The Labor state government has confirmed it will provide $150,000 towards a business case for the viability of the multi-million dollar motorsports project. 

The decommissioned CFA training college was officially closed in 2015 after it was found to be contaminated with toxic chemicals, with the CFA and state government undergoing an $80 million clean-up process. 

A business case would explore opportunities for driver education and training, industry development, vehicle testing and grassroots involvement. 

Partnering with the Moorabool Shire Council and the state government, the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) CEO Eugene Arocca said this was an “outstanding opportunity for Victoria to set a new standard for motor sport facilities”.

An early plan for the motor sport complex developed by the City of Ballarat estimated a national motor sport facility would require between 240-300 hectares and would cost more than $35 million.

Moorabool Shire Council committed $100,000 into developing a business case for the site in its 2018/19 budget. 

Minister for Sport John Eren said in a statement contributing to the business case would ensure “Victoria stays Australia’s sporting capital”, with motor sport generating more than $700 million of direct economic impact in Victoria each year.

Ballarat upper house MP Josh Morris said the Liberals had certainly been “in discussions with the Moorabool Shire Council about Fiskville and are happy to continue those discussions into the future”.

Emergency Services Minister James Merlino stated the government would consult with stakeholders “to ensure any future activity on the site will be safe and suitable for the community, and capable of delivering economic benefit to the region.”