The latest info we have on Streetwarz is that this Sunday, 24th May, from 1pm to 3pm the organisers are opening the gates and they need everyone even remotely interested in the event to come down and show thier support.

Don’t know about Streetwarz? Please read THIS POST first.

Further Streetwarz Updates HERE.

Negotiations are still underway with the Moreton Regional Council regarding the future of the event and for it to continue we need to band together and show the authorities that this is what all us car enthusiasts want – a place we can come and enjoy our cars legally without bothering anyone.

Here is a post that Shane, the guy behind Streetwarz, posted on the Boostcruising forum;

If you support Streetwarz, please come and join us at Business Drive, Narangba this Sunday from 1:00pm until 3:00pm to show your support.

We are not able to trade until we can resolve some issues with Council, so entry is free and we won’t be operating the skid pad. We want to keep working with the Council and the Police to get Streetwarz off the ground, so we hope to show them this Sunday just how much support we have.

The support we’ve had so far has been amazing and shows that this is a concept that is good for motor vehicle enthusiasts and benefits the local community. Coming along on Sunday is all about showing Council, the Police and the local community that you support the Streetwarz concept. The more people we can get together on Sunday to show their support for Streetwarz, the stronger the message we’re sending to Council and our community.

The local media will be attending to talk to the supporters of Streetwarz and to take some photos.

The idea behind Streetwarz is to give people who love their cars a legal, alcohol-free place off the street to hang out together, show off their street-registered cars and test their skills on a barricaded skid pad. All of this is done in a controlled environment on private property and off the streets, therefore saving car lovers from losing their licenses, their vehicles or worse, their lives or someone else’s. If we can save even one life by opening Streetwarz we will make a real difference in our community.

Streetwarz – the story so far

There has been a lot of talk about Streetwarz in the newspapers and online since we opened. I wanted to let everyone know the story behind Streetwarz.

I started working on the concept 18 months ago with the support of my family.

A year and a half ago I started planning and researching Streetwarz, making general enquiries to the relevant authorities i.e. Police, various Councils etc.

Six months ago I started approaching insurance companies regarding public liability insurance and I started looking for the appropriate place for Streetwarz. We have set out to establish Streetwarz in a way that the community supports us, so we looked for a place that had:
- the correct industrial area zoning with no restrictions on noise/time
- a large buffer zone to sensitive areas (schools and houses)
- a large enough area to accommodate vehicles and people including a free standing shed, fully fenced with a large car park and a skid pad area
- easy access so our visitors don’t have to drive through suburbs and disturb neighbours.

Three months ago I registered my business name Streetwarz and obtained a full $20million public liability insurance policy.

Six weeks ago I found the perfect property for Streetwarz at Business Drive, Narangba. I confirmed with the commercial real estate agent that the property had the correct industrial zoning with no noise/time restrictions, away from sensitive areas, and with a current development approval on the property for general industry. I then rang Moreton Bay Regional Council Town Planning and they confirmed the property met all of these requirements with an industrial zoning with no noise or time restrictions, 600-900m distance to sensitive areas (schools/houses) and a current development approval for general industry.

One month ago I signed a lease on the property at Business Drive, Narangba ($290,400 p.a.) and I notified the local Police regarding my business and its location.

Because we want to set up Streetwarz so it enjoys the support of our local community, I contacted a number of local businesses about using their products/services to help me run Streetwarz. The local traders we support include security company, a variety of hire companies, butcher, bakery, sign writers/sticker manufacturer, screen printer, embroidery, clothing manufacturer, arm band manufacturer, office supplies, car detailing, tyre companies and various commercial shops.

It has always been my intention that if Streetwarz got up and running four times per week I would donate up to 50 cents per gate entry sale to a local children charity to further support our community.

On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April, we opened for the first time and since then we have had approximately 2,000 people of all ages visit Streetwarz.

Afterwards, the Police approached me regarding some complaints in the area.

After we were told of the complaints, we distributed personal letters to 1,500 local residents and businesses to introduce Streetwarz and explain what we were trying to achieve. I also asked that people contact me personally if they had complaints or wanted to know more about Streetwarz.

After our first weekend we have had some dealings with Moreton Bay Regional Council.
- I have had two meetings over two weeks with various Council representatives.
- I have employed a local town planner to do a proposal for a new Development Approval.
- I have spoken with an independant acoustic engineer regarding sound tests, air tests and traffic flow reports.

I have told the Council I am happy to comply and I have tried to negotiate with them to allow me to continue trading. I have offered to reduce trading hours to Saturday/Sunday afternoons only and install a row of shipping containers as a sound barrier whilst the acoustic tests are undertaken for Council approvals.

Council sent me a notice to cease trading. If I don’t open Streetwarz I can’t afford to keep the property, I can’t do the new tests and aprrovals for Council and more importantly people will continue to do this activity on the streets risking their license, their cars and their lives as well as those of other road users and the community.

After an initial meeting with Council that appeared positive a subsequent meeting with various Council representatives made it clear that Council did not support the activities to be conducted on the site.

My back is against the wall and Streetwarz is at risk of being closed down. All we are asking of Council is to appreciate that Streetwarz is a concept that has a lot of community support and deserves to be considered fairly.

Thank you for your support.

Shane.

STREETWARZ ….. KEEPING IT OFF THE STREETS!