Taking inspiration from private race tracks like The Thermal Club outside of Los Angeles, BlackRock Motor Park in Lake Macquarie has been green-lit as Australia’s first recreation resort park for motoring enthusiasts.
The private race track will take over the Rhondda Colliery site and include a 5.25km track, go-kart track, driver training, luxury accommodation and function centre, and café.
It’s projected to cost up to $95 million and inject more than 450 jobs into the community during construction, and 229 jobs ongoing into the LGA. “With hundreds of new jobs and tens of millions of dollars of economic activity, this project is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Minister for Natural Resources, Courtney Houssos.
“Mining has long been a source of economic prosperity for NSW. As mines close, the government is committed to ensuring sites are rehabilitated safely, and the land put to new and productive use for the local community.”
The track has been designed by German-based Tilke Group, responsible for F1 tracks in Las Vegas, Jeddah Corniche, Circuit of The Americas, Yas Marina, and more.
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“We know motorsport lovers will travel and spend their money when they know they’re getting the best,” said Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley.
“It’s fantastic to see Lake Macquarie step up and offer locals and visitors from across the country and overseas the best in motorsport and tourism. We hear constantly about the need for tourism opportunities and the adaptive reuse of rehabilitated mines. This is a smart, exciting example of both.”
BlackRock Motor Resort CEO and founder Tony Palmer added “BlackRock Motor Resort is proud to be pioneering the adaptive re-use of a former coal mine into an exciting, world-class adventure tourism destination.”
“The facility will provide a range of motoring experiences including driver safety training for the young motorists of the region as well as exciting opportunities for the public to drive their own cars, or our cars, on the high-speed circuit.”
“I’d like to thank the NSW Government and Lake Macquarie City Council for supporting the vision to transform rehabilitated mining land into a valuable asset for the Lake Macquarie region and NSW.”
The track will surely bring in local and overseas visitors, and I’m sure we’ll get to attend a track day or two in the future with the first stage poised to open towards the end of 2025 and the entire facility scheduled to open in 2027.
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