Red flag for V8 street race

4.15pm UPDATE

Hopes of running a V8 supercar race in Auckland ended today after an independent commission declined a resource consent for the event.

The three planning commissioners declined the application saying they were concerned about the traffic, noise and amenity effects.

The commissioners said advice "to pack up and get out of town" if the noise and disruption it causes becomes too great was "an extraordinary means of mitigating the adverse effects of an event and simply not acceptable in the context of this application."

The Auckland City Council and event promoter IMG wanted the race to take place round Victoria Park in central Auckland every year for seven years from April 2006.

The Auckland City Council today said it would not appeal the decision to the Environment Court.

The commissioners presided over six days of hearings in July and August and three in November.

Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard said the consent application was one of the most in-depth pieces of professional work carried out by the city for a temporary event.

"However, the work obviously hasn't overcome all the doubts raised with the commissioners. We must accept that," Mr Hubbard said.

"We must also ensure that this decision doesn't stop Auckland bidding in future for such outstanding international events."

He said the council had learned much from the application process.

"The very fact that we tried tells the events industry worldwide that the city is as serious as they are."

Mr Hubbard said earlier his support for the race was conditional on Transit New Zealand backing and a successful resource consent outcome that satisfies IMG.

Some 393 had made submissions to the commissioners, 248 (63 per cent) of these in favour of the event.

The commissioner's decision said traffic in certain parts of the street and motorway system "raised a distinct prospect of gridlock."

The decision said despite a considerable volume of traffic evidence "the modelling process adopted seems to us to be problematic".

The applicants had tried to compare it to Apec and America's Cup, other events held in Auckland, but the commissioners said "the scale of this event is hugely different in scope and time…..particularly when the location and nature of the event are taken into account."

The decision said even if the traffic could be controlled in 2006, it could not be assumed it would remain so for the seven year consent.

It said public transport and pedestrians would be affected. Pedestrians would be affected not only for the duration of the race but for the building-up (five weeks) and its break-down (three weeks).

The noise was also a major factor in the race being turned down.

"There is no escaping that the noise contours associated with the event exceed District Plan provisions".

It said noise from the supercars, PA system, entertainment and aircraft would be "considerable".

The commissioners said the event would have "extensive and disruptive" effects on parking and property access.

The decision was received this morning by City Planning and delivered to the applicants.

The Auckland City Council said the commissioners (D McGregor, chair, G G Macfarlane, and R S Gee) acted for the council in its regulatory function. As a result, their decision becomes the decision of the council.

Appeals to the Environment Court by any other party with legitimate grounds can be made within 15 working days of receiving the decision.

- HERALD STAFF and NZPA

Commissioners decision: V8 supercar street race