Phillip Island latest news

[Smitty]

$300 million plan for Phillip Island Circuit


Australian Golfer of the Century Greg Norman today joined with five times world motorcycle champion, Mick Doohan, five times V8 Supercar champion Mark Skaife and Andrew Nicholls, General Manager of circuit owners, Linfox Property Group, to unveil their combined vision for the future of the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.

Designed to create a world class sporting and resort venue on the 380 hectare site and secure the financial viability of the circuit through additional, year round income streams, the $300 million plans include:

� Major upgrade and extension to event infrastructure including the pit building and race control, the media centre, television broadcast zone, a permanent Expo facility and paved carparking
� A go-kart track which is a 722 m replica of the 4.45 km Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit. There will be a range of karts to suit driving levels � the top line being 28hp SLR Karts imported from Switzerland and personally tested and selected by Mick Doohan
� A unique, cliff top 18 hole golf course with spectacular coastal views, designed by Greg Norman
� A five star, resort hotel featuring 1175 rooms and a conference centre and clubhouse built in three compact villages called Heath, Crest and Lakeside and positioned between the golf course and the circuit
� A complete makeover of the circuit entrance at gate one to ensure an entrance fitting a world class sporting venue
� A state of the art permanent office, club and corporate facility at the end of the main straight, catering for 200 guests and boasting extensive circuit views to Bass Strait
� Two new water environments on the western boundary of the property and extensive revegetation of the property with the native heath that was destroyed when the area was cleared in the 1860�s for farmland

Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit was purchased by LINFOX Property Group in mid 2004 and $3million has already been spent in the past year on safety and infrastructure requirements.

Of the proposed development, the go-kart track is due for completion by Christmas; a permit has been granted for the first stage of the hotel development; a planning application has been lodged for the golf course and remaining accommodation; and plans are being finalized for the office, club and corporate facilities, entrance and other circuit upgrades.

The intention is for race facility upgrades to start next year and continue indefinitely; for the Summit Club corporate facility and new office to be ready in one to two years; for the golf course to be completed in three years; and for the accommodation to commence in two years and be built in stages over five years.

LINFOX plans to sell all hotel rooms, with the resort holding appeal to lifestyle investors. Investors will not be able to use their investment as a principle place of residence.

"Our vision is to create a world class sporting, tourism and conference venue that complements the environment and showcases and preserves the spectacular scenery and landscape of Phillip Island," said General Manager of Linfox Property Group, Andrew Nicholls.

"Phillip Island is an international track loved by bike riders and drivers the world over, but the facilities that surround the 4.45km line of intensely challenging bitumen are quickly becoming quaint."

"We need to develop the income sources of the circuit and secure its financial future. Our plan provides the facilities needed to maintain and grow the Circuit, introduces highly lucrative golf, business and resort opportunities and provides new income flows, new audiences and a venue for year round pursuits and year round enjoyment."

"Next year, Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit celebrates its 50th year. The circuit has been embedded in the Phillip Island economy and community for half a century and now hosts events like the MotoGP, World Superbikes and V8 Supercars. These events generate direct regional annual expenditure in excess of $33 million, and the activities of the circuit over the course of a year provide jobs for more than 600 people."

"But the circuit needs to grow to survive. Otherwise the international events will stop coming, critical mass will be lost and the circuit will shrink. These plans set the circuit's future and the hotel, golf course and villas are expected to generate further regional benefit of between $30-50 million," said Nicholls, who also quoted estimates of 765 full time jobs created during the construction phase and over 500 full time jobs when in operation.

The key to the expansion of the Circuit is the Greg Norman designed golf course, that links with the five star resort hotel, the Circuit's international and national events and Phillip Island as a tourist destination.

Norman today visited the island to explain his vision for the course, and to show Doohan, Skaife, local councillors and dignitaries, and media the views from the 18th hole south to Pyramid Rock and north to the hotel site and circuit.

"Unique for Australia, this is truly a spectacular, cliff top site designed with six coastal holes. It is built on existing farmland but with views and topography that include a mix of cliffs and coastline, bays and beaches and living wetlands," said Norman, who has designed more than 50 courses worldwide including Asia�s coastal gem, Nirwana in Bali.

"Scenically the course we have envisioned has everything a golfer could wish for. It also has the unique proposition of being aligned to a world renowned race circuit that regularly receives international media coverage. The exposure it will receive via motorsport will put the venue on the world golfing and sporting map almost instantly."

"Golfers will travel from all over the globe to play here and if we can build a course with these six key coastal holes, we estimate 30 000 to 40 000 people will play this Phillip Island course annually. In other parts of the world, courses like this make resorts a major destination and inject millions into local economies and we believe we have all the ingredients here at the Island to ensure this is achieved."

"This Phillip Island Golf Course has unrivalled potential. If we can achieve our vision, it will ensure Victoria is considered a golfing mecca � with the courses of the Sandbelt; the sand dune courses of the Mornington Peninsula and now this very unique, coastal, clifftop course," said Norman.

Norman in conjunction with LINFOX has designed the course to ensure the environment is not only preserved, but is enhanced. The land which is currently grazed by cows will benefit from:

� The reestablishment of 40-60 acres of heathland vegetation that was destroyed when farming commenced on the land 150 years ago. Plant stock will be grown from the sole, small crop of native, indigenous heath that grows at Pyramid Rock.
� The careful management and design of the course, minimizing turf and maximising heath vegetation
� The development of large areas of wetlands on some of the holes to foster environmentally sensitive landscapes where bird life, reeds, native water grasses and vegetation can thrive. Also an enhancement of the wetlands habitats that currently exist on the land and the creation of two additional water environments
� The maintenance of the walking trails to meander through the course and the carefully planned tight knit villages
� The installation of grass buffers close to the ocean
� The use of recycled water which currently goes to an ocean outfall to water the greens and be used in the resort

Norman, Skaife and Doohan have all been appointed ambassadors of the circuit and have all worked closely on the plans.

"This circuit is truly special and as drivers we all relish the challenge of driving here," said Skaife today. "Fifty years or so ago, a group of enthusiasts had the vision to design this awesome piece of road, and I hope we can continue their dream and take this circuit to a new level on the world sporting stage."

"It is true that while the track is sensational, the facilities are sadly lacking. The place needs an urgent overhaul and the plan for the entire complex is far reaching and provides the income streams to fund development. When you go to a track like Shanghai and see what the Chinese have built, you realize it's time to upgrade Phillip Island!".

Doohan agreed, saying that riders the world over loved the circuit but pit, media and corporate facilities were struggling to meet the needs of racing in 2005.

"Greg talks today about setting a golf course on the cliffs with the coastal strip, and that in part, is what really adds to the lure of the Island circuit. Nothing beats the thrill of Lukey Heights, Southern Loop or Siberia or clocking 300 k's plus going down the main straight, but what makes it extra special is the outlook, the location and the views to the pounding blue ocean."

"But the time has more than come for a massive revamp of this place. The pit garages are designed for racing a decade ago, and technology has changed so rapidly that we need vastly improved facilities, more space and a big upgrade to the communication network."

In the meantime, it is business as usual for the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit with the final round of the V8 Supercar Championships this weekend; the World Superbikes returning next March 3-5; MotoGP next September 15-17 and a raft of testing days booked by the world's leading bike teams over summer.


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from Phillip island Circuit marketing

[edit] I have just found out my cousin works for PI circuit too
...which is nice [edit]

[Smitty]

even though I now find I have family working there
call me cynical
betcha admission prices increase at the Island

[mfzx6r]

It wouldn't want to go up much more it already cost me $260 for a family
for the motogp in October

[javaman]

I wonder why can't there be track days at sandown. Close to my house that would be nice !!

[mfzx6r]

By the photo in the Sun newspaper the other day the Kart track is right where track-side camp ground was/is so it looks like thats going to move
to a new spot

[Smitty]

I wonder why can't there be track days at sandown. Close to my house that would be nice !!

Andi
bikes were canned at Sandown from the early 80's
because of some bad car crashes during races

why?
there is no room for run offs in quite a few parts of the circuit
and any error or accident will be bad.

I have done quite a few track days there...in the car
and a few of the corners are bum-puckering
at Dandenong Rd (Princes Hwy) and the old Peters Corner (Turn3)
you stare at a concrete wall as you approach at hispeed
there is no room for error...no run off
or at the end of the back straight, you are doing 240
(race cars more like 290) and there is about 15m of sand trap
get it wrong any where and its off in the meat wagon

[Tack]

the thing that concerns me with all this is that they're saying they are going to sell units to people.

The stupid thing with this is that they buy the unit live in it for 10 years then start complaining about noise. Same thing happens with airports and is a problem for Sandown as well. So the track gets restrictions for how many noisy days they can have which means that eventually only major events get held there and the little guys miss out on using the track.

It's also amusing cause we'll have the added complaints from golfers who can't concentrate while they're trying putt!!

[James]

I dont think that the people who buy the units will live in them. Its an investment that the owners can make money from by tourists staying in them while they play golf/carts or watch the motoring events. The they'll appreciate in value should they sell later on. But I think you're right in that noise will become a factor and perhaps the ridedays will dictate that standard exhaust sytems be used.

Id be surprised if the option of camping at the GP/SBK is still available once the hotel is complete.

[MickLC]

LINFOX plans to sell all hotel rooms, with the resort holding appeal to lifestyle investors. Investors will not be able to use their investment as a principle place of residence.

[Tack]

Stating that the investor can't use it as a principle place of residence is not going to stop owners from living in the unit all year round if they so wish and won't stop the complaints.

[aardvark]

Other hotels have been built where the rooms are sold to investors. It reduces the cost to the developer (obviously).

The investors are normally required to sign contracts which state that they can only stay in the room under normal hotel room rental agreements (IE: If they stay, they have to pay).

[Mojo67]

There's a picture of the proposal here. http://www.mcnews.com.au/Tracks/phillip ... oposal.htm

[HemiDuty]

I hate Mark Skaife.