Grand visions of a recreational precinct

Included in the comprehensive AECOM 200-page feasibility study released by the Homebush Motor Racing Authority (HMRA) this week is a wish list of off-track additions as well.

Part of AECOM’s grand plan to generate revenue from the world famous motor sport precinct are a sky tower and restaurant at the top of the Mount and a tourist centre fit-out in pit lane.

However, developments like this don’t come cheap with estimates for the sky tower and restaurant coming in at $1.87 million.

The estimated cost of the tourist centre fit out is $460,000.

According to AECOM’s Mount Panorama Second circuit Feasibility Study an estimate of the cost of developing the second track was undertaken for both the national, international and combined layouts by Arenco.

“Costs were estimated for the complementary infrastructure activities based on current values,” the report states.

The additional developments are addressed under the heading of “complimentary activities” in the document released by the HMRA.

According to the study there is potential for Mount Panorama to become a multi-purpose recreational precinct focused upon the existing motor racing use.

“The precinct usage could be diversified through the development of complimentary infrastructure and and providing the facilities and marketing to undertake additional activities such as bicycle races and driver training courses,” the report states.

Second track advocate Lachlan Sullivan says it’s all pie in the sky stuff.

“Forget all the extras,” he said yesterday. Let’s just build the basic track so the motorcyclists can go racing. In a perfect world where cash is not an issue this sky tower and restaurant and tourist centre would be great.

“As I’ve stated before, we don’t need all the extras – just the track to start with and then you can continue with the rest of the development in stages when the funds come online.”