Kerre Woodham: Battle of the Springs not won yet

More than 50,000 people have signed a petition in support of the Western Springs Speedway, but there's a long way to go before the speedway can be considered safe.

The petition, calling for continuation of the speedway, an increase in the boundary noise limit from 85 decibels to 90 and a change to the district plan easily swamps the 78 signatories from 23 households who want the speedway shut down.

But we should remember smart beats big every time - and the handful of residents who fired the first shot in the Battle of the Springs have been clever. They've used every legal avenue open to them to inflict their will on the majority, and you can't knock them for trying.

Now the speedway promoters and their supporters have to fight the anti-speedway lobby in the courts and it's there that victory or defeat will eventually be decided. The battle for hearts and minds has already been won by the pro-speedway contingent. When even a bunch of lefty councillors are publicly pledging their support for a petrolhead sport, you know the cause is a just one.

And that's probably why so many people have swung in behind Western Springs Speedway. Many of the 51,000 signatories would never have planted their expensively upholstered rears on the banks of Western Springs to watch little cars whizz round a dirt track. Their idea of a Saturday-night feed would be more seared tuna than hot dogs and chips from an on-site caravan. But they understand what's right and fair and what's just plain wrong.

As we've seen on countless occasions, the dispensation of law is not necessarily the dispensation of justice. And in the case of the speedway, its right to exist far outweighs the right of a small number of residents to silent nights. Speedway operates only during summer and only on a certain number of Saturdays. The events are over by 10.30pm and the people who go are lovely family groups. Speedway has been there for more than 70 years; the residents complaining are, in the main, Jonathon and Jacinta come-latelys.

The speedway promoters have a long, hard battle ahead. They have a High Court hearing in June where they'll argue along the existing-rights line, and after that will come the Environment Court.

The council, in the meantime, has promised that it will modify the district plan if all else fails, to allow the speedway to continue. So, good luck to the promoters and I hope that come November, families from all over Auckland will be flocking to the Springs.

Like human godwits, they're a sure indicator for me that winter is over and summer's on the way.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY