Submission re: V8 Supercar Racing

Auckland City Residents and Ratepayers

Auckland City Residents and Ratepayers oppose any Auckland City Council endorsement for the V8 Supercar Racing Series.

Auckland City Residents and Ratepayers do not want the proposed V8 Supercar Race Event on central Auckland streets.

ACR&R does not endorse Auckland City Council affirming, supporting, or contributing funds to the race event.

REASONS

1. Auckland City Council representatives promoting the race as good for ratepayers are presumably, one-eyed supporters.

2. We believe that many elected representatives who support the V8 motor racing event show a lack of sound business judgment. The V8 Supercar race event is a private business venture - profits will not go directly to Auckland City Council. City traffic flows are likely to be more chaotic than ever as Harbour Bridge traffic stalls.

3. The promotion of individual business practice such as motor racing is not within the core business of Auckland City Council. After all, this is the same Council that gave community housing and half our airport shares - the boot.

4. Auckland City ratepayers are told that the city will benefit through V8 followers' interest. Yet specific economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts are downplayed by event promoters.

5. Auckland City Council had already accepted - that Victoria Park was special and worth preserving as a heritage park.

* This was evident when the Council agreed to a Victoria Park motorway-tunnel replacing the motorway bridge. We understand that the Park's trees were awarded heritage status. The V8 race will damage the Park, the heritage trees, and their root systems in particular.

* The Victoria Park Motorway (or Bridge) Report presented to ACC by Auckland City Residents and Ratepayers mid-2003 concluded - that the majority of business and residents wanted Victoria Park to become a complete park following the building of a motorway tunnel for the 165,000 vehicles crossing daily (April 2002 stats). The community envisioned the small city park as a jewel in Auckland's crown, and as such, was to become an undisturbed, open, green-space for all to enjoy.

The proposed V8 Supercar Racing Event makes a mockery of the wishes of residents living in the area. Multi-pollutants such as noise from trucks, racing cars, PA systems and crowds are expected to be unbearable for many residents. Increased vehicle emissions will add both to air and stormwater poisons. These detrimental effects must surely negate motor-racing acceptance under the Resource Management Act 1991.

The 3 Race Days - * Victoria Park and certain city surrounds will be fenced as per the racing circuit.

* Residents who are 'fenced in' by the event will need to park their cars away from places of residence, in public car parks if wanting to access vehicles during race days.

* Public street parks around the city/racing vicinity will be reserved for race organisers for 5 weeks (prior), 3 race days, and 3 weeks (after).

* Consequently, race enthusiasts will not find car park spaces anywhere near the event and will be told to use public transport.

* Safety issues still go unanswered (ACR&R requested a copy of any Safety Report).

* Ratepayers who wish to use the Park and surrounds and who do not reside inside the fence boundary will be charged entry fee over the 3 race days.

The Round-the-Bays Run (Fun Run) is cited by race organisers as an instance when important public roads are closed. ACR&R argues that there is no charge to walk around during the Fun Run event, and the Fun Run does not close off major roads for three days, nor restrict movement for 5 weeks before racing, and 3 weeks once racing finishes.

* The inner city is a bustling place which is suffering major infrastructure problems resulting in economic loss for the region. It is common knowledge that the road-plan for the V8 racing event will have massive negative impact on the travelling public from start of preparations to completion (being about 9 weeks). * Transit NZ may begin Victoria Park motorway reconstruction around the same time-frame as the racing. The V8 Racing Event will predictably cause massive, double-disruption for Victoria Park, residents, and commuters. ACR&R has asked Transit for more information.

Public safety and transit nuisance are good enough reasons to prohibit car racing around Victoria Park and surrounds.

Having a V8 Supercar Racing Event around Victoria Park and the inner city equates to an affront on our senses, and yet another threat to our environment.

At a time when car pollutants kill 250 Aucklanders each year, when vehicle run-off causes major stormwater stress, when congestion problems are massing each day and when petrol costs are likely to soar, a series of annual V8 street races in Auckland City may be considered as nothing more than an atrocity.

Finally, Auckland City Residents and Ratepayers would like to invite the V8 Supercar Race Event organisers to find a venue which is more suitable to their cause - being one that has community consensus.

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