It’s been talked about for years, but work’s officially started this morning on a dedicated motor racing resort in Lake Macquarie.
Rehabilitation of the old Rhondda Colliery has wrapped up, which means construction on the $95 million Black Rock Motor Resort can begin.
The Black Rock Motor Resort at Wakefield will include a 5.25km driving circuit, luxury accommodation, driver training, a function centre, a cafe and a go-kart track.
Black Rock CEO Tony Palmer said the finished resort would be a world away from the underground and open cut coal mining that operated on the site from the late 1800s until 1971.
“Unlike a normal racetrack where the focus is large-scale racing events, Black Rock is more like a golf resort, but rather than 18 holes we have a 5.25km a circuit as our centrepiece,” Mr Palmer said.
“The design of Black Rock focused on evolving the site from a former coal mine into a beautifully landscaped destination, integrating the circuit and all the facilities within the existing mine footprint and utilising previously cleared land and existing fire trails.”
Black Rock is expected to be operational within two years, with construction finalised about 12 months later.
The project’s first stage will include track construction and the establishment of a café in the former mine’s horse stable building.