substantial cash contribution,” Palmyra Drag Racing Club President, Glenn Cunningham, said.
“This new surface will allow us to bring some bigger events back to regional Queensland, and we are very excited about what the future holds.
“Special thanks has to go to the Mackay Regional Council which helped us with engineering feasibility reports as well as helping us with a report to explain the economical benefits which would be possible for the region if the funding went ahead.
“ANDRA also was a great help when it came to reports on the safety barriers and track surfaces along with their support to help us get some big events back to Palmyra.
“Our thanks go to these people and also to all our members old and new for their support while we undertake these repairs – it will mean a few months of no racing, but we need to get it done before the wet season as the surface has to sit for about a month after it is laid before we can use it. We hope to be back out racing in October or November.
“Before we close up for repairs, we will be holding the Sunstates Pro Tree Shootout on the 17th and 18th of August – one day before we start the work – so this will be our last race on our old surface and a great way to close this chapter and get ready to open the next!
“With 2018 being the 50th anniversary of the Palmyra Dragway facility, I am jus so excited about what the future holds for this track for all those involved.”
For more information on the Sunstates Pro Tree Shootout and on Palmyra Dragway, please visit www.palmyradragway.com.au
