Residents of Canberra are demanding the organisers of the Summernats car festival take financial responsibility for cleaning public streets left covered in thick layers of shredded tyre rubber by event attendees.
Unofficial burnout pits leave streets polluted
The call follows a complaint from a Cook resident who witnessed the aftermath of an unofficial "amateur burnout pit" on Dryandra Street in O'Connor. The entrance to the local Tourist Park was reportedly coated in a dense layer of burnt rubber, a byproduct of car enthusiasts performing burnouts outside the official event precinct at EPIC.
Paul Wayper of Cook argues the festival's organisers should be held accountable for the actions of their fans when the "tyre shredding action leaves the drag strip for the road." He contends this behaviour not only destroys the peace and damages public infrastructure but also poses a danger to other road users and property.
A broader problem requiring a financial solution
This incident is cited as a key reason for the ACT government to increase charges for the Summernats event. The disturbance, critics say, extends far beyond the suburbs surrounding the Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), polluting streets across the capital.
"If they can't afford to clean up after their own fans, they don't deserve to run the event here," Wayper stated bluntly in his letter to the editor dated January 13, 2026.
Residents cite noise and social costs
Other correspondents echoed concerns about the event's wider impact. A Turner resident noted that while Summernats brings tourism and counters Canberra's "boring" image, it imposes significant costs. They reported increased rowdy behaviour, loud revving, and hooning along Northbourne Avenue, with police sometimes turning a "blind eye."
"Every night since the Tuesday before the event, I have been kept awake by revving of loud exhausts," wrote Trevor Mules, arguing that better control of these social costs would increase the event's value to the community.
In other letters to the editor:
Used EV Value: Ray Peck of Hawthorn, Victoria, highlighted a Royal Automobile Club of Queensland survey showing used electric vehicles retain over 90% battery capacity even after high mileage, making them a sensible purchase.
Pool Plan Criticism: Maria Greene from Curtin labelled the consultation for the proposed Commonwealth Park pool a "sham," criticising the ACT government for replacing a popular, accessible facility with an inferior one in the wrong location.
Climate and Health: Anne O'Hara of Wanniassa linked the rise in heat-related illnesses and deaths directly to climate change, calling for a drastic reduction in coal, gas, and oil use.
Solar Saves the Grid: Keith Hill from New Acton praised household rooftop solar for providing critical energy during the recent heatwave, countering claims that solar is unreliable when demand peaks.
Media Silence on Gaza: Peter Curtis of Waramanga questioned why discussions on anti-Semitism often omit the context of events in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, calling the silence "deliberate and organised."
