strife
05-08-2003, 09:00 PM
http://www.andra.com.au/latestnews/latestnews.htm#item2
WESTERN SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL DRAGWAY OPENING POSTPONED
Despite nearly five weeks of fine weather, the impacts of three months of unseasonably heavy rain from April to June have forced a cancellation of the proposed opening meeting for Western Sydney International Dragway.
The planned official opening event was to have been the Pacific Coast Nationals, over the weekend of November 14-16, which was to have been an ANDRA Australian Drag Racing Series round and the official start to the 2003/2004 ANDRA Group One Championship series.
"We have been overwhelmed with enquiries for the event, from all over Australia as well as overseas," said WSID Chairman Tony Beuk. "The level of interest indicated a likely competitor turnout of as many as 600 race teams, and with spectator interest expected to be at an all time high, and unprecedented enthusiasm from the corporate and business sector, there was obviously a lot riding on this date.
"At the moment the current construction schedule has extensions to October 28, but that just leaves two weeks to the originally scheduled opening date. If there was no rain between now and the end of October we could possibly proceed on the existing schedule. However, we need a minimum of two weeks to prepare the venue for that opener, and there is a negligible chance of there being no rain in the next four months. The expectation of both the construction company John Holland and the NSW Government is that construction will now be completed in mid-November. We cannot afford to take the risk for the many people who would be planning interstate or overseas trips, accommodation bookings and other expenses."
In addition, some recent additions to the fit-out of the venue, which will enhance its level of comfort, may add to the construction time.
The original schedule called for construction to be completed in early September but to that had to be added time lost to weather or other circumstances beyond the contractor's control.
In an average year Sydney experiences 36 days which would impact on such a project, but in less than three months the WSID project suffered 38 lost days, and even when it was not raining the ground was so saturated that water lying on the surface prevented much work being done.
There are several constraining factors on an alternative date, including the Australian Nationals event at Queensland's Willowbank Raceway on the weekend of November 21-23, and a major touring car race at the neighbouring Eastern Creek Raceway on November 29-30. Planning approvals and local authorities, as well as common sense, dictate that two major events cannot be held at adjacent venues on the same day.
An alternative opening date will be announced in the next three to four weeks, once progress on the construction is further advanced and a better idea of a likely completion date is more evident.
"We deeply regret any inconvenience caused by this," Mr Beuk concluded, "but we really have no choice. We look forward to seeing all the fans and racers at what will still be one of the great events in Australian drag racing history."
WESTERN SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL DRAGWAY OPENING POSTPONED
Despite nearly five weeks of fine weather, the impacts of three months of unseasonably heavy rain from April to June have forced a cancellation of the proposed opening meeting for Western Sydney International Dragway.
The planned official opening event was to have been the Pacific Coast Nationals, over the weekend of November 14-16, which was to have been an ANDRA Australian Drag Racing Series round and the official start to the 2003/2004 ANDRA Group One Championship series.
"We have been overwhelmed with enquiries for the event, from all over Australia as well as overseas," said WSID Chairman Tony Beuk. "The level of interest indicated a likely competitor turnout of as many as 600 race teams, and with spectator interest expected to be at an all time high, and unprecedented enthusiasm from the corporate and business sector, there was obviously a lot riding on this date.
"At the moment the current construction schedule has extensions to October 28, but that just leaves two weeks to the originally scheduled opening date. If there was no rain between now and the end of October we could possibly proceed on the existing schedule. However, we need a minimum of two weeks to prepare the venue for that opener, and there is a negligible chance of there being no rain in the next four months. The expectation of both the construction company John Holland and the NSW Government is that construction will now be completed in mid-November. We cannot afford to take the risk for the many people who would be planning interstate or overseas trips, accommodation bookings and other expenses."
In addition, some recent additions to the fit-out of the venue, which will enhance its level of comfort, may add to the construction time.
The original schedule called for construction to be completed in early September but to that had to be added time lost to weather or other circumstances beyond the contractor's control.
In an average year Sydney experiences 36 days which would impact on such a project, but in less than three months the WSID project suffered 38 lost days, and even when it was not raining the ground was so saturated that water lying on the surface prevented much work being done.
There are several constraining factors on an alternative date, including the Australian Nationals event at Queensland's Willowbank Raceway on the weekend of November 21-23, and a major touring car race at the neighbouring Eastern Creek Raceway on November 29-30. Planning approvals and local authorities, as well as common sense, dictate that two major events cannot be held at adjacent venues on the same day.
An alternative opening date will be announced in the next three to four weeks, once progress on the construction is further advanced and a better idea of a likely completion date is more evident.
"We deeply regret any inconvenience caused by this," Mr Beuk concluded, "but we really have no choice. We look forward to seeing all the fans and racers at what will still be one of the great events in Australian drag racing history."