The long process started by the Swan Hill Drag Racing Club to build a quarter mile drag strip in the North West Victorian city now looks a certainty with today’s announcement that the State Government will inject $2 million into the project.
Deputy Premier Peter Ryan was in Swan Hill this morning to announce the government’s $2 million contribution to build a drag strip at Swan Hill’s Chisholm Reserve, the final piece in the SHDRC’s funding puzzle.
Combined with $450,000 from Council and almost $220,000 in-kind from the Swan Hill Drag Racing Club, the development will include a nationally-accredited quarter mile drag strip, braking areas, a return road, staging area, pit area, drainage, and concrete safety barriers.
Swan Hill Drag Racing president Gary Rovere said he received written assurances last year that a national event would be staged at the track.
“It’s going to be included on the national calendar the instant a completion date is on the track,” he said.
You can check out and support SHDRC’s efforts and stay up to date with the tracks progress by visiting their website at http://www.swanhilldrc.com.au/
Update: The following press release has been issued from the Victorian Government:
Regional Growth Fund gives Swan Hill drag racing track the green light
Construction of a ¼ mile drag racing track at the Chisholm Reserve Motor Sports Complex near Swan Hill is set to begin, with the Victorian Coalition Government giving the much-anticipated project the green light.
Deputy Premier and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan joined Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh in Swan Hill today to announce the Coalition Government would invest $2 million to redevelop the Chisholm Reserve Motor Sports Complex.
Mr Ryan said the Coalition Government’s investment in the $2.45 million Chisholm Reserve Motor Sports Complex Redevelopment Project would be provided through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund.
Mr Ryan said construction would begin over the coming months and be completed by August 2015.
The project will involve construction of a nationally accredited ¼ mile drag racing track, as well as the development of braking areas, a return road, staging area, pit area, drainage, and concrete safety barriers.
“The Chisholm Reserve Motor Sports Complex will host up to five drag racing meetings per year at the new facility, including one national event, as a direct result of this investment,” Mr Ryan said.
“The development of a ¼ mile drag racing track at Swan Hill fills a gap in the national drag racing circuit and will enable the Swan Hill Drag Racing Club to attract top-flight drag racing events to Swan Hill.
“The new track is expected to attract an additional 16,000 people per year to the region, injecting more than $2 million into the local economy.”
Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh welcomed the investment, which was an important 2010 election commitment.
“Today is a great day for Swan Hill and the local motorsports community,” Mr Walsh said.
“Swan Hill has waited a long time for this drag racing track and following all necessary preliminary works I am pleased to say the funding is now available and construction can begin.
“Chisholm Reserve is currently home to a speedway, motor cross track, go kart racing and short track dirt races, and the development of a drag racing track will mean this facility becomes one of the premiere motorsport precincts in northern Victoria.”
Mr Walsh paid credit to the Swan Hill Drag Racing Club for its commitment towards this project, and thanked the club for its almost $220,000 worth of in-kind investment in construction and operations of the new track.
Mr Walsh also thanked the Swan Hill Rural City Council, which contributed $450,000 to the total project cost.
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