Motor Racing Legislation Amendment (Newcastle 500) Bill 2017 

First Reading 

Bill introduced on motion by Mr Adam Marshall, read a first time and printed. 

Second Reading 

Mr ADAM MARSHALL (Northern Tablelands—Minister for Tourism and Major Events, and Assistant Minister for Skills) (17:19): I move: 

That this bill be now read a second time. 

I am delighted to introduce the Motor Racing Legislation Amendment (Newcastle 500) Bill 2017. The object of the bill is to facilitate yet another major event secured for Regional NSW by the New South Wales Government: this time the first-ever Supercars race to be held in Newcastle, the Coates Hire Newcastle 500. The Virgin Australia Supercars Championship has a proud place in Australian sporting history. It is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and is a Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile sanctioned international motor racing series for Supercars. 

This year marks the eighteenth running of the Supercars championship and the twentieth series in which Supercars have contested the premier Australian touring car title. The championship visits New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, Northern Territory and New Zealand over 14 rounds. It has a huge following right across Australia, with hundreds of thousands of spectators attending Supercars events and a television audience that exceeds two million people. New South Wales has a rich Supercars history, and is home to the undoubted highlight of the Australian motor racing calendar, the Bathurst 1000. 

The bill provides Newcastle with the opportunity to be part of this proud history by hosting the grand finale of the championship season. The Hunter has a large population of Supercars fans, and the Newcastle 500 will be the first time it has had an event to call its own. The Newcastle 500 is a picturesque course that will showcase some of Newcastle’s best-known landmarks, including Fort Scratchley, Central Promenade, Foreshore Park, Nobby’s Beach Reserve, Pacific Park and Queens Wharf. The proposed track will take in the spectacular sites of the Newcastle coastline, sending incredible images around Australia and across the world. 

The inaugural event will take place on 24 to 26 November 2017 and will be conducted every year thereafter, until 2021. There is no doubt that the event will provide a significant boost to the State’s economy and to the region’s economy. It not just a race but a major event that will include live music, car displays and family entertainment zones. The event is set to showcase Newcastle to a huge national and international television audience, attracting more than 81,000 domestic and international visitors, and to inject more than $57 million into the Hunter region and its economy in direct visitor expenditure over the next five years. The flow-on economic benefits to the broader region will undoubtedly be even greater than that. 

With Newcastle playing host to a wide array of world-class sports events this year, the 2017 events calendar for Newcastle promises to be the city’s biggest and best year yet, and cements the city’s status as a premier major events location in the Hunter region and in regional New South Wales. The benefits to the region, by attracting tourists and stimulating local business and job creation, are immense. Newcastle is an ideal location as it has the natural beauty, infrastructure and road network necessary to support what will be an exciting and dynamic road race. 

This bill will ensure that the infrastructure for the race can be ready in time for November and provide legacy benefits to the Newcastle community through significant improvements to roads and service infrastructure. Without the measures being put in place by this bill, it would be impossible to meet that time frame. The bill facilitates the race by extending the current legislation allowing the V8 Supercars race to be conducted at Sydney Olympic Park to Newcastle, and by removing the references to V8s, which will allow for a greater variety of Supercars to race in Newcastle in the years to come. All the commonsense provisions currently contained within the Homebush Motor Racing (Sydney 400) Act 2008 will apply to the race event at Newcastle. 

These include Destination NSW oversight and a streamlined authorisation and approval process for the conduct of the race, which provide certainty for both the race promoter and the community. Significant safeguards relating to consultation, public safety and environmental protection will also be maintained. For example, the Act currently allows Destination NSW to impose any conditions it considers reasonable on the race promoter, including for the protection of the environment and public safety. If the promoter breaches one of those conditions, it can be prosecuted, and in the case of the most serious or continuing breaches, have its authorisation revoked. 

Pre-race works cannot commence until Destination NSW is satisfied that the race promoter has complied with statutory requirements to consult with stakeholders affected by its works proposal, including residents and the local council. Clause 10 of the bill strengthens the current requirement by adding an obligation on the race promoter to consult with any other public or local authorities prescribed by regulation to ensure specific issues are addressed. The race promoter must also demonstrate to the satisfaction of Destination NSW that adequate steps will be taken to prevent or minimise any harm to the environment. Prior to issuing an authorisation for works, Destination NSW is required under the current Act to consult with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority. 

Clause 9 of the bill will amend this requirement to ensure consultation occurs with Newcastle City Council for motor races in Newcastle, and expands who Destination NSW needs to consult with to now include any other public or local authority prescribed by the regulations. The race promoter will be obliged to clean up and reinstate the race area after the race period. If the promoter fails to do so within a reasonable period, Destination NSW may arrange for this work to be carried out and recover any costs from the race promoter. The race promoter is also required to comply with any direction given by Destination NSW in relation to any public safety and environmental protection matter. All of these provisions demonstrate how seriously this Government takes protection of the public and the environment in the context of a motor racing event. 

I visited Newcastle on Friday morning to meet with the Newcastle City Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes, and I discussed this fantastic event with her and senior council staff. As the new Minister for Tourism and Major Events, it was terrific from my perspective to hear that the council is fully supportive of the event proceeding and it wants to make it as successful as possible for Newcastle and the Hunter region. It is important, as per the governance framework that the New South Wales Government finalised late last year, that the Government through Destination NSW plays a key role in coordinating the implementation of the Newcastle 500, and has a clear presence in the community leading up to the inaugural event in November this year. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Lord Mayor, Newcastle City Council and Destination NSW to ensure this close partnership with the Newcastle City Council. Of course, as with any major event of this scale, there will be some issues to work through. 

The Government recognises that some residents and business owners may be affected by the preparatory work as well as during the event period itself. While every reasonable effort will be made to minimise disruption, it is important to remember that the event is of a limited duration and will be held only once a year. Most of the disruption to the community will be to facilitate the civil works to prepare the circuit, which will happen this year only and will ultimately provide positive outcomes for the Newcastle East residents and businesses alike through upgrades to roads and other service infrastructure. Nonetheless, I have met with Destination NSW and have been assured that consultation to inform residents and business owners will be a priority, with Supercars Australia and Newcastle City Council committing to holding regular meetings with the community and to distribute information updates. These measures combined, with the statutory requirements put in place by the bill, should ensure that there will be minimal disruption to normal activities. 

To that end, traffic and transport management plans will be developed with input from relevant government agencies such as Transport for NSW and Roads and Maritime Services to address road closures, resident parking and other traffic-related concerns, with traffic flow to be restored as soon as practicable after each event. Pedestrian access for residents and businesses will be maintained at all times and vehicular access will be restricted only during the event operation hours, which will be approximately 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Friday to Sunday and one day either side of the event. 

Supercars Australia and its circuit designers have been working closely with the Newcastle Light Rail project team to deliver seamless integration with the design, construction and operation of another fantastic initiative for Newcastle. It is envisaged that once in operation the light rail will be a primary mode of transport delivering spectators to the event and increasing patronage of the service. Any suggestion that the public will be prevented from using Newcastle’s finest beaches and public areas is not correct and could not be further from the truth. In fact, I encourage all visitors going to Newcastle for the event to visit those brilliant beaches. Locals, of course, will not be restricted from visiting those beaches in any way at all. 

In response to community concerns regarding the impact of the race on Newcastle’s heritage precinct, Supercars Australia has engaged a heritage consultant and is working closely with the heritage division of Newcastle City Council to develop a heritage impact statement that will address the management of all State heritage items within the event precinct. While the circuit will include the removal of some trees and shrubs, I can advise the House that Supercars Australia is working with the Newcastle City Council arborist to deliver a tree planting program which will provide the community with a usable canopy more than three times greater than what is currently in place, returning shade to Newcastle’s parklands. The circuit will also provide a valuable commodity of 215 additional car parking spaces, including 18 dedicated accessible spaces to Newcastle East to assist community access to these areas all year round. 

As was the case in Sydney, all event infrastructure will be temporary and a program will be developed for the installation and removal of this infrastructure each year. All efforts will be made to minimise the disruption to residents and businesses in the area, and this will involve ongoing communication with all affected parties. All relevant government agencies and key stakeholders have been engaged in discussions regarding the event for several months through a series of established working groups. This collaborative and cooperative approach will ensure that the event will satisfy needs across government and maximise benefits to the community and the Hunter region. A comprehensive emergency management plan will be developed in consultation with key agencies to guarantee that emergency services are maintained for both the event and non-event community. 

The Government considers that the special purpose arrangements being put in place by this bill to facilitate the Newcastle 500, balance the need for commercial certainty and expeditious regulation of the event with the need to protect the attributes of Newcastle and the interests of the city’s residents. There is no doubt that the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship represents a significant economic benefit to the people of Newcastle, the Hunter and regional New South Wales. The Newcastle 500 will cap off a very exciting year for the city of Newcastle as a major events destination. This bill demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to attracting major events to New South Wales, and to regional New South Wales in particular, and to generating jobs, stimulating the economy and boosting tourism throughout rural and regional New South Wales. I commend the bill to the House. 

Debate adjourned. 

The Greens are very concerned about this proposal. I, like many members, have received correspondence from people outside my electorate who are strong advocates, stating that this proposed racing event is fundamentally incompatible with its proposed location. It is very different from the legislation the Government is seeking to amend, which applies to the Homebush circuit—also known as the Sydney Olympic Park street circuit—in the former Sydney Olympic Park precinct. The area is non-residential and the only controversial element of the proposal was the necessity to remove 140 mature trees around the track. 

We know that government—I am talking not about this Government but about the former Government, and government in general—has a poor record when it comes to that issue. The Auditor-General undertook a review of the Homebush proposal and found that there was very poor evidence that the race would be a financially viable investment for the public. The Auditor-General’s report found that the awarding of the contract to V8 Supercars Australia was flawed as there had not been an adequate cost-benefit analysis and there was little consideration of alternatives before the contract was awarded. The use of public funds is also an important matter for the House to consider. We have heard that $52 million will supposedly be injected into the Hunter region, but we know that such numbers are often rubbery and, depending on assumptions, can change dramatically. 

Mr Adam Marshall: It will be higher than that. 

Mr JAMIE PARKER: I congratulate the Minister on his appointment; I wish him all the best. It is important that we take our time and examine the bill carefully. In considering the impacts on the community, a civic works program is planned for May to September 2017. Temporary infrastructure will be installed six weeks before the event and removed three weeks after it. There is significant concern about heritage impacts because the proposed track covers the Coal River Precinct, which is listed on the State Heritage Register. The track will also cover two local heritage conservation areas. There will be noise impacts from construction, cars and attendees as well as impacts from the removal and disturbance of trees and related air pollution from the vehicles. 

There are also access issues for pedestrians and residents. Three public housing complexes for the aged will be inside the proposed track, where access will be significantly limited for several months. Also, 150 small businesses within the track footprint will have reduced access. I understand many of those businesses are concerned about the process. It is important that community consultation happens first and that residents are included in a proactive way. Perhaps the Minister can clarify this point, but I understand that the legislation, which modifies the existing Act, proposes to delete from the Act the requirement to consult with “any person having a right of occupation of land within the works area” and “any person occupying land immediately adjacent to the works area”. I understand that those requirements are to be deleted from the Act. If that is wrong, I stand corrected, but I would appreciate the Minister clarifying why those two categories of people who were required to be consulted have been excluded. 

Holding a V8 Supercars race in the narrow streets of Newcastle East is obviously a significant problem for residents, and The Greens share their concern. It is completely inappropriate that a race of this magnitude and style will be held in such an historic residential area that currently has a speed limit of 40 kilometres an hour. Residents have said that it is the wrong location for the race. The Government is fast-tracking the approval process and diminishing environmental and heritage controls by introducing this stand-alone legislation and nominating Destination NSW as the sole approval authority. The proposed track overlaps areas of State and local heritage significance. The Minister said that a heritage impact statement will be developed. It is always optimal that such statements be developed before the introduction of the legislation to ensure that there are no insurmountable obstacles. The heritage impact statement should have been completed before the legislation was introduced. 

I ask the Minister to address also the issue raised with me about the Raymond Terrace track. Residents have told me that construction has started for a $12 million motor racing circuit at Raymond Terrace, north of Newcastle, and question whether the Government has considered holding this event at that dedicated motor racing facility. It could be recommended that theV8 supercars organisation consider that site. I am interested to know whether it has considered that option and whether the Government has suggested it. Community consultation is always at the heart of every issue. The Greens believe it should have occurred in a thorough way prior to the introduction of this bill. It would have allowed consideration of the impacts on residents, heritage and the environment. The Greens do not support the bill as it stands. If the Government is committed to progressing the bill, The Greens encourage an approach that will minimise its impact on residents. The Greens support the amendments to be moved in the other place. The Greens recognise the fundamental incompatibility of this race in this area.

The Hon. CATHERINE CUSACK (11:38): On behalf of the Hon. Niall Blair: I move: 

That this bill be now read a second time. I am delighted to introduce the Motor Racing Legislation Amendment (Newcastle 500) Bill 2017. The objective of the bill is to facilitate yet another major event procured for regional New South Wales by the Government—this time, as the first ever supercars race to the be held in Newcastle; the Coates Hire Newcastle 500. The Virgin Australia Supercars Championshiphas a proud place in Australian sporting history. It is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and is a Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile sanctioned international motor racing series for supercars. 

This year marks the eighteenth running of the supercars championship and the twentieth series in which supercars have contested the premier Australian touring car title. The championship visits New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, Northern Territory, and New Zealand across 14 rounds. It has a huge following across Australia, with hundreds of thousands of spectators attending supercars events and a television audience that exceeds two million people. New South Wales has a rich supercars history and is home to the undoubted highlight of the Australian motor racing calendar—the Bathurst 1000. 

The bill provides Newcastle with the opportunity to be part of this proud history by hosting the grand finale of the championship season. The Hunter has a large population of supercar fans, and the Newcastle 500 will be the first time it has had an event to call its own. The Newcastle 500 is a picturesque course that will showcase some of Newcastle’s best-known landmarks, including Fort Scratchley, Central Promenade, Foreshore Park, Nobby’s Beach Reserve, Pacific Park and Queens Wharf. The proposed track will take in the spectacular sites of the Newcastle coastline, sending incredible images around Australia and across the world. 

The inaugural event will take place on 24 to 26 November 2017 and will be conducted every year thereafter. There is no doubt that the event will provide a significant boost to the State’s economy and to the region’s economy. It is not only a race; it is also a major event that will include live music, car displays and family entertainment zones. The event is set to showcase Newcastle to a huge national and international television audience, attracting more than 81,000 domestic and international visitors, and injecting more than $57 million into the Hunter region and its economy in direct visitor expenditure over the next five years. The flow-on economic benefits to the broader region will undoubtedly be even greater than that. 

With Newcastle playing host to a wide array of world-class sports events this year, the 2017 events calendar for Newcastle promises to be the city’s biggest and best year yet and cements the city’s status as a premier major events location in the Hunter region and in regional New South Wales. The benefits to the region, by attracting tourists, stimulating local business and job creation, are immense. Newcastle is an ideal location as it has the natural beauty, infrastructure and road network necessary to support what will be an exciting and dynamic road race. 

This bill will ensure that the infrastructure for the race can be ready in time for November and provide legacy benefits to the Newcastle community through significant improvements to roads and service infrastructure. Without the measures being put in place by this bill, it would be impossible to meet that time frame. The bill facilitates the race by extending the current legislation allowing the V8 supercars race to be conducted at Sydney Olympic Park to Newcastle, and by removing the references to V8s, which will allow for a greater variety of supercars to race in Newcastle in the years to come. All the common-sense provisions currently contained within the Homebush Motor Racing (Sydney 400) Act 2008 will apply to the race event at Newcastle. 

These include Destination NSW oversight and a streamlined authorisation and approval process for the conduct of the race, which will provide certainty for both the race promoter and the community. Significant safeguards relating to consultation, public safety and environmental protection will also be maintained. For example, the Act currently allows Destination NSW to impose any conditions it considers reasonable on the race promoter, including for the protection of the environment and public safety. If the promoter breaches one of those conditions, it can be prosecuted and, in the case of the most serious or continuing breaches, have its authorisation revoked. 

Pre-race works cannot commence until Destination NSW is satisfied that the race promoter has complied with statutory requirements to consult with stakeholders affected by its works proposal, including residents and the local council. Item [10] of the bill strengthens the current requirement by adding an obligation on the race promoter to consult with any other public or local authorities prescribed by regulation to ensure specific issues are addressed. The race promoter must also demonstrate to the satisfaction of Destination NSW that adequate steps will be taken to prevent or minimise any harm to the environment. 

Prior to issuing an authorisation for works, Destination NSW is required under the current Act to consult with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority. Item [9] of the bill will amend this requirement to ensure consultation occurs with Newcastle City Council for motor races in Newcastle, and expands who Destination NSW needs to consult with to now include any other public or local authority prescribed by the regulations. The race promoter will be obliged to clean up and to reinstate the race area after the race period. If the promoter fails to do so within a reasonable period, Destination NSW may arrange for this work to be carried out and recover any costs from the race promoter. The race promoter is also required to comply with any direction given by Destination NSW in relation to any public safety and environmental protection matter. 

All these provisions demonstrate how seriously this Government takes protection of the public and the environment in the context of a motor racing event. Minister Marshall visited Newcastle to meet with Newcastle City Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and discussed this fantastic event with her and senior council staff. As the new Minister for Tourism and Major Events, he was pleased to hear that the council is fully supportive of the event proceeding, and it wants to make it as successful as possible for Newcastle and the Hunter region. It is important, as per the governance framework that was finalised late last year, that the Government, through Destination NSW, plays a key role in coordinating the implementation of the Newcastle 500, and has a clear presence in the community leading up to the inaugural event in November this year. The Minister looks forward to continuing to work closely with the lord mayor, Newcastle City Council and Destination NSW to ensure this close partnership with the Newcastle City Council. Of course, as with any major event of this scale, there will be some issues to work through. 

The Government recognises that some residents and business owners may be affected by the preparatory work, as well as during the event itself. While every reasonable effort will be made to minimise disruption, it is important to remember that the event is of a limited duration and will be held only once a year. Most of the disruption to the community will be to facilitate the civil works to prepare the circuit, which will happen this year only, and which will ultimately provide positive outcomes for Newcastle East residents and businesses alike through upgrades to roads and other service infrastructure. Nonetheless, Minister Marshall met with Destination NSW and has been assured that consultation to inform residents and business owners will be a priority, with the Supercars Australia and Newcastle City Council committing to hold regular meetings with the community and to distribute information updates. 

These measures, combined with the statutory requirements put in place by the bill, should ensure that there will be minimal disruption to normal activities. To that end, traffic and transport management plans will be developed with input from relevant government agencies such as Transport for NSW and Roads and Maritime Services to address road closures, resident parking, and other traffic-related concerns, with traffic flow to be restored as soon as practicable after each event. Pedestrian access for residents and businesses will be maintained at all times and vehicular access will be restricted only during event operation hours, which will be approximately 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Friday to Saturday and one day either side of the event. 

Supercars Australia and its circuit designers have been working closely with the Newcastle Light Rail project team to deliver seamless integration with the design, construction and operation of another fantastic initiative for Newcastle. It is envisaged that once in operation the light rail will be a primary mode of transport delivering spectators to the event and increasing patronage of the service. Any suggestion that the public will be prevented from using Newcastle’s finest beaches and public areas is not correct and could not be further from truth. In fact, the Government encourages all visitors going to Newcastle for the event to visit these brilliant beaches. Locals, of course, will not be restricted from visiting these beaches in any way at all. In response to community concerns regarding the impact of the race on Newcastle’s heritage precinct, Supercars Australia has engaged a heritage consultant and is working closely with the heritage division of Newcastle City Council to develop a heritage impact statement that will address the management of all State heritage items within the event precinct. 

I seek leave to incorporate the remainder of my speech in Hansard. 

Leave granted. 

While the circuit will include the removal of some trees and shrubs, I can advise the House that Supercars Australia is working with the Newcastle City Council arborist to deliver a tree planting program which will provide the community with a usable canopy more than three times greater than what is currently in place, returning shade to Newcastle’s parklands. The circuit will also provide a valuable commodity of 215 additional car parking spaces, including 18 dedicated accessible spaces to Newcastle East to assist community access to these areas all year round. 

As was the case in Sydney, all event infrastructure will be temporary and a program will be developed for the installation and removal of this infrastructure each year. All efforts will be made to minimise the disruption to residents and businesses in the area, and this will involve ongoing communication with all affected parties. All relevant government agencies and key stakeholders have been engaged in discussions regarding the event for several months through a series of established working groups. This collaborative and cooperative approach will ensure that the event will satisfy needs across government and maximise benefits to the community and the Hunter region. A comprehensive emergency management plan will be developed in consultation with key agencies to guarantee that emergency services are maintained for both the event and non-event community. 

The Government considers that the special purpose arrangements being put in place by this bill to facilitate the Newcastle 500, balance the need for commercial certainty and expeditious regulation of the event with the need to protect the attributes of Newcastle and the interests of the city’s residents. There is no doubt that the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship represents a significant economic benefit to the people of Newcastle, the Hunter and regional New South Wales. The Newcastle 500 will cap off a very exciting year for the city of Newcastle as a major events destination. This bill demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to attracting major events to New South Wales, and to regional New South Wales in particular, and to generating jobs, stimulating the economy and boosting tourism throughout rural and regional New South Wales. I commend the bill to the House

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland) (18:18): Start your engines and buckle in—vroom vroom—this redhead is going to out herself in this place as a revhead. One of my earliest and fondest memories is sitting with my father to watch the Hardie-Ferodo 1000. It was a time when my dad was at his most relaxed. He did not drink. We would sit down and watch the race, Peter Brock and the Holdens. It was an important bonding time between us. My poor father had no sons to share this experience with. I blame him and that early grounding in motorsports for my feminist tendencies. When I met my husband he drove an SS Commodore with sports suspension, but as we aged it became hard on the back and we traded it in.

I have to declare that I have a serious interest in motorsports. I also have to declare that in the past I was a tourism operator. I have sold my business now, but I have seen the tourism benefits that these events bring. They are really important. For that reason I am glad that V8 Supercars will be coming to Newcastle. I remember many years ago I went to a dragway somewhere near Port Stephens—I am not sure whether it was the same one that the member for Balmain spoke about—and I saw Peter Brock, which was very exciting for me. I remember the excitement that the event generated in the crowd of people—ordinary people, such as my accountant, who enjoy motorsports. On tour, in my former life as a tourism operator, I enjoyed the buzz and hum of an 11-litre engine and a 420-horsepower coach going down Conrod Straight at Bathurst. I have driven around the bends at Bathurst with a busload of pensioners and seen firsthand their excitement. They were perhaps not experiencing the power of a 600-horsepower V8 Supercar, but it was definitely more than six litres. Many people, old and young, have enthusiasm for the sport. 

We need to talk about how we are going to manage the event. I congratulate the new Minister for Tourism and Major Events on his appointment to the portfolio. It was good to see him at an event in the Hunter Valley recently. I do not know if the Minister attended the game, but it was good that he was there for the lunch. It was nice to see someone from the Government supporting the community there. Goodness knows, that has not always been the case with this Government. My advice to the Minister is: Please do not make the same mistake as your colleague the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, who is not welcome in many parts of the Hunter Valley because of the paternalistic and ferocious way that he negotiated—some would say dictated—public transport arrangements in our community. 

I hope that the Minister will take into consideration the amendments that Labor will move in the other place. They go to the governance arrangements of this event. It is reasonable to move an amendment to reinstate a special government coordination unit to act as a central point between affected local residents, businesses, relevant government agencies, the council and the promoter. There will be no conflict of interest for that body. It will ensure that the event runs well and achieves its aims for tourism, for the fans and for the environment. I like trees; I like heritage; I like the way the east end of Newcastle looks. If we are to host this massive event, the Government says it will bring in more than $55 million. This event will be a love letter to Newcastle. It will tell the world to come to Newcastle and to experience its fantastic beaches. This event is similar to the motorcycle event on Phillip Island. People really enjoy the event, but they also enjoy the destination and they decide to go back for another visit. Similarly, many car advertisements are filmed on the Great Ocean Road to highlight the road as well as the car. That makes people want to drive on it. These are all important considerations.

We want to see the heritage, the beautiful buildings in that part of town, protected. We want the residents who live there to be looked after. Labor’s amendments are not unreasonable. We are not saying that we want to take over the running of the event. That is how members on the other side of the House tend to do things. We are saying: Involve the community. Make it something we can all look forward to. Make it a worthwhile event so that I am not embarrassed when I go to Newcastle. I do not want to have a fight with The Greens or residents in the east end of Newcastle. I want this to be a fantastic event. If we can make this event positive for our community—and I mean the whole of the Hunter region—it will have a life beyond this year. We will start to see a long-term return on investment. That is really important. 

I do not know whether the Minister for Tourism and Major Events is aware that we still do not have a Minister for the Hunter. The Minister for Tourism and Major Events represents our community on this issue in Cabinet. There is no other Cabinet representation for the Hunter on this matter. We want to ensure that local voices are heard in this debate. That is not unreasonable. It is not much to ask that the Government include the community and the stakeholders. The Government should make sure that the person who makes decisions is removed from the influence of one party or another. I am pleased to see that the Minister is nodding. I am sure that is a good sign of how the amendments will be received in the other place. 

I do not have much more to say in the debate. I will give another plug to the car racing industry. The industry might be scared to see me embracing this event, because I like the environment and I like heritage, but I acknowledge the innovation in cars. The industry has improved. It trials and manufactures new technologies. That means we drive around in cars and buses with tyres that last longer. The Newcastle 500 is an important event. I beg the Minister not to make the same mistake as the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance. It would be nice to continue to welcome the Minister for Tourism and Major Events to the Hunter as a friend, rather than as someone who cuts train lines and does not talk to people. 

Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown) (17:20): Together with my colleagues on this side of the House, I support the Motor Racing Legislation Amendment (Newcastle 500) Bill 2017 with amendments, contrary to what has been suggested by members opposite. This year, for the first time, the annual Supercars motorsport race will be moved from Homebush to Newcastle. The Newcastle 500 will be held on a picturesque course that will showcase some of Newcastle’s best-known landmarks, including Fort Scratchley, Central Promenade, Foreshore Park, Nobby’s Beach Reserve, Pacific Park and Queens Wharf. This event will take place in Newcastle’s heritage precinct, which needs protection. Local residents and people from the wider Hunter have been vocal and are rightly concerned about the potential impact of the race on heritage buildings and parklands, the impact of works and road closures, and the effect of race noise levels on the amenity and, potentially, the hearing of local residents. The Minister for Tourism and Major Events stated, “It is important to remember that the event is of a limited duration and will only be held once a year.” The Government clearly does not recognise that local business owners and residents will not be affected only during the three-day event but also during the extensive preparatory work for the event. To date, the Government has failed to keep businesses and residents informed. There are currently an unspecified number of trees to be removed and an unspecified heritage plan to be implemented. 

At present, the bill provides that coordination of the event will be undertaken by Destination NSW in Sydney and managed via myriad committees. All consultation is left up to V8 Supercars, which is also in charge of promoting the event. Having one group to both promote and to consult on the event is inadequate and leaves the real possibility of a conflict of interest, confusion and buck-passing. The concerns of the people of the Hunter deserve to be heard by the Government. That is exactly what this legislation is missing—a government coordinator who is an independent broker between the council, V8 Supercars, government agencies and the community. For this event to be successful it is crucial that local residents and businesses are able to ask questions or to raise concerns with the Government. People need to have confidence that they are being listened to and that their issues will be resolved, and not by those with a vested interest the event but by the Government in the public interest. 

The mayor of Newcastle and my colleague the member of Newcastle have already called for a Newcastle-based government coordination office to be established as part of the preparations for this event. The coordination office that the Minister for Tourism and Major Events has said he will establish misses the mark. One person and an occasional visit from Sydney is a far cry from what is required for this event. It is a massive event that will affect Newcastle and the Hunter in a huge but good way, but it will have an impact. It is important that everybody is brought along. That is why the Labor Party will move amendments in the Legislative Council to establish an independent government coordination unit located in Newcastle to support the smooth running of the event and to provide proper independent community consultation and accountability. 

When Sydney 500 Supercars event was established in Homebush, it importantly included the establishment of the Homebush Motor Racing Authority [HMRA], an independent coordination unit. Nothing has changed now that the event is being held in Newcastle. The HMRA was dissolved by the Liberal Government in 2014, which Labor opposed at the time. If the moving of the V8 Supercar race from Homebush to Newcastle is to be successful, it needs to be coordinated properly. It is only through Labor’s amendments that will establish an independent government coordination unit in Newcastle that a transparent and accountable event will be achieved. Community consultation to date has not been independent nor adequate. This needs to be rectified immediately through amendments to this bill. The residents and businesses of Newcastle East and the people of the Hunter deserve nothing less. I call on the Government to support Labor’s amendments when moved in the Legislative Council.

The Hon. PENNY SHARPE (11:50): On behalf of the Opposition I contribute to debate on the Motor Racing Legislation Amendment (Newcastle 500) Bill 2017, and indicate at the outset that Labor supports the bill. I will be moving three amendments that Labor believes will strengthen the bill, and I will talk about those later. The bill aims to facilitate moving the venue of the annual supercars motorsport race from Homebush to Newcastle for the next five years at a minimum. I note it also leaves open the option of using Homebush at a future time. The event will take place in Newcastle on 24 to 26 November 2017. The bill extends the existing legislation applying to motor racing at Homebush to Newcastle, subject to the same provisions currently applied to Homebush. Destination NSW is the approval body with Newcastle City Council as a key partner. The proposed arrangements set out in this bill place an obligation on the race promoter to consult with any other public or local authorities prescribed by regulation to address specific issues. This is an issue to which I will come back later.

The bill will facilitate infrastructure and civil works to take place to meet motorsport track standards, while the Minister also promised works and improvements to roads and service infrastructure. This will require a significant amount of one-off construction to be undertaken prior to November 2017. In subsequent years, normal event works will require temporary facilities to be erected over a six-week period, and then removed over three weeks. I am advised that this process often takes less time than is stipulated. The Hon. Catherine Cusack, on behalf of the Minister, the Hon. Niall Blair, stated in the second reading speech that the event will contribute approximately $57 million to the economy of the Hunter region and provide an additional 215 ongoing car parking spaces in Newcastle in the area of the track circuit. I note that the expected television audience will be around two million people, with all eyes on Newcastle. I have asked the Minister’s staff to look at other opportunities that will assist the community after this event, including issues like footpath accessibility improvements that can be done while other works are being undertaken to set up the track.

The missing piece of this legislation is a specified government consultation and coordination role that is an independent broker between council, supercars, government agencies and the community. In 2014, the current motor racing legislation was amended to remove the Homebush Motor Racing Authority, an advisory body with responsibility for the preparation and management of the motor race, and liaison with government agencies, the promoter, and other identified parties such as local residents and businesses. Labor members opposed this amendment as we believed then as we believe now that responsibility for community consultation should rest with a government office not the event proponents. Both the Mayor of Newcastle and the member for Newcastle have called for a Newcastle-based government consultation and coordination office to be established as part of the preparations for this event. These calls are based on what has been happening on the ground and from previous experience at Homebush. Currently the consultation arrangements for the race lie with supercars. Council has been doing some liaison, but it has become abundantly clear that the Government has dropped the ball when it comes to community consultation and coordination. What has evolved is confusion, frustration and buck-passing, as well as genuine concerns for local residents.

Local residents have been frustrated at the lack of information available about what is happening in their neighbourhood. They have legitimate concerns and questions about access, safety, heritage protection, tree protection and foreshore access. When these issues have been raised, they have not been answered adequately and many have been confused about receiving responses from supercars rather than the Government. I note that the new Minister has been to Newcastle to speak to the council. He made some improvements where the previous Minister had failed, I believe. The current Minister has committed to putting in place a Newcastle-based community liaison officer with fly-in, fly-out arrangements for staff at Destination NSW.

The amendment I will seek to move will establish in the legislation a Newcastle consultation office and to ensure that the Government, through Destination NSW, is designated to undertake the consultation—not supercars. Labor believes this office should employ more than a junior community consultation officer. The office should be tasked with: the efficient coordination and management of government services required for the preparation, management and conduct of the Newcastle 500; building and maintaining strong working relationships with the race promoter, stakeholders, residents and other government agencies through a strong and consistent community consultation process; minimising disruption to the local community, stakeholders and businesses; and maximising the benefits of this event for the people of New South Wales.

This race is being located in one of the most beautiful places in New South Wales, and part of the hopes for its success are based on the location and the opportunity it provides to showcase Newcastle to the rest of the world. One of the reasons this area is so beautiful is that it is a historic precinct, an area as important as The Rocks in Sydney. This heritage must be protected and there must be guarantees that it will not be undermined, harmed or damaged as a result of this event. The proposed circuit for the Newcastle 500 goes past 68 historic residential terraces and local and State heritage-listed buildings or monuments.

I note that the Minister has committed to the preparation of a heritage impact statement for the event and he has indicated that the Heritage Act will apply to the event. We welcome this commitment. Because of the importance of this heritage precinct, I will move an amendment to make it very clear that the Heritage Act applies. I also seek reassurances from the Minister that, when working with the council, special attention will be given to locally listed heritage items listed in the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan, and that these items will be captured in the analysis and planning of the heritage impact statement. For an event of this size and scope being held in this area, inserting a heritage clause into this bill will make crystal clear the intention of this Parliament in passing legislation to facilitate this event. At this point I foreshadow that I will move Labor’s amendments listed on sheet C2017-002C.

The Hon. Dr Peter Phelps: Are they good amendments?

The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: They are always good amendments and I will speak in detail about them in the Committee stage. In closing, the Newcastle 500 Supercars race is an important opportunity not only for Newcastle but also for the Hunter region. Over five years it should become a tourist bonanza for the Hunter—an event that brings tourists to this beautiful place not only for the weekend on which this event is held but also throughout the year. We want this event to bring visitors to beaches, wineries, sports and adventure activities, and national parks where local heritage and fine wine and food are on offer across the Hunter region. More tourism means more jobs and a growing and diversifying economy for the Hunter region. Labor will watch closely to see how this event unfolds. We support the bill.

Mr JAMIE PARKER (Balmain) (18:02): On behalf of The Greens I speak in debate on the Motor Racing Legislation Amendment (Newcastle 500 ) Bill 2017. The electorate of Balmain is not well known for its racing enthusiasts nor is it well known as a racetrack. However, the community respects the feelings of residents and wants to make sure that people are treated fairly and properly. The House should discuss this bill because it overrides a range of legislation designed to protect residential amenity, communities and the State such as the Roads Act, the Heritage Act and local environmental planning instruments. It should be considered seriously. Those Acts and planning instruments have been developed over time to ensure the proper, orderly development and management of a range of activities. It is important that we take the time to consider the justification for this project and decide whether the issues raised require our support. 

The Greens are very concerned about this proposal. I, like many members, have received correspondence from people outside my electorate who are strong advocates, stating that this proposed racing event is fundamentally incompatible with its proposed location. It is very different from the legislation the Government is seeking to amend, which applies to the Homebush circuit—also known as the Sydney Olympic Park street circuit—in the former Sydney Olympic Park precinct. The area is non-residential and the only controversial element of the proposal was the necessity to remove 140 mature trees around the track. 

We know that government—I am talking not about this Government but about the former Government, and government in general—has a poor record when it comes to that issue. The Auditor-General undertook a review of the Homebush proposal and found that there was very poor evidence that the race would be a financially viable investment for the public. The Auditor-General’s report found that the awarding of the contract to V8 Supercars Australia was flawed as there had not been an adequate cost-benefit analysis and there was little consideration of alternatives before the contract was awarded. The use of public funds is also an important matter for the House to consider. We have heard that $52 million will supposedly be injected into the Hunter region, but we know that such numbers are often rubbery and, depending on assumptions, can change dramatically. 

Mr Adam Marshall: It will be higher than that. 

Mr JAMIE PARKER: I congratulate the Minister on his appointment; I wish him all the best. It is important that we take our time and examine the bill carefully. In considering the impacts on the community, a civic works program is planned for May to September 2017. Temporary infrastructure will be installed six weeks before the event and removed three weeks after it. There is significant concern about heritage impacts because the proposed track covers the Coal River Precinct, which is listed on the State Heritage Register. The track will also cover two local heritage conservation areas. There will be noise impacts from construction, cars and attendees as well as impacts from the removal and disturbance of trees and related air pollution from the vehicles. 

There are also access issues for pedestrians and residents. Three public housing complexes for the aged will be inside the proposed track, where access will be significantly limited for several months. Also, 150 small businesses within the track footprint will have reduced access. I understand many of those businesses are concerned about the process. It is important that community consultation happens first and that residents are included in a proactive way. Perhaps the Minister can clarify this point, but I understand that the legislation, which modifies the existing Act, proposes to delete from the Act the requirement to consult with “any person having a right of occupation of land within the works area” and “any person occupying land immediately adjacent to the works area”. I understand that those requirements are to be deleted from the Act. If that is wrong, I stand corrected, but I would appreciate the Minister clarifying why those two categories of people who were required to be consulted have been excluded. 

Holding a V8 Supercars race in the narrow streets of Newcastle East is obviously a significant problem for residents, and The Greens share their concern. It is completely inappropriate that a race of this magnitude and style will be held in such an historic residential area that currently has a speed limit of 40 kilometres an hour. Residents have said that it is the wrong location for the race. The Government is fast-tracking the approval process and diminishing environmental and heritage controls by introducing this stand-alone legislation and nominating Destination NSW as the sole approval authority. The proposed track overlaps areas of State and local heritage significance. The Minister said that a heritage impact statement will be developed. It is always optimal that such statements be developed before the introduction of the legislation to ensure that there are no insurmountable obstacles. The heritage impact statement should have been completed before the legislation was introduced. 

I ask the Minister to address also the issue raised with me about the Raymond Terrace track. Residents have told me that construction has started for a $12 million motor racing circuit at Raymond Terrace, north of Newcastle, and question whether the Government has considered holding this event at that dedicated motor racing facility. It could be recommended that theV8 supercars organisation consider that site. I am interested to know whether it has considered that option and whether the Government has suggested it. Community consultation is always at the heart of every issue. The Greens believe it should have occurred in a thorough way prior to the introduction of this bill. It would have allowed consideration of the impacts on residents, heritage and the environment. The Greens do not support the bill as it stands. If the Government is committed to progressing the bill, The Greens encourage an approach that will minimise its impact on residents. The Greens support the amendments to be moved in the other place. The Greens recognise the fundamental incompatibility of this race in this area.

Mr. JUSTIN FIELD (11:57): On behalf of The Greens, I oppose the Motor Racing Legislation Amendment (Newcastle 500) Bill 2017. The sentiments in this bill sound great: It is designed to bring tourists to Newcastle to participate in a big event, with the spotlight shining on the town and all the attractions of the region. But let us be clear about the details of the event. I met with Newcastle residents and I understand that some of them, if they remain at home during the race, will be just three metres from the racetrack.

The Hon. Dr Peter Phelps: Awesome, best seats in the house.

Mr. JUSTIN FIELD: They will not be three metres from the edge of the race; they will be three metres from the security barriers required to ensure that a car—

The Hon. Penny Sharpe: Point of order: I understand that some members in the Chamber are keen to get stuck into The Greens in relation to this bill. However, the constant interjections are unhelpful, and I believe that the member should be heard in silence.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (The Hon. Shayne Mallard): Order! I uphold the Hon. Penny Sharpe’s point of order. Mr. Justin Field should be heard in silence. I ask members to observe the standing order.

Mr. JUSTIN FIELD: These residents’ lounge rooms will not be three metres from the security barriers required to ensure that a V8 supercar travelling at 180 kilometres or more an hour will not careen off the track and go through their walls; they will be three metres from the edge of the track where the cars will be racing. I lived on the Gold Coast and experienced what Indie car races mean to communities in and around that track. Concrete bollards and high fences have been erected along the route and those residents wanting to get into and out of their homes need to use an overpass. I will detail the conditions experienced by residents who live close to the racetrack, not only for the three days of the race but also for the six weeks of bump-in and three days of bump‑out each year. There will be significant impacts visited upon the Newcastle community, and particularly upon those living in the east end.

There is a reason the Government is so eager to race this bill through the Parliament this week. There has been a complete lack of community consultation up to this point, no transparent cost-benefit analysis and a total disregard for proper process. But the Government is working to a timetable: It has already signed the television rights for the race. It will look pretty to have a shot from a helicopter of supercars next to the beaches of Newcastle. There is a November deadline. What does that mean? We need the construction of a racetrack in a heritage-listed part of Newcastle and the process to get approval for the detail. But when is the consultation happening in reality? The consultation is happening after the decision has been made and after the Parliament passes what is essentially emergency legislation to allow this to happen.

Perhaps the Minister and some Government members want to be part of the celebrity race on day one, and that is why we are rushing this legislation through. I will be up there on my pushbike, leading the way! To make this timeline work, the legislation will be rushed through. None of the concerns raised by the community will be dealt with before the decision is made; they will be dealt with after the decision is made, when the reality is that all the money will have already been thrown at this. The community will not get what it wants. That is the nub of this issue: This Government has no idea what community consultation actually is. At this point I flag that The Greens will support the Labor amendments, but the idea that meaningful consultation can take place after the decision is made and the contracts signed is unbelievable. It is not possible that that could lead to better outcomes for the community, who will be faced with this race every year for the next five years.

This bill will transfer complete power to Destination NSW to approve the details of this race. It is the initiator of the race. It has sorted out the contracts that have to be signed with Supercars and council. It is the financier, although we do not know how much money it is putting into the race, because that is commercial in confidence. It is also the approver. In the instance that there are problems, it will be the regulator that will help deal with them. That model does not give the community any confidence that its interests will be protected with regard to this race. What can go wrong with that? We have already seen how this works.

Having a V8 Supercar race go through the very narrow streets of Newcastle’s east is particularly outrageous. It is inappropriate that a race of this magnitude and style is located in a historic residential area that currently has a speed limit of 40 kilometres an hour. It will be a boring race: The streets are so narrow that the cars will not be able to pass, and they will be restricted to 60 kilometres an hour. It would make much more sense to have a bicycle race there than a V8 Supercar race. At the end of the day, this is the wrong race in the wrong place—a beautiful sound bite, but it is absolutely true. It is time we talked about moving the race to a more suitable venue.

The race will disturb residents, and limit access for the aged and disabled. There are three public housing complexes for the aged inside the proposed track, where access will be restricted, limited or more challenging for months in reality. I appreciate that work needs to be done to make sure people have access to the site, as well as support, Meals on Wheels and medical help, but in practice a ramp or a lift should be installed temporarily because that is how people will have to get in and out of their homes. About 150 people live in these three supported facilities. Let us be honest: Those people will be severely impacted, and the services they need will be impacted. I appreciate that efforts will be made to minimise that, but it is a huge cost for those people.

There are 150 or so small businesses within the racetrack precinct. They are not cafes or hotels—businesses that would benefit from tourism accommodation—but service businesses, like accountants, that will have restricted access for their clientele and customer base. Not every business will benefit from this race. Businesses inside the race precinct will suffer the impacts for at least two months in some way, shape or form, not only for the weekend on which tourists flood Newcastle. I have heard that the impacts will be once a year, but let us be absolutely clear what that impact is: six weeks of bump-in, three days of racing, and three weeks of bump‑out. For two months of every year the race will have some impact on a very small portion of the Newcastle community.

Newcastle is a place where people go to the beach every morning. The Minister has commented that they will not be restricted, but community groups have already received council notices to say they cannot access this area to hold their events in a particular window of time due to preparation for this event. Access to the beach is being restricted. Council has written notices about restricting the ability to run previously organised events. I hear from the surf life saving clubs and board riders that parking at many beach sites will not be the same. People will be able to access the beach by foot, but not everyone goes to the beach on foot. This race will impact on access to community facilities and public space.

I turn to the legislation. The Government is fast-tracking the approval process, and diminishing environmental heritage and controls by introducing special legislation and nominating Destination NSW as the sole approval authority. Does Destination NSW really have all the skills of the Office of Environment and Heritage, and the Department of Planning and Environment? Is it really in a position to make decisions about how to mitigate the sound and pollution impacts of this race? Having asked those questions, I have heard that Destination NSW is engaging with the appropriate authorities to do that but, at the end of the day, if it cannot mitigate the impacts to appropriate levels—that is, reduce the noise to levels at which people are not unfairly impacted—will that stop this race? It is clear that the Government does not intend to do that. We should be honest about that. It will mitigate as much as it can, but those impacts will occur. I wonder whether Destination NSW can really put together the controls that will be needed to fully mitigate the impact on local residents.

The bill overrides environmental planning instruments and development consents under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. This applies to heritage controls as well as tree and vegetation preservation controls. There are restrictions on the Heritage Act 1977. There are some peculiarities around this, and the Heritage Council still has some degree of sign-off over the ultimate racetrack. However, some elements of the Act will be “switched off” when it comes to local heritage items. That is a real concern for the community—a community privileged to live in that area of the State, but we protect those areas and their heritage because we value them as a society. To switch those protections off to have a race once a year for five years is not appropriate. Again, it is the wrong race in the wrong place. The proposed track overlaps State and local heritage areas of significance, in particular the Newcastle City Centre Heritage Conservation Area, the Newcastle East Heritage Conservation Area, Nobby’s Beach Pavilion, and the State heritage-listed Coal River Precinct.

In his second reading speech, the Minister for Tourism and Major Events stated that a Heritage Impact Statement will be developed. This should have occurred before the introduction of this legislation, as it would have brought to light the incompatibility of this unique heritage site with a V8 Supercar race. The bill also overrides the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, which provides important noise, emissions and pollution controls. I have raised questions directly with Destination NSW, the Premier’s office and the Minister’s office, and I appreciate that they are looking at a number of pollution control measures to try to mitigate those impacts. It remains to be seen whether or not they will be successful, but the community will have to suffer through the noise. No-one can tell me that it is possible to live three metres from the racetrack with multiple races over three days. There is no remedy for the emissions of V8 Supercars.

If any loss is suffered as a result of the event, the bill provides that no compensation will be paid. That does not seem fair. I understand why a race promoter would want that written into legislation, but who carries the costs in the event of an accident or a major pollution incident? It is the community that carries the cost; it suffers through it. Even if we disregard these impacts, the financial viability of the race in Newcastle is also unclear. The Government will not release financial information as it is of course, once again, considered commercial in confidence. We hear this all too often and it raises serious concerns about government transparency. The Auditor‑General’s report into the race at Homebush found that awarding the contract to Supercars Australia was flawed because there had been no cost-benefit analysis and no consideration of alternatives before the contract was awarded. This seems to be blatantly happening again.

The Government says the race will bring $57 million to the community, but the public wants proof. The public wants to understand how that figure was arrived at and how it might be militated against by the costs the community will face. We need to be able to see how the Government came up with that figure so that the failures of the Homebush race are not repeated. There is no doubt that there will be some benefit to some businesses in the community—no doubt at all. I think the idea that we cannot promote the region of the Hunter and Newcastle without this race is absurd. There are real tourism values up there—the beautiful beaches and the wineries. There are things that we can do to promote that area, to promote tourism, and to promote investments that do not require a V8 supercar race. Alternatively, we could have this race staged at a more suitable location. There is a $12 million motor racing circuit being built at Raymond Terrace just north of Newcastle, which would be suitable for this sort of race.

Granted, it would not be a street race; it would be a track race, which is a very different thing. Maybe it does not look as good on screen, but the circuit is being built for just this sort of race. That would still bring in money for the Hunter and Newcastle. We would still have the tourism, the investment and the support for businesses. It is an appropriate place for a race like this. The venue operators want this race. So why is this race being pushed onto the Newcastle community and local residents when it is clearly not appropriate in that street venue? I appreciate that there will be some benefits to the community regardless of where the race is held. Infrastructure is being delivered, and that is good. But the community deserves that infrastructure anyway; council was going to do that work anyway; and the State Government was going to invest in that anyway. Why does the community have to suffer these impacts to get what their rates and their taxes should be paying for anyway?

The Hon. Paul Green: They can’t afford it.

Mr. JUSTIN FIELD: The Hon. Paul Green says, “They can’t afford it.” If they cannot afford it then let us have another conversation about how the Government is directing resources to ensure that we can afford the things that the community wants to see it investing in in their local area. At the end of the day, and I will speak more to this during the Committee stage on Labor’s amendments, community consultation should have occurred prior to the introduction of this bill. This would have allowed proper consideration of the impacts—though we all know that that would have shown clearly that this is not a suitable venue for this race. It is the wrong race in the wrong place. The Greens oppose this bill.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (The Hon. Shayne Mallard): I acknowledge the presence in the President’s Gallery of the Hon. Adam Marshall, MP, member for Northern Tablelands, and Minister for Tourism and Major Events, to witness the passage of this legislation.

The Hon. PAUL GREEN (12:12): I thank the Hon. Mike Gallagher for allowing me to speak before him. As the saying goes, you reap what you sow. I am sure that the Christian Democratic Party has sown a lot of goodwill towards the Hon. Mike Gallagher, and he will reap that today. I speak on the Motor Racing Legislation Amendment (Newcastle 500) Bill 2017. I congratulate the member for Northern Tablelands on his promotion to Minister for Tourism and Major Events. I think it will be a good season for him and the Liberal‑Nationals Government, because he gets regional and rural areas. This bill is a great example of that sort of outreach. He has already made a great impact with this major event. I note some of the comments of previous speakers concerning this event. We are talking about very high-speed cars racing around out the front of people’s homes, so obviously it is of great concern to many residents. I am sure if I were living there that I would have something to say about that.

But in the long-term we are working very hard in New South Wales to boost tourism by 7 per cent by 2020. We need major events, and, even more so, we need a fair share of those events in regional and rural areas. We have heard about stadiums in New South Wales, such as the Illawarra stadium and the Hunter stadium. We have a high unemployment rate in regional areas and one way to deal with that is to have more high-traffic tourism, which takes care of that, because a lot of kids work in cafes and tourists come in for coffee, lunches, dinners and things like that. They are casual employees. They build some self-esteem and earn some money. Some of them are university students whose wages help to offset some of their costs. So regional and rural events, particularly tourism events, are major wins for regional areas.

The Christian Democratic Party notes that some concerns have been raised about this event in Newcastle by members who have participated in this debate, in particular the impacts on families and small businesses in the area. They will have reduced access and foot traffic during the upcoming works, and we understand that. We understand that there are access concerns for the elderly residents of the Newcastle East area. We know that will be disruption to the event festivals traditionally hosted within the foreshore precinct. We also know that there are concerns about heritage properties and areas around the race precinct. Of course, there are also concerns about potential negative health impacts on residents, whether that be pollution, noise or a whole bunch of other issues that have been brought to our attention.

However, this event is a good thing for New South Wales and a good thing for Newcastle. Newcastle needs every event that it can get. There is no doubt that this event will be a much-needed injection into its economy. I can appreciate that there are people who do not want this event happening on their doorstep for numerous reasons. This event will provide a $57 million injection and it will have wonderful flow-on effects in the local area. I can remember being the mayor of the Shoalhaven City Council when the Jervis Bay triathlon started. We started putting up fences and barriers, and redirecting local traffic, and the locals were not very happy. This event involved only bikes, so members can imagine how quiet it was. It was probably the same as somebody like me jogging and panting heavily while trying to catch my breath—

The Hon. Michael Gallacher: And wheezing.

The Hon. PAUL GREEN: And wheezing. We were talking about bikes. But I can assure members that we faced the same sort of concerns—that the event would shut down businesses, shut down opportunities, and interrupt the daily life of the local residents. Yes, it did all of that. But the inconvenience, the access issues, and the business issues are now paying off. There was a large amount of tourism in Huskisson over the Christmas period. It was probably the most successful tourist season that Huskisson, Vincentia and the South Coast have seen to date. I put that down to the massive global exposure of the Jervis Bay triathlon.

The Hon. Niall Blair: I’ve done it.

The Hon. PAUL GREEN: Minster Blair has done it. What time did the Minister do it in?

The Hon. Niall Blair: We don’t talk about times.

The Hon. PAUL GREEN: I did the City to Surf once, and I think I did it in about 56 minutes and 59 seconds. I came in position 562 out of 34,000 people.

Mr. David Shoebridge: He is full of hot air, but he is not a V8 supercar.

The Hon. PAUL GREEN: Anyway, there is a cost to the community and there is a cost to locals. There is a virtual cost to the community in a way. But this is an investment not a cost. This is an investment in the economy; this is an investment in future jobs growth; this is an investment in tourism in New South Wales; and this is an investment in growing the tourism in New South Wales. We want more people to visit New South Wales, and we want them to not only stay in Sydney but also to come out to see our rural and regional areas and fuel the increased jobs growth we need there. So we see this as a very important event.

I could list all the reasons that we do not want it, as we have just heard from The Greens. But if we were to leave major events to The Greens then we would not have any across New South Wales. In fact, we could probably go further than that and say that the next thing The Greens will probably try to shut down is the wood chopping competitions at our country shows. They will find some reason to say no to those events. At the end of the day, we are here—and I appreciate this point The Greens try to get on song every time. There is a system of doing the right things, the right way, and in the right order. I do not think for a minute that the Government is trying to reject that principle.

The crossbench has been given undertakings that the Government is doing the right things, the right way, and in the right order. We are not suggesting that it should not. I think everybody would agree that that is the right thing to do. At the end of the day, there will be impacts on business and on residents, and we must make sure that we examine those issues. However, the Minister has given us an undertaking that there will be a trouble-shooter at Newcastle who can address community concerns. There will be a shopfront, so to speak—a person who can address local concerns and give them urgent attention if they are reasonable. In essence, the Christian Democratic Party supports the bill. We will not support the amendments that the Labor Party has put forward. We are led to believe that it is not totally necessary for those amendments to pass. We support the Government on this bill.

The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER (12:19): I speak in support of the Motor Racing Legislation Amendment (Newcastle 500) Bill 2017. I start by congratulating Minister Adam Marshall on his promotion to Cabinet. I have had the pleasure of knowing him for many years in his previous role on Gunnedah Shire Council. His youth, coupled with his experience of public life, gives him a rare opportunity to bring that insight into debate and legislation. He represents a part of the community that is often spoken about, but rarely is there someone in this place who is a representative of that part of our community. Minister Marshall, congratulations on your promotion and the speed at which you travelled to Newcastle to make this very important announcement.

The Hon. Catherine Cusack as Parliamentary Secretary would have liked to have joined the Minister on the day, as I would have as the duty electorate representative for the Hunter. However speed is of the essence because this is important good news for an area that suffered greatly for many years under the Labor Government. People in the Hunter were neglected. There were tumbleweeds going down Hunter Street. Labor made many promises but was very light on delivery. At no time from the O’Farrell Government’s ascension in 2011 to take up the reins of this State did it leave the Hunter Valley behind. This announcement continues the recently established tradition of the Liberal-Nationals Government of investing in this city and this region.

Newcastle is the sixth-biggest city in the nation. Why should it not be showcased in the way that this proposal intends? It is often recognised for the exploration that was conducted during early settlement when Captain Hunter himself found coal strewn along the beaches. The importance of the port and the region in terms of the provision of power to the early colony is also recognised. Of course, it went beyond that. Now we hear about the vineyards—and members have spoken about them today—and the beaches.

This legislation gives the area even more. It provides an opportunity for the entire nation—and people throughout the world who watch the V8 Supercars—to see how much the city has changed, particularly in the past six years. It also provides an opportunity to showcase what Newcastle is about. It is about more than just the vineyards, the beaches or the Watagans and the mountains. It is also about the city, its renewal and its people. Despite what The Greens and those who want to pour scorn on this proposal have said, this race will be difficult to get into unless you get in early because the people of the Hunter will take the prime positions by getting there first.

I have never seen a city like Newcastle. I do not wish to disparage other cities, but Newcastle people are a rare breed. They are tough. They are parochial. They have been through some incredibly tough times over many years. This event will give them an opportunity to stand proud in the same way they did when Newcastle won the National Rugby League football competition and beat Manly all those years ago. Knowing that they have secured this event for five years will put a spring in the step of people who in the past couple of years have been feeling the financial effect of the downturn in the coal economy. This will give them yet another reason to be proud of Newcastle and of what this brings to the entire Hunter Valley.

Since 1999, I have had the great pleasure of representing the Hunter Valley community in this House. I took on the role as spokesperson for the Hunter. As I said, along with the investment this Government has made in the Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund and the Government’s decision to finally take a stand in relation to the rail and the need for renewal of the city, this is yet another example of a government that is making decisions on behalf of a people who have been crying out to be heard for many years. I am very proud to support this legislation and to represent the community as I have.

The Greens will always go back to their old standard of saying, “They cannot have it and these are the reasons it should not go ahead.” The very same debate took place a number of years ago when we heard concerns from The Greens about the rally going through Coffs Harbour. It was the end of the world and people were never going to get over it or the environmental effects and destruction of amenity and so on. The fact is, the Chicken Little approach to these events is unfair. It is about trying to find some sort of negative angle on it when in fact the overwhelming majority of people will embrace it.

The Gold Coast has been referred to in this debate. I too have been to the Gold Coast Indy 300 and V8s. I have been with locals who live on the track and they absolutely love the event. It can be an inconvenience, but the track is closed at certain times so that people can plan their day accordingly. What ends up happening is exactly what happens at Mount Panorama: People know that it brings life to that local economy. It also brings visitors. For the people who live there, all of a sudden relatives they have not seen for a long time phone and say, “I would love to come to stay with you for three or four days,” or however many days it is. For a lot of people it is a great opportunity to take advantage of something that comes around once a year. If they hold it for five years or for longer, then God bless them. I hope they do. I hope it works incredibly well for them. There will be far more winners than losers throughout the entire Hunter Valley, and particularly in the city of Newcastle, following this announcement.

In relation to the concerns of The Greens about Destination NSW, I have seen the way that organisation’s chief executive officer, Sandra Chipchase, manages these projects. She is hands on and she is present. I have seen the way she takes delight in the projects being delivered. From what I have observed, she is not in some ivory tower. I have confidence in this woman’s ability to ensure that the concerns of Newcastle are listened to and managed where they possibly can be, and most certainly that the city itself celebrates what will be an absolutely fantastic weekend—a showcase not only of V8 motor vehicles but also of the city of Newcastle itself. Well done.

The Hon. JOHN GRAHAM (12:26): I love Newcastle. I also love motor racing. I commend the member for Newcastle for the job he has done representing his community and putting his views on this issue very strongly in the Parliament and in public. I also commend the Opposition amendments to the Motor Racing Legislation Amendment (Newcastle 500) Bill 2017 that have been outlined to the House, and I will speak to the key principles behind them. There are two ideas that are crucial to this. The Opposition wants proper government support and proper consultation as this process rolls out, and it supports it on that basis. I make it clear that that means the Opposition does not want this left to the promoters. That will not work. There must be significant government assistance to do this. Another key principle is that the Opposition does not want one level of support in Sydney and something less than that in Newcastle. There must be just as much protection, consultation and support in the Hunter as has been offered in Sydney.

I note the contribution of Mr. Justin Field, and I agree with a couple of the strong points he has made. One was about the scrutiny of costs of these proposals. I do not think that has always been the case, and it needs to be. Another was that this event will have a major impact. It will, and there is no getting around that. I have walked through the affected streets. They are very narrow and this event really will have a big impact on the residents. There is no getting around the fact that we must work through those issues properly. However, I differ from him in that I believe the event will be well received in the Hunter. On any Sunday afternoon when the sun is shining there is a queue of cars and car fans on the foreshore having a fantastic time.

I have no doubt that the Newcastle 500 supercars will be well received in Newcastle and the Hunter. However, it should not be left to the Newcastle City Council to sort out issues the Government has not addressed. That is what the Opposition amendments are about. It must be done properly, up‑front and with the support of the Government. I am upset about one thing—namely, our secret will be out. If this event goes ahead at Newcastle it will become clear to international guests and others in this country just how beautiful Newcastle really is. On balance, the supercars will be a very good project, but it must have support. The Opposition will not settle for second-class treatment or for less support and consultation than occurs when events are considered for Sydney. Those criteria must be delivered to this community.

Reverend the Hon. FRED NILE (12:30): I speak in support of the Motor Racing Legislation Amendment (Newcastle 500) Bill 2017. I also support the speech made by my colleague the Hon. Paul Green. I spent a number of years living in Newcastle. When I first became a minister, I was appointed to a church in Mayfield, so I had a great deal of contact with the citizens of Newcastle. I know many of the successes and problems that the people of Newcastle face, and they need all the help they can get. If this legislation provides help and stimulus to the city of Newcastle and its economy through jobs and tourism then I support it. I am pleased that the Government is proceeding with this project, and we look forward to its success when it occurs.

Mr. SCOT MacDONALD (12:31): I acknowledge that the Minister for Tourism and Major Events is in the gallery, and I congratulate him. When he is racing around the east end of Newcastle, the tough parts of his ministerial job will be forgotten and the good parts will come to the fore. The Hon. Catherine Cusack will also have good carriage of the Motor Racing Legislation Amendment (Newcastle 500) Bill in the months to come. I too had the privilege of playing a role in Newcastle. In September last year I attended the launch of the Newcastle 500 with former Premier Mike Baird, Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, and a number of other representatives, including the local member, Tim Crakanthorp. If any person encapsulates the word “photobomb”, it is him. He was in the personal space of Craig Lowndes and anybody who had anything to do with Coates Hire.

The Hon. Greg Donnelly: Point of order: I am happy to give the Hon. Scot MacDonald a bit of leniency, but he knows he is reflecting on a member in the other House and that he should not do so.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (The Hon. Shayne Mallard): I remind the Hon. Scot McDonald not to reflect on other members.

Mr. SCOT MacDONALD: He was very enthusiastic, and he tweeted to that effect. Everybody was enthusiastic about the launch of the Newcastle 500 and what it will bring to the city. Approximately $500 million is being reinvested in the central business district, including the light rail. Units to the value of $200 billion are under construction or being proposed for Newcastle from the west end to the east end. The city is going through a tremendous renewal after reinvestment and a vote of confidence in it. A lot of good things are happening in the area. As the Hon. Michael Gallacher said, after a long period of introspection and not much happening in the area, there is now a sense of hope with new developments.

The launch of the supercars is a welcome part of the reinvestment in the area. The city is growing up. The event will provide a diversity of activities within the economy. The Greens have said time and again that the Hunter must move away from the resources industry, that it must broaden its economy and engage in tourism. However, Mr. Justin Field said this event cannot happen. The benefit to the community has been calculated at approximately $55 million to $57 million, but I think it will be more. A lot of that investment will go under the radar to bed and breakfast accommodation. Indeed, as one member said, long-lost relatives will turn up. No doubt Airbnb and Uber will also take off. Newcastle is coming of age.

The Newcastle 500 is a fantastic development and I appreciate that the Newcastle City Council was on the front foot and put skin in the game. It has joined with Destination NSW, the State Government and the private sector through Coates Hire, and has invested in the supercars. It will be a wonderful event. Access to the event will present some challenges because it is an older area which has heritage value. The tourism industry across the State has shown that it is capable of meeting the needs of the local community and, most of all, showing off the Hunter and Newcastle to a huge audience around the world. Whether people are interested in this sport or not, once word gets out about what a wonderful area Newcastle is, it will be the place on the map to visit for its beaches, wineries, whale watching, and everything else it has to offer. It is a great move for the people of Newcastle and the Hunter.

After a long time—probably since the exit of BHP, although the next 20 years will present other challenges—this Government has given Newcastle a vote of confidence and has invested in the city. The Government continues to look at the big picture. We are continuing work on the light rail corridor, renewable energy, and many others things on a smaller level. Let us not turn our back on this issue; we should focus on the serious challenges that can be overcome. The feedback I have received shows that the majority of people in Newcastle think it is a wonderful thing. That was certainly the reaction of local member Tim Crakanthorp when he tweeted, “It’s official.” Let us take the politics and partisan advantage out of it. Well done to the Government, to the Minister for Tourism and Major Events, and to the Parliamentary Secretary. Let us get on with it.