Picture: JAMES MURPHY
THE Mount Gambier Junior Motorcycle Club is in desperate need of a new home and is pleading with private landholders to come forward with solutions.
This follows the popular tight-knit family club being evicted from its 40-year home at McNamara Park amid a decision by the organisation that controls the premier racing venue.
While the junior sporting club has been hunting for a new site for two years, it has now been left with nowhere to go.
Grant District Council has pledged to help scour possible sites for its new home and will hold talks with the State Government over possible scenarios.
Council has already helped to relocate dirt from the site so it can be stockpiled awaiting the club’s new home.
Club president Damien Holman said the organisation was in a “hurry” to find a solution and called on landholders to consider gifting, leasing or selling a parcel of land to the club.
“The longer we wait, the harder it will be for the club to keep going,” Mr Holman warned.
While the club was holding events sporadically at properties, he said the club needed to find a location to build a track and associated infrastructure.
“We have been looking for two years, but the problem is we need to find somewhere that can gain approval from the Environment Protection Authority given racing is noisy,” Mr Holman told The Border Watch.
He said the new location also needed to be away from housing development.
“Not every landowner wants to live near motorcycles roaring around,” the club leader said.
“We are really hoping a landholder will come forward and help.”
But he said the club was looking for a long-term site so any lease arrangement would need to be for around 20 to 25 years.
While a location near McNamara Park would be ideal, he said the club would welcome all ideas and was searching for a piece of land spanning 15 to 20 acres.
“We want a location where we can set up and grow the club – we want to build it up very quickly,” Mr Holman said.
Explaining the club was disappointed the Mount Gambier Motorcycle Club had evicted the junior motorcyclists from McNamara Park, he said the “dice had now been rolled” and the club must move forward.
“It will be a new era for the club – we will be able to make new memories and history,” Mr Holman said.
Grant District Mayor Richard Sage foreshadowed he planned to meet with relevant State Government ministers on the issue.
“We have been advocating on behalf of the junior motorcycle club. We would have liked to see the two clubs come back together, but that was not going to be possible where one arm was commercial and the other was there for fun,” Mr Sage said.
“Now both clubs have decided to move on, we plan to meet with ministers to help find some land for the club.”
He said the government could have crown land available, including areas of national parks, which could be ideal for the track.
“Council does not have any land at the moment which is suitable,” the mayor said.
While calling on landholders in the McNamara Park area to consider helping the club, he conceded tight regulations could limit opportunities.
“I would hate to see the club move away from the Mount Gambier district because the club brings economic activity to the area,” Mr Sage said.
“We need to look at all options.”
The club – which has been a breeding ground for pint-size motorcycle enthusiasts – has more than 60 members attending each week.
People with ideas and possible solutions can contact the club through its Facebook page.
