Shoalhaven City Council announced if it were successful the complex at Yerriyong was set to receive over $9.5 million with the total project set to cost more than $19 million.

The announcement came after Mayor Joanna Gash defended council support for the complex when the project was deferred by the Joint Regional Planning Panel meeting last week.

“The community feedback I have been receiving has been generally positive,” she said.

“I must reiterate the true role of council is to take a big picture view on the Shoalhaven and where we are headed.”

Cr Gash said it was inevitable someone would always be impacted by developments and council was trying to “find a balanced approach”.

Shoalhaven Business Chamber president Brendan Goddard said they supported the project which he believed would generate tourism.

“When you have someone [Motorcycling NSW] ready to invest and guaranteed money from a government source it would be silly to push it away,” he said.

“This project has the demand from the motoring industry, support from the federal government and the road upgrades have only made it easier for people to access the area.”

Yerriyong resident Melinda Norton, who spoke on behalf of the Parma Yerriyong Community Group at the recent JRPP meeting, said she couldn’t understand how the federal funding was approved.

“Two years ago the application was knocked back and still there is no DA approved, but now they’re successful,” she said.

“There are still a lot of questions the residents have, but we have not had any answers. It’s beyond frustrating.”

She hoped the JRPP rejected the development application.

“I don’t know where this idea of support from the community is coming from because it’s definitely not coming from the people who live in the area,” she said.

Confusion continued after the JRPP meeting over the DA deadlines. It’s understood information must be provided by January 31 and a public meeting in March.