Drop-In or Consultation?

When the timelines for the V8 Street-Car racing circuit were announced a promise was made of ‘Public Consultation’. It soon became evident that the promised “May – June 2025 community and stakeholder consultation” was going to be nothing short of a KPI ticked off.

The literature posted out to residents promised “…. sport, culture and community together in a dynamic, multi-purpose destination of state-wide importance. We are asking for ideas from community members, nearby residents, visitors, sporting and cultural organisations and other interested stakeholders to help shape the precinct”. So much for the spin, what was the reality? Someone commented when this was announced, they want to know what colour we would like the doors to be painted.

A small marquee was set up at Optus Stadium ‘Near Gate D’ for four sessions of limited duration, two of the sessions immediately prior to Dockers and Eagles games. Lots of easels with pretty pictures of events and only one picture of a street-car. The cartoon map was on a central table with the proposed circuit (this is a 2D 17th version of the circuit, for approval by the FIA it will need to be in 3D) in pale yellow and certainly not showing to scale (i.e. how much real estate a 12 metre track will take up).

Why was this set-up at Optus Stadium? Why was this not taken to the Communities that are going to have their ears blasted by noise? Burswood, Claisebrook, Victoria Park, East Perth, Belmont, Lathlaine? Many of the residents in these areas do not even know what this proposal is.

After engaging with the WA Main Roads staff (they are the lead agency on this project not Infrastructure WA, I wonder why?) and constantly being told, “We haven’t done that yet” (Business Plans, Cost Benefit Analysis, Audited details of crowd numbers from other Super Cars events, Cultural Heritage considerations, Geotechnical Reports) it soon became apparent that this project is very ill conceived. Any ideas were to be written on Post It notes and stuck on the surrounding Subject posters.

At the end of the four days and after being told to move on by Optus Stadium staff and the WA Police when we were distributing flyers giving the other side of the story, Daniel Pastorelli MLA reported

·       “We’ve just wrapped up our community drop-in sessions for the new Perth Entertainment and Sporting Precinct at Burswood.”. Notice how these have now become drop-in sessions?

·       “Around 350 people visited the tent across the four days”. Less than 90 people per day and about 12 of those each day were our Committee members.

·       “The future precinct will deliver a world class space which can support music, entertainment, cultural events, sport – and importantly – enhanced public amenity and landscaping of the park for the community.”. Again, notice that there is no mention of the Street racetrack?

This whole process reeks of the ancient Roman practice of providing Bread and Circuses to the populace as a diversion. Premier Cook, we will NOT be fooled.