The Daylesford Speedway Drivers Association will stay in control of Basin Reserve for the next five years despite strong interest in the precinct from two other parties.
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The decision was initially expected to breeze through March’s Hepburn Shire council meeting, however the vote was postponed at the last minute after council received another expression of interest for the precinct.
Motoring enthusiast Peter Chettleburgh had proposed to give the speedway a $1.3 million facelift and met council officers at the precinct about six weeks ago to detail his plans.
Following the March meeting another external party had also approached the council to express interest in taking over the precinct.
Hepburn Shire infrastructure general manager Bruce Lucas said the DSDA was awarded the lease to the scarce details provided by the other two parties.
“Council was approached by two separate third parties interested in the speedway and council consulted with both parties prior to consideration by council,” Mr Lucas said. “However, insufficient information was provided and despite requests for a formal proposal, no proposals were received by council.”
The lease will now require the approval from Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio before the lease is officially signed.
DSDA president Casey Bandy said he was always confident the organisation would again be granted the lease, despite the new challengers.
“The whole process hasn’t really stopped us from doing what we’ve been doing and we’ve just had a couple of awesome race meetings, so we’re looking forward to bigger and better things.
Mr Chettleburgh said he said he would not pursue his proposal any further.