Accustomed to quiet surrounds, residents of Smiths Road and Angle Crossing Road are rallying against a proposal for the Light Car Club of Canberra to move in on a nearby block.
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A proposal had been tabled by the car club to transform Block 108, ACT land currently used for grazing, into a site which could hold monthly car racing events.
No formal application has been made by The Light Car Club of Canberra (LCCC) to use the site for motorsports events but the club's president, Mike Behnke, has written to Mick Gentleman, MLA, and Chief Minister Andrew Barr and had been in discussions with the Heritage and Environment representatives from ACT government since May.
An ACT government spokeswoman said if an application for a licence or permit was lodged a range of conditions could be imposed to ensure "participants and the community are not put at risk".
After learning of the proposal in October the residents formed the Smiths Road Community Steering Committee to drive the concept out.
Committee spokeswoman Jenny Bourne said it was concerning the process so far had been largely "under the radar."
"We want to make sure it's not a completely bureaucratic decision and that's why we are putting our concerns in front of the government."
In a 25 page counter submission residents have outlined how regular racing events would be noisy, impact on road safety, increase congestion and cause pollution and sediment to run off into a creek on the block connected to the Murrumbidgee River.
Mr Behnke said the club had gone to great effort to be consultative and had met government representatives and the residents group.
"It is a sport to us; it's not a bunch of hoons out there tearing up a paddock," he said.
"Our position is that we can only ask the question about use and address any concerns that are raised by government and whoever else."
The club has a three-year licence from the Yass Council to hold three events per year in Murrumbateman, however a Gunderoo property, used for all other events, would soon be redeveloped.
The government has requested a second submission from the LCCC in the new year, addressing a series of issues about appropriate use of the site, one being how to mitigate the impact of cars crossing Reedy Creek.
Mr Behnke said without regular events for members the car club would not survive so he was focused on finding a long-term solution that suited all involved by mid-2016.
