Brash backs tradition over RMA

Don Brash in the driver's seat at Western Springs Stadium yesterday. Picture / Martin Sykes

After students and parents of preschoolers, petrolheads have found themselves the next target of Don Brash's affections.

So serious was Dr Brash's intent that he even manoeuvred himself into a racer with Save Our Speedway emblazoned across its side, despite appearing acutely uncomfortable in it. The venue was Western Springs Stadium, site of the 75-year-old speedway racing tradition forced to stop by nearby households protesting against noise levels.

In his bright blue driver's uniform and black dress shoes, Dr Brash said the speedway was one example of what was wrong with the Resource Management Act.

"It complicates the construction of roads, the construction of power stations, the construction of wood processing plants, it reduces the number of jobs we have in New Zealand, it reduces exports.

"And of course, it impairs our capacity to run major sporting events in New Zealand, as we've seen with the V8s in Wellington and the speedway in Western Springs."

National plans to move amendments to the RMA in Parliament this week that will allow racing to continue while the case is before the Environment Court.

Dr Brash blamed Labour for the speedway debacle. Legal aid had been granted to 23 households to pursue their case against the speedway, despite 51,000 signatures in favour of the speedway remaining open.

Residents association lawyer Martin Williams accused National of an election stunt.

"All that's at stake is compliance with the District Plan noise limit, and under any planning legislation in any civilised country in the world there are regulations placing noise limits and there's nothing that the National Party would do to change that."

- additional reporting: NZPA