Black Duck is back

MOST of the dirt bike riders in the south-east corner of Queensland would be happy with the news Black Duck Valley Moto Park has re-opened, but some of the residents of Black Duck Valley don't share their joy.

After much of the park suffering damage in the January 2011 floods, owner Steve Langdon said he has struggled to get the park open for business after eight months of re-building and compliance issues with the Lockyer Valley Regional Council (LVRC).

"The council have been pretty good," Mr Langdon said.

"They have visited us three times to check on operations and have been very helpful with us."

Mr Langdon said the park had been located in the valley for nearly 20 years and was a good tourism draw for the region, bringing business to Gatton and the community after the park saw a steady stream of customers in its first weekend of operations on June 9.

However, Black Duck Valley resident and neighbour of the park, Adam Cassel, said he didn't think the development was appropriate for the environmentally sensitive area it was in.

"I don't believe that the council is fully and properly enforcing the condition of DA1817 (Development Approval) specifically that it (the park) must not operate unless it is fully compliant with all conditions," Mr Cassel said.

"The noise is terrible."

Mr Cassel said residents had no choice but to continue to push for proper regulation of the facility.

The noise issue was echoed by another neighbour to the park, Lindsay Huston, whose property is also situated within a few hundred metres of the park and said the noise travelled around the quiet valley at night as well.

"I don't deny there's a use for it. I just wish it was somewhere else," Mr Huston said. "It's changed the way we live."

LVRC mayor Steve Jones said the council had been vigilant in ensuring compliance issues were met under the development approval before the park re-opened for business.

"All we have asked, right from day one, is that things be done properly and safely."