Brian Rudman: Speedway needs a new home away from dense housing

Upholding Western Springs speedway's right to continue polluting the surrounding neighbourhood with noise because it's been getting away with it for 75 years is hardly a rational argument.

It's like defending the use of lead paints to redecorate adjacent villas because that's what was used when the houses were first built.

We are now much more aware than our grandparents' generation were that noise - and lead - are serious health issues. Unfortunately, as health issues go, noise has always been a bit of a cinderella as far as enforcement is concerned.

Take Western Springs speedway. For eight years, Auckland City has failed to enforce its own noise restrictions, agreed to by a previous speedway operator and built into the city's district plan.

A letter in Wednesday's Herald from audiologist Alan Ferguson underlines the widespread neglect of the problem.

"As an Aucklander living near a motorway which carries more than 250,000 vehicles daily, I find it hard to believe that concerns about noise exposure do not extend to protecting us against increasing motorway noise.

"My neighbours suffer average noise levels of over 74 dBA, with peaks many times higher than permitted under the district plan ...

"As an audiologist, I can definitely say noise kills ears. Unfortunately the latest Ministry of Transport discussion paper on vehicle emissions seems to ignore noise as a factor altogether."

It's taken eight years for Auckland City to take the speedway noise seriously. In April this year, the speedway promoters drew up and submitted a noise management plan, as required by the district scheme.

It agreed to a maximum noise level of 85 dBA from any point 10m inside the Old Mill Rd perimeter wall that has a clear view of at least 75 per cent of the track.

On the first race day, Saturday November 6, a council report notes "the maximum allowable noise level of 85 dBA was exceeded frequently throughout the 20 races. The noise levels varied from 85 dBA to 91 dBA."

The punishment was "a $300 fine that council hopes will act as a clear signal to the promoter that steps need to be taken to prevent further breaches".

Talk about a slap with a wet bus ticket. That's not much more than the penalty for letting your dog stray on to the street.

The following Saturday it was too windy to measure but the next week, all but three of the 17 races broke the noise levels by up to 5 dBA. The council hit back with "a formal warning". No wonder the locals gave up and sought help in the courts.

As a past victim of neighbourhood noise I appreciate what the sufferers are going through, in particular the impotence they feel in the face of official indifference.

Deputy Mayor Bruce Hucker was right to flag an intention to review the place of "noisy sports" in his post-victory policy statement. It's a pity he backed off when the speedway operators went boo.

In 75 years, circumstances change. Back then, I'm guessing the Springs was out in the wop wops, and speedway was a novelty.

Today, as the city bulges, the area is an ideal spot for population intensification. With the traffic noise from the adjacent motorway, there's no need for more.

Instead of seeking the impossible - a quieter speedway car - what the region should be looking for is a dedicated motorsport park, such as race car veteran Frank Radisich has been pushing for, at the soon-to-close Whenuapai Air Force base.

With its vast open spaces, there's room there for V8s, speedway, go-karts, stock cars, you name it. And there's plenty of empty land around it to provide a noise buffer.

As for the short term, what's to stop speedway sharing Waikaraka Park, Onehunga, with the stock cars? The speedway already has practice days there. Why not expand the relationship?

The best thing about the venue is the line in the report noting the council "has not received noise or other general complaints regarding the activities". It sounds perfect.