ONE year on since it was given the green light, plans to develop a multimillion-dollar motorsport complex just outside Wagga are forging ahead.
The Wokolena Road development has divided motorsport enthusiasts and farmers for years, but councillors voted five-four in favour of the project in November last year.
Mick Neason and Phil Andrea (operating under A N Aviation Wagga), who own the Wokolena Road 85-hectare block off the Sturt Highway, submitted the proposal to council four years ago.
Planner Garry Salvestro said plans were still in full swing to continue with the project.
“There’s certainly been a lot of behind the scenes (work) going on,” Mr Salvestro said. “Although no dirt has been turned, the guys behind it are in a lot of talks with a lot of the other people who may want to get involved.”
Proponents are currently working through all of the 74 conditions.
“Everybody’s offering assistance to make it happen,” Mr Salvestro said. “At the moment, we’re going through specific development conditions.”
The project was mired in opposition from nearby farmers, who raised concerns relating to the condition of Wokolena Road, noise, fire risk and pollution.
The group also claimed the development went against the primary production rural zoning of the region.
While the site currently has a stock and domestic bore, developers would be required to sink a commercial one, which farmers fear could contaminate their own water supply.
Though no timeline is in place for the first stage of development, costing between $3.5 and $4 million, an update is expected in the coming weeks.
