Battle lines drawn on V8 circuit

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The Catholic Church says yes but Transit says no to the proposed V8 supercar race around an inner-city Auckland circuit.

St Patrick's Cathedral in the central city favours Auckland hosting the NZ round of the V8 supercar motor race - on the proviso that there is no racing at Easter and parking is provided during mass times.

But the city faces a tough battle to gain the consents needed for racing to start, with key organisations like Transit New Zealand and the North Shore City Council presenting strong cases against the event.

A total of 367 submissions have been made to the resource consent application submitted by event promoter IMG and Auckland City Council to hold the car race for seven years from 2006.

Transit NZ's early concerns about traffic mayhem on the motorways have not been addressed and it continues to oppose the 2.6km race circuit taking in Hobson, Fanshawe, Beaumont and Victoria Sts.

The council says the race could boost the local economy by $40 million a year and attract 150,000 spectators and a worldwide television audience of 500 million.

In their submissions Transit and the North Shore council say the applicants have not done enough work to show they could manage the traffic impacts and avoid bringing Auckland to a standstill.

Instead of drawing up detailed traffic plans over the next 18 months, as talked about in the consent application, this information should have been provided by now, the council says.

Transit reiterates its view that peak hour traffic on the Auckland Harbour Bridge would need to be halved, and even then "there still remains significant risks to the network and the wider impacts of the closure of important local roads in the central business district would have flow-on effects to the Southern and Northwest Motorways".

Business is divided over the event. Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney says 380 businesses near the circuit would suffer some detrimental effects.

"But it is our view that these issues are overwhelmingly compensated for by an increase in economic activity and the added bonuses that this international exposure will provide for our city."

Sky City is strongly against the race, saying closing streets has the potential for "significant adverse effects" and construction activities could affect guests at its hotel.

Stagecoach is opposed, saying the circuit will disrupt all bus services into Auckland City, particularly North Shore services, The Link and Herne Bay services. It wants to be compensated for loss of revenue and any fines imposed by the Auckland Regional Council for failing to operate contracted services.

Of the dozens of submissions from individuals, most support was from outside the area and the greatest opposition came from local residents.

The St Mary's Bay Association said it opposed the race being run around Victoria Park. "We are not against the event itself but consider other venues must better meet the criteria without the significant adverse effects that will result in this case," said spokesman John Hill.

Three independent commissioners will hear the resource consent application from July 26 and make a decision within 15 working days of the hearing.

Support revs up for big race

The plan for a car race around inner-city Auckland streets has attracted 367 submissions. Two-thirds support the race and one-third are opposed.

Supporters include:

Marine Industry Association

New World Victoria Park (with conditions)

St Patrick's Cathedral (with conditions)

Grand Harbour Restaurant (with conditions)

Fire Service

Emirates Team New Zealand

Auckland Regional Council (with conditions)

Victoria Park Market

Street Race Supporters Club

Opponents include:

Transit New Zealand

North Shore City Council

St Mary's Bay Association

Stagecoach

Westhaven Viaduct Tenants and Ratepayers

Hobson Quay Apartments

Urgent Couriers

Grafton United Cricket Club

Beaumont Quarter residents

Sky City

Burton and Co, solicitors

Opus International Consultants