Better future for speedway after noise report

Auckland's controversial speedway track at Western Springs has a more assured future after recommendations the council says will help both sides of the row.

Auckland City Council may help modify houses near the track to reduce noise inside, as part of a series of recommendations by a top Auckland lawyer.

The council was to be asked to endorse a series of six recommendations after a long running argument between local residents and speedway promoters over noise levels.

The track's future was in doubt after the residents won an Environment Court case, forcing the speedway to comply with the council's 85-decibel noise limit.

The last season began only after an agreement in October between the council, the speedway and residents.

Now Auckland City Council said the race track had a more assured future after a final report on practicable options for continued racing.

It said Queen's Council Peter Salmon's final report on the speedway recommended an approach to balance the needs of all affected parties.

In his report Mr Salmon said several houses immediately next to Western Springs were considerably affected by noise but limiting noise needed to be balanced with the long standing history of racing at Western Springs.

The track has been operating on the same site for 75 years.

Mr Salmon said noise limits set in the council's district plan could not be met and residents needed other relief.

He said limiting the number of events and the time that they finished would give residents certainty on times they would be free of speedway noise.

He recommended no more than two practice days and 12 event days each season with limits on finishing times; at least six race-free days between actual events and 12 race-free days between scheduled events; no more than two rain out events; new noise limits and a noise management plan; the inclusion of information and advertising of the events calendar; and start and finish times for rain out days.

The council said the report also included a suggestion it helped residents near the track modify their homes to reduce noise levels inside.

- NZPA