DirtCar Australia’s Bunbury Speedway proposal quashed after car club steers clear of council’s invitation

A bold push by some of Bunbury’s top business minds to transform the Bunbury Speedway has been all but quashed, with the current leaseholders confirming they will steer clear of any discussions about a redevelopment. The South Western Times last week revealed DirtCar Australia’s proposal to inject $3 million into the precinct to turn it into a state-of-the-art motorsport and entertainment venue in a bid to recapture headline race meets and expand it to support concerts and other events. The Bunbury City Council voted in favour of “extending an olive branch” and inviting DCA and the current leaseholders — the Bunbury Car Club — to meet. But a last-minute amendment moved by Deputy Mayor Tresslyn Smith meant the matter could not come back to the council, should either party back down from discussions. The Bunbury Car Club confirmed to the Times on Wednesday it would “not be entering into any discussions”, effectively ending any chance of the two parties reaching an agreement. In a statement, club president Kade Helms said it was “pleased to see the City has ended its involvement with a proponent’s application” and that members can now “feel secure and concentrate on running the exciting events the public wish to see”. The amendment has been slammed by DCA director Paul Stubber, who described it as a “cop-out”. “It is just a cop-out for the council. They can hold their head up high and say ‘we approved it’,” he said. “The resolution and the recommendation is absolutely senseless. “The Bunbury Car Club has stuck its head in the sand for two years and not engaged in any dialogue, and council just gave them the right to continue to do that.” Only councillors Karen Steele, Betty McCleary and Amanda Yip opposed the move. Bunbury City Mayor Jaysen Miguel said he had been hoping the groups would come together to discuss the proposal and that he would “love to see what could happen out there” but that the amendment reinforced that council “is not there to force anyone into a discussion”. “It is just clarifying that the City are saying ‘we are asking you to get in touch, we want you to have a conversation, but at any stage if you’re not ready then the City won’t be forcing anything further at the point and that will be the end of the discussion,” he said. The plan would have seen adjustments made to the track, an overhaul of catering and corporate facilities and an elevator installed in the main grandstand among other additions. DCA — the same group behind the Bunbury Geographe Motor Museum — said their research indicated the facility would produce a total output of almost $58m more than it does currently, and bring 199 additional jobs to the region. The Speedway is set to host what could be its final ever Krikke Boys Shootout on Saturday night.