The proponents of the Western Sydney Motorplex proposal, to construct a stand-alone drag strip on land adjacent to Eastern Creek Raceway, today announced the confirmation of funding to construct the $15.6 million project, and the confirmed support of a developer keen to build a speedway on the southern end of the property, creating a development worth close to $25 million in Sydney's west.

"This project will create or sustain jobs for approximately 1000 people, boost weekend tourism in Western Sydney, pump up to $40 million through the New South Wales economy, solve many social problems for the youth of the area, and help return prosperity to two motorsports which have been suffering in recent years," said proponent and 14-time Australian drag racing champion Jim Read.

"And one of the best aspects of this for New South Wales and Sydney is that it will not cost the government a cent," said proponent, magazine publisher David Cook. "In fact, the government will receive money from the leasing of an area that is currently unused waste land."

The Western Sydney Motorplex proposal was launched in mid-1998, following the closure of championship drag racing options at Eastern Creek Raceway in October 1997. The proposal was first suggested by helpful staff at the Department of Sport & Recreation as the "only viable solution" to the needs of the sport in the future. Drag racing was, at the time, the biggest crowd drawing motorsport in Australia.

The proposal has since received wide support from many government ministers and departments, local government and semi-government bodies and business organisations. It has the full backing of the sport's sanctioning bodies and racers.

A publicly-funded independent study, completed in April, determined that it was impractical to build a stand-alone drag strip within Eastern Creek Raceway.

"We will be creating a multi-purpose venue that will benefit everyone," said Read. "There would be no impact on the existing Eastern Creek Raceway activities, as we have offered to grant the Eastern Creek operators exclusive rights to the limited form of drag racing they have been running in the past, until such time as they may choose to cease running it, and agreed to not run opposite them."

"This is a win-win situation for everyone, from the government and right throughout the community," concluded Cook.

For further information contact:

Jim Read 02-9637-4539 or 0418-268-243
David Cook 02-9894-7499 or 0408-417-784