V8 Race Bill a blank cheque for enivonmental and economic destruction

Monday, 01 December 2008 21:59

TEC Urban Campaigner Mr Leigh Martin said “If passed by Parliament, the  Homebush Motor Racing Bill will allow V8 Supercars Australia to damage the environment and break environmental laws without fear of prosecution and devastate the income of local businesses without paying compensation”.

The Bill exempts race organisers from prosecution under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act, overrides noise pollution laws and Sydney Olympic Park Authority Act and prevents local business from claiming compensation for any financial losses.

“The NSW Government and V8 Supercars Australia have claimed that the race will provide an economic boon for local businesses and will not damage the environment of Sydney Olympic Park or the Green and Golden Bell Frogs. If so, why does the Bill need to protect race organisers from the consequences of causing environmental and economic damage,” Mr Martin said.

The Bill also fails to designate when the race would occur each year, the precise areas of Olympic Park that would need to be cordoned off or even the actual route of the circuit. Nor has any detailed assessment been made public on the environmental or economic impacts of the proposed race.

“Members of the NSW Parliament are being asked to support V8 Racing at Olympic Park without any proper assessment of the impact of the race or even any guarantee of the date and route of the proposed event. The Bill should be rejected as an outrageous and open ended licence to disrupt communities and wreak environmental havoc,” Mr Martin said.