Mr McCARTHY - 2008-09-16
The minister recently officially opened the Central Australian Drag Racing facility. Can the minister please update the House on this exciting initiative for Central Australia?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. It certainly was an exciting event. My history with the Drag Racing Association goes back a fair way. I recall one of the first meetings I was involved with, back in 2001, when we had the Drag Racing Association coming in to say: ‘We need a new drag strip urgently’. They had been asking the CLP for years and that request had been falling on deaf ears. So it was great to be there in front of a huge crowd together with some great members of the Drag Racing Association.
The Northern Territory government has supported CADRA’s aims for a permanent drag racing facility in the Centre for quite some time. We granted the land, adjacent to the Finke Desert Race start/finish line, some time ago. We have invested over $1m in that drag way; an investment that was welcomed by the Central Australian motor sport community. It is money well spent. It looks fantastic and it is very important infrastructure in terms of our sporting facilities in Central Australia.
I acknowledge the work done by CADRA in working with this government to get the drag strip up and running. In particular, I acknowledge CADRA’s President, Guy Watts, for his hard work on this project. I especially pay tribute to the former CADRA Secretary and motor sport icon in the Centre, the late Mr Alan Stainer. At the opening, I shared with people a story about Al’s passion and dedication for the sport. I recall, at the first parliamentary sittings in Alice Springs, Al was there with his car and his placards, as loud as ever, lobbying for a drag strip. That is something that will stick in my memory for a long time. I would like to place him on the public record for his passion for the sport.
The Inland Dragway is a fantastic sporting facility in Central Australia, and highlights this government’s commitment to motor sport across the Territory. As Minister for Sport and Recreation, I look forward to seeing its continued growth and attending more successful meetings at the Inland Dragway.
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Barkly for his question. It certainly was an exciting event. My history with the Drag Racing Association goes back a fair way. I recall one of the first meetings I was involved with, back in 2001, when we had the Drag Racing Association coming in to say: ‘We need a new drag strip urgently’. They had been asking the CLP for years and that request had been falling on deaf ears. So it was great to be there in front of a huge crowd together with some great members of the Drag Racing Association.
The Northern Territory government has supported CADRA’s aims for a permanent drag racing facility in the Centre for quite some time. We granted the land, adjacent to the Finke Desert Race start/finish line, some time ago. We have invested over $1m in that drag way; an investment that was welcomed by the Central Australian motor sport community. It is money well spent. It looks fantastic and it is very important infrastructure in terms of our sporting facilities in Central Australia.
I acknowledge the work done by CADRA in working with this government to get the drag strip up and running. In particular, I acknowledge CADRA’s President, Guy Watts, for his hard work on this project. I especially pay tribute to the former CADRA Secretary and motor sport icon in the Centre, the late Mr Alan Stainer. At the opening, I shared with people a story about Al’s passion and dedication for the sport. I recall, at the first parliamentary sittings in Alice Springs, Al was there with his car and his placards, as loud as ever, lobbying for a drag strip. That is something that will stick in my memory for a long time. I would like to place him on the public record for his passion for the sport.
The Inland Dragway is a fantastic sporting facility in Central Australia, and highlights this government’s commitment to motor sport across the Territory. As Minister for Sport and Recreation, I look forward to seeing its continued growth and attending more successful meetings at the Inland Dragway.
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016