$77 million NSW BlackRock Motor Park pre-approved

A document seen by MOTOR reveals details of a new motorsport development in Wakefield, NSW, which has been given conditional approval by its local council for development – once it proves it can comply with noise regulations.

Not to be confused with Wakefield Park, located in Goulburn about 120km south-west of Woolongong, BlackRock Motor Park is planned for the suburb of Wakefield, south-west of Newcastle and some 300km away from Goulburn.

The 5.58km track will be a $77.55 million Ascari-style trackday venue, rather than a competition racetrack, with the council documents outlining the proposal within the approved submission.

“The development proposal is for a Recreation Facility primarily comprising a private motor track circuit with ancillary accommodation and facilities providing for activities based around a motoring experience.

“The uses proposed for the facility “BlackRock Motor Park”, include driver training, motor park/resort short stay accommodation, corporate functions and other motor vehicle related activities, including go-cart racing and a four wheel drive track (utilising an area of existing dirt trails for drivers to experience off road conditions).

“The motor park is to be utilised as a unique recreation and resort facility based around a motoring experience, where “members” have a safe and dedicated place to participate in driving activities (their own or Motor Park cars), with an emphasis on a high quality facility that also caters for families and bespoke corporate events.”

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The planned features of BlackRock include a wet skidpan, an electric karting track, a visitor centre in a with vehicle display areas and function rooms, and a 20-room resort lodge, and a short stay accommodation cluster of villas with 16 two-storey units.

Wakefield regional planning panel chair Jason Perica told The Newcastle Herald the main issue that needs to be resolved before the project can go ahead is its compliance with noise regulations.

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"While the noise management plan includes a number of protection measures, the panel is of the view that the plan could be strengthened to be the most appropriate plan for this type of land use, in this site and in this rural setting to minimise impacts on surrounding properties."

The proposal document states the construction would take ‘two years’, meaning the venue could be open for business in 2022… or even 2021. Stay tuned for more as it develops.