Judge tells speedway to obey noise rule

Opponents of the Western Springs speedway appear to have won their battle to shut the 75-year-old event, which has been unable to comply with noise limits.

The traditional Boxing Day speedway meeting will go ahead, but it might be the last event of its kind at the stadium, promoter Dave Stewart said last night.

An Environment Court judge yesterday refused an appeal from the speedway and the Auckland City Council to lift the noise limit from 85 decibels.

Judge Craig Thompson said the issues needed to be resolved at a full hearing in February.

He was scathing towards the council and the promoter, saying the council had stood back for 10 years while noise limits were breached.

"I am left ... with an abiding impression that Springs Promotions Ltd has not been taking its obligations seriously, and that until very recently the council has tacitly condoned that.

"Both parties have had 10 years to do something serious about compliance, and it is difficult to have sympathy with their protestations that they are now, suddenly, being told to comply."

The judge also said that he might have agreed to allow three races to exceed the limit, but the speedway had rejected that offer.

Mr Stewart afterwards blamed the Springs Stadium Residents Association, which he called a small minority of activists, for the motorsport's problem.

"This hurts like crazy," he said. "It's like the Grinch has come in and stolen not only our Christmas but our whole future."

Mr Stewart said the noise limit was "too low and unachievable".

"Speedway has been operating at similar sound levels for most of its 75-year history."

He was considering an appeal to the High Court but said that it might be better to wait for the Environment Court hearing on the issue set down for February.

Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard, said last night the speedway had to continue. He was bitterly disappointed at the decision but hoped the season would be completed.

Mr Hubbard said it was now up to the speedway to live within the noise limits this season, and decide if racing continued.

"I find it intensely frustrating as Mayor of Auckland that neither me or the council can alter the decibel levels to respond to the situation we are in now.

"It is frustrating that a judge sitting in the Environment Court in Wellington can decide what is wrong and what is right in Auckland."

Scott Milne, the leader of the minority Citizens and Ratepayers Now group on the council, said it was galling to watch 78 protesters frustrate efforts to keep speedway at Western Springs running over the holidays.

The Residents Association would not comment on its victory, saying it preferred not to be seen as gloating.