Full Throttle

Environmentalists, and a 4.3 in frog, may have a profound impact on the Australian V8 Series’ event held annually at Olympic Park in Sydney.

The future of V8 Supercar racing in Sydney is being held ransom by the green and golden bell frog, cementing its place as the nation’s most powerful amphibian.

Environmental groups have raised concerns of the effects of the proposed championship event at Olympic Park on the endangered frog.

The frog previously threatened to derail a major sporting, the 2000 Sydney Olympics tennis venue was moved, and now appears set to umm… hop into the limelight again.

Total Environment Centre urban environment campaigner Leigh Martin said his organisation was concerned that there had been no study on the impact the V8s would have on the frog.

“One of the concerns is there’s been no assessment of the potential impact an event of this sort can have on the green and golden bell frog population,” he said.

It should be noted here Sydney Olympic Park is home to one of New South Wales largest populations (about 300) of Green and Golden Bell Frogs. Conservation of the frog species throughout the sites redevelopment has been a key planning parameter that shaped how the Park looks and is managed. Hell, the Green and Golden Bell Frog has become an unofficial mascot for the park and sandstone sculptures have been placed in the children’s playground in their “honor”.

Mr Martin said the threats included spills and run-offs of oil and other material into the surrounding area, large crowds trampling the surrounding and the vibrations caused by the cars roaring around the 3.4km circuit at up to 270km/h.

Australian Museum naturalist Martin Robinson also raised concerns, including spills and run-off getting into the ponds housing the frogs.

MY COUPLE OF QUID: I may have missed it - maybe someone can update me - but I can’t remember a single occasion in the 10 years of following the V8’s there have been any major spills of oil or other dangerous materials of a size that would create any runoff.

Maybe they should be more worried about the frogs chocking on the dust licked up from the oil-dry used in the paddock to prevent the spills they are so concerned about?

Also of interest, aside from the ecco-weenie environmentalists and probably the frogs themselves, there’s a bit of croaking heard from the other side of Sydney.

The operators of the Eastern Creek Raceway yesterday called on the State Government to ditch the Olympic Park location in favor of the western Sydney facility.

Fat chance of that happening, Eastern Creek is already on the V8 schedule, but it’s the thought that counts I suppose. And a chance for your croak to be heard.

And finally I offer this Hindu proverb: “When an elephant is in trouble, even a frog will kick him”

Technorati Tags: Eastern Creek Raceway, Olympic Park, Sydney, V8 Supercars