TRACK works are being carried out at the Frankston Motorcycle Park in Seaford and the reopening “is now imminent” according to Frankston Council.
Council has been working with members of the existing Frankston Motorcycle Club volunteer committee and Motorcycling Victoria since the track was closed after the death of 25-year-old motocross rider Danny Edlington on the main track in early April.
Deputy mayor Cr Glenn Aitken, who has been chairing an interim committee tasked with overseeing the park for a 12-month period after it reopens, said there are still “a couple of issues” including the provision of personal injury insurance to be resolved but progress is being made behind the scenes.
“While it is too early to announce a specific date the motor cycle park will re-open, the transition committee is making progress in important areas and we hope to make more definite announcements in the coming weeks,” Cr Aitken said.
“There have been a number of difficult issues that have been worked through successfully as a result of a very cooperative relationship between council and the motorcycle club. We are confident the re-opening is now imminent.”
Cr Aitken praised the patience of the club committee members when contacted by The Times.
“They have been really good to work with,” he said.
“Obviously they are being pressured by the membership [of the club] but they’ve been patient.”
The deputy mayor said the committee members have understood the difficulties involved in reopening the track quickly but have focused on “finding solutions” for unforeseen delays.
Motorcycling Victoria looked likely to take over management of the reopened Frankston Motorcycle Track at an early stage of consultation between council and the motorcycle club but the industry body opted not to become manager (‘Park on track to reopen’, The Times 8/6/15).
Council, MV and the Frankston Motorcycle Club hope to develop a management model to ensure all park users are covered by personal injury insurance.
Frankston Motorcycle Club president Ralph Ridley said club committee members were happy to work with Motorcycling Victoria despite there being no legal requirement to do so.
“MV are still involved because they can provide the club with insurance for the riders who ride there,” he said.
Mr Ridley said the track will operate within MV guidelines when it reopens to “give council confidence” to lease the Frankston Motorcycle Park to the club.
