Winchelsea wants its kart track back

THE Winchelsea Fun Kart Club could resume operation in coming months with the Surf Coast Shire considering a petition to reopen or relocate their track at a meeting today (Thursday).

The council will consider a report based on the petition, in which more than 800 signatories request the continuation of operations at the track located at Winchelsea Common, or at another suitable site.

Go-karting events ceased at the Common in early 2013 after a council investigation found the land on which it is located was contaminated with lead, antimony and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The council report states that the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) recommended the Common be closed while additional investigations into the contamination and public health risks were undertaken.

However, petitioner Chris Riley said no action has been taken since to investigate further, clear the land of contaminants or relocate the track since.

“The only money that has been used for the track has been spent trying to keep it closed,” he said.

         somewhere else.

“Most of the town wants it open so the kids can enjoy it, but council just wants to take it away, why  The EPA issued a clean-up notice for the site to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) in May 2015.

The council report says it will continue to work with the appropriate authorities on meeting EPA requirements this year.

The full report can be viewed online at surfcoast.vic.gov.au.