Events at Wakefield Park will be severely limited after the implementation of strict noise limit regulations following court proceedings.
Owner of the facility, the Benalla Auto Club took the Goulburn Mulwaree Council to the New South Wales Land and Environment Court in March in regards to not only the noise limits, but the planned upgrades of the facility.
The future developments have been approved; however, the noise restrictions limit the facility to hosting 30 race meetings a year, which circuit management stated is unviable to operate under.
Built and opened in 1994, Wakefield Park is a mecca for grassroots racing having never featured on the Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars bill, it has hosted the second tier Development Series (now Dunlop Super2) and was a staple of the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships up until 2018.
It currently hosts the Australian Superbike Championship, the New South Wales Motor Racing Championships and a host of historic events throughout the year.
Complaints in January 2019 regarding ‘offensive noise’ led council to issue a temporary ‘Prevention Notice’ followed by another a year later before a further one in July 2021, which was revoked and the previous one reinstated from January 2021.
These were only to be temporary as a permanent set of regulations was to be released alongside the upgrade application.
Race meetings come under a ‘Red Category’ classification meaning by council regulations there is required to be an 11 day respite between events leaving just 30 days free for events during the year at this classification.
‘Amber Category’ is the next classification below and allows eight days of respite post-event, none could take place due to the respite between ‘Red Category’ days.
A statement released by the Benalla Auto Club stated: “It remains committed to exploring all options with every level of government to preserve the facility.”