Bridge out after repair row

AIR: Team MRF driver Gaurav Gill got some hang time over the Hella Bridge during last year's International Rally of Whangarei, but bureaucracy has seen the popular bridge taken out of this weekend's rally.PHOTO/FILE

The popular Hella Bridge - which sees rally drivers get airborne - has been taken out of this weekend's VINZ International Rally of Whangarei because event organisers say it was too difficult to deal with Kaipara District Council bureaucracy.

However, the council says the real reason is that the organisers haven't paid a $23,863 bill for repairs to Kaipara's roads from last year's event.

KDC community engagement manager Barbara Ware said the council did not normally bill the rally organisers for damage to its roads, but did so last year for the first time to pay for the costs of reinstating the roads to the condition they were in before the rally.

"There was considerable damage done to council's roads last year as a result of the rally.

"The cost of repairs to bring the roads to an equivalent condition prior to the event fell to the council and the ratepayers," she said.

"In accordance with the approval given prior to the event, the council invoiced Rally New Zealand for the sum of $23.863.03 for the reinstatement work undertaken.

"To date council has received $425.50 being payment for advertising the event and an indication from Rally New Zealand this is in full and final payment. We are disappointed that the organisers have not sought to engage with us over the cost issues preferring instead to label council as bureaucratic."

The bridge has always been one of the most popular spectator spots on the rally, with hundreds of fans watching the action as the rally drivers' speed takes them sometimes several feet off the ground.

But rally organisers said they have had to shorten the rally due to difficulties dealing with the KDC, meaning there's no rallying on Kaipara's roads and no bridge stage, VINZ International Rally of Whangarei media manager Lance Hastie said.

Mr Hastie said rally organisers disputed the KDC bill and did not believe there was damage from the rally that resulted in the bill and there was nothing in the council's minutes that said there was additional damage, just routine maintenance required.

The rally was due to be battled out across 241km of rural roads divided into 14 special stages, but the distance is now 220km and two of Sunday's twice used roads have been shortened to keep competition inside the Whangarei District Council region boundary.

"The process to close the roads was different with the KDC than it was with Whangarei District Council. WDC was very helpful and it was just far easier to work with the WDC," Mr Hastie said.

"The hurdles (from the KDC) were too high in the time frame we had and it wasn't worth the effort.

"So there'll be no Hella Bridge, which is an iconic part of the rally and a lot of fans will be disappointed, but Hella is putting its efforts into the Pohe Island stages on Saturday night and that will be great."

He said the Pohe Island stages were probably unique in the world for having fast-paced rally action so close to the centre of a city.

Laurie Brenssell, chairman of the rally's organising committee, said out of respect to the ratepayers of Kaipara shortening two of the competitive roading tests would avoid crossing in to their territory.

"We note from the KDC meeting minutes after the event passed through the area in May last year, the resumption of routine maintenance.

"The earlier running of the event this year could raise potential for conflict with that schedule, resulting in the decision to avoid competition across its roads," Mr Brenssell said.