THE New South Wales government will contribute a further $10 million towards the development of a permanent circuit in Bathurst. 

The Deputy Premier John Barilaro, NSW treasurer, Bathurst Mayor Graeme Hanger and local member, Paul Toole, made the announcement in a special media call this morning in the Mount Panorama circuit pit lane.

“Today, along with the Treasurer and Paul Toole, we are announcing that in the upcoming budget, the focus will be on regional New South Wales and the first announcement to underpin that is an additional $10 million dollar investment by the NSW government to support the Velocity Park project and a second track at Mount Panorama, making sure that we set this region up for the future,” said Barilaro.

“That’s on top of our previous announcement of $5 million dollars, along with Council and the federal government we’re going to make sure this project sees the light of day.”

The Bathurst regional council confirmed in April that the design for the second circuit would go to tender, reportedly receiving significant interest from both domestic and international companies.

The 4.5km circuit will be located behind the iconic Mount Panorama itself, on a parcel of land recently acquired by Council.

Today’s announcement further enhances the development of the circuit, one of several new permanent tracks either under construction or in advanced stages of planning around Australia.

South Australia’s The Bend Motorsport Park is due to commence full operations in early 2018.

THE RACE TORQUE COMMENT:

HERE’S proof that governments are investing in more than just street circuits – despite what some would have you believe.

The $10m investment into the Velocity Park project by the NSW Government is proof that if the business and tourism opportunities are right then funding can come for permanent circuits as well as street venues used only once a year.

The fact that New South Wales is investing in Bathurst as well as Newcastle’s Supercars season finale’ is proof of that.

They want people to go to Newcastle when a majority of tourists to the state only go to Sydney.

They want people to visit and invest in the Central West when a majority probably don’t know what is over the Blue Mountains.

It’s also the reason why the South Australian government invested in The Bend circuit while still underpinning the Adelaide 500.

The ‘500 draws people to the city, the CBD and surrounds.

The Bend will be a major regional attraction and will bring people to the South Eastern regions, Murraylands, Coorong and Hills.

The Northern Territory government continues to upgrade and expand Hidden Valley, while local government in Ipswich continues to advocate for investment in the Queensland raceway precinct so people actually have a reason to go to.. well.. Ipswich.

The reason governments fund street circuit events is because they can be held in regions where major tourism can take place – and where the state can profit from the side-effects of added business, full hotel rooms and the media exposure on TV and online.

They’re unlikely to fund a permanent circuit in the middle of a region where they aren’t interested in promoting.

Haters are always going to hate – but perhaps those who complain about governments spending money on once-a-year street events should put some more thought into it.

Yes – lots of permanent facilities get denied state or federal funding.

But perhaps, like Velocity Park, like The Bend and like Hidden Valley, they should be trying to build tracks where governments actually want to spend money.

The street events are the lure that draws people in. The permanent tracks are then the hook that keeps them there. Adelaide is proof of that, or the Shahin family wouldn’t be spending $100m of their own money on The Bend.

But would The Bend even be happening if there wasn’t proof in the Adelaide 500 that there’s demand for more Motorsport in SA?

I’d suggest that if the ‘500 wasn’t a thing it would be unlikely you’d risk big dollars on a brand new circuit – or buying old ones like Mallala – because it would be hard to back up a business case without the raw numbers that suggests a market for the venue exists.

In the Adelaide 500 there’s proof that Adelaidians can and will support a project like The Bend.

And in Mount Panorama – which at it’s very core is an advanced version of a street circuit – there’s evidence enough of the same in Bathurst town.

Well done to New South Wales on backing this project – lets hope it’s a good one.