The Tweed is one step closer to having a dedicated motocross facility after Council offered in-principle support for the track to be built at the old Murwillumbah landfill site.
The proponents of the idea, the Tweed Valley Junior Motorcycle Club, have now been given the go-ahead to submit a development application for the site.
They are set to start negotiations with Council staff to prepare a long-term agreement setting out land use and financial arrangements.
The development appli-cation process will include testing of the 1.3 metre clay and soil cap laid over the entire site to ensure it will cope with the track’s construction and use, as well as extensive community consultation.
All costs associated with the application will be borne by the junior club.
The landfill site on Lundberg Drive was closed in November 2009 and the capping plan was completed by July 2010.
Councillor Kevin Skinner has been working closely with the club to find a suitable site for a track and said he was encouraged by the decision.
“I am pleased to see it make it past the first step and my hope is that it now progresses as soon as possible without any unnecessary financial burdens on what is a family club,” Cr Skinner said.
”We have looked at a number of sites over the past few years and hopefully this one will prove to be suitable.”
The club’s President, Grant Casey, said there is a pressing need for a track in the region, where young people can ride in a controlled environment.
“We have around 300 members at the moment but we are sure that, with a permanent facility, our membership would quickly increase to around 700,” Mr Casey said.
”We are happy with the decision as it is another step forward but we are aware there is a long way to go yet. Hopefully we can just keep proceeding at a steady pace.
“Our aim is to create a family oriented facility that makes it easy for our members to come along and ride in a safe and regulated area, which in turn will hopefully stop people from riding in and damaging our local protected areas.”
