The giant Brisbane Automall test track and planned dealership facility has been cancelled in its planning phase, according to a statement from BAC (Brisbane Airport Corporation).
The project, planned for development in a partnership between Brisbane Airport Corporation and Eagers Automotive, will no longer proceed.
According to the Brisbane Times, BAC had forecasted 1.4 million annual visitors to the site by 2026.
An artist’s impression of what the inside of the Brisbane Automall could have looked like
Earthworks had already commenced for the facility, however it had subsequently sat in limbo for years. The project was originally announced in 2016.
With the Automall no longer going ahead, it leaves the residents of greater Brisbane with only limited access to racetracks.
Queensland Raceway at Ipswich, Morgan Park Raceway at Warwick and Lakeside Park Raceway at Kurwongbah are the remaining circuits available for punters wanting to have a crack at track driving.
Groundworks have been done for the Automall, but no more work will be done
What exactly is the Automall?
Chasing Cars has been following the project for quite some time, and even outlined the project around one year ago, in an article you can read here.
Essentially, the Brisbane Automall was envisioned to be a 2.4-kilometre racetrack accompanied by facilities such as a lounge, viewing area and a set of purpose-built dealerships run by Queensland dealer network Eagers Automotive.
An aerial view of what the Automall could have looked like when completed
The core idea was that interested buyers could take a test car straight off the showroom floor and right onto the track where drivers could experience the car dynamically in safe confines away from the public road.
But the facility wouldn’t just be about selling cars. BAC also intended for the facility to be used for automotive research and development by car manufacturers to conduct local testing for the Australian market.
What will the site become, now that Automall is no more?
It’s likely that the site will be built into parklands or a community development
BAC published a statement about the development, stating that “Brisbane Airport Corporation is committed to continuing to develop a multi-purpose precinct which locals and visitors can enjoy in the years to come.
“This site is three times larger than South Bank Parklands, so it is important for us to take the time to plan this area right”.
It sounds like a multi-use parkland development is likely to replace the Automall concept, however with the area being so close to the Brisbane Airport, the site could be turned into an airport-related facility to assist with operations.
