NATIONALS candidate for Bathurst Paul Toole says he will push for the Phillip Island Moto GP to be brought to Bathurst “when the opportunity arises”.
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Mr Toole made the comment after NSW Premier Mike Baird announced a bid to poach the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix from Melbourne to Sydney on Friday.
Mr Baird has appointed former News Limited boss John Hartigan and Rod McGeogh, who led Sydney’s Olympic bid, to investigate making a bid for the race.
The panel will report back to Mr Baird by year’s end, if his government is returned to office.
Asked whether the cost of the bid – reported to be $180 million – would be better spent building a second circuit at Mount Panorama and pushing for the Moto GP to be relocated here, Mr Toole said “any major event that we attract from other states is a good outcome”.
“We are moving through the process of getting a second track at Mount Panorama and we will be chasing events for that as well,” he said.
“A second circuit at Mount Panorama has the potential to be used year round and could attract events such as the Moto GP.
“When the opportunity arises, I will be pushing for the Moto GP to be brought to Bathurst. I don’t think attracting any event is out of the question.”
The State Government has committed $5 million towards the construction of second circuit at Mount Panorama.
Mr Toole said the cost of a second circuit at the Mount was not known.
“We are still going through final costings,” he said.
