No Wellington Street Race For NZ

[Tracy]

Hi All

The bid for a street race in Wellington is all over

From www.nzcity.co.nz

No V8s for Wellington, AVESCO says it's a joke


V8 Supercars not going ahead in Wellington- AVESCO says New Zealand's approach to big sport is a joke



13 May 2005

The V8 Supercars look to be dead and buried in New Zealand.

Wellington City Council has decided against trying to stage a round of the V8s in the capital.

It has decided the event would be too expensive.

An irate AVESCO spokesman Tony Cochrane says New Zealand's approach to big sport is a joke and it is disappointing

He says staging a round at Pukekohe was only going to be possible if Wellington would go ahead from 2007.

Council officers have recommended the race be canned and once again the Resource Management Act is being blamed.

Like Auckland's failed bid, getting a resource consent has also proved to be too big a hurdle in the capital.

The time and cost of getting a consent for a small section of track by the ferry terminal has proved too prohibitive.

Resource consent was going to take around 18 months for the stadium circuit at a cost of $1 million, with no certainty about the outcome.

Mayor Kerry Prendergast says the RMA needs to be changed in order to recognise regional and national interests.


© 2005 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

[dynamik gal]

Oh boy, TC is going to upset a few true kiwi V8 fans here in oz and in nz by the statement AVESCO spokesman Tony Cochrane says New Zealand's approach to big sport is a joke ...

[Dobbo89]

I know where the joke is and it aint kiwi's

[911]

Dobbo, unfortunatly TC is correct this time
dynamic girl, I don't think the statement from TC is 'going to upset a few true kiwi V8 fans'.
Over here we all know that our country is ruled by political correctness, so news like this doesn't really come as shock.
There is NO point being angry with AVESCO on this one, it was those bloody kiwi's this time that have f****d it up for NZ V8 Supercar fans.

[Just Do It!]

This is absolutely frustrating for motorsport in New Zealand. To think that we as a nation are hampered by a piece of legislation that allows a minority to force their hand is just embarassing. This is not just a sporting event issue, but rather a piece of legislation that affects general and wider business in New Zealand.

Motorsport New Zealand did a complete headspin on their belief that the NZ V8 Touring Car category could headline motorsport in NZ, and even went so far to say that the NZ V8 Touring Car Series needs the V8 Supercars. I bet no one will be offering $70,000 to buy an NZ V8 franchise anymore......!

It is fair to say that the V8 Supercar round brought most support of any event on the NZ Motorsport calendar, perhaps a significant exposure share for all of the support categories. This announcement just nails that. When did a domestic NZ motorsport event last draw a 3-day crowd of 85,000+?? It didn't.

When the Yanks landed on the moon, it was giant step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Today is inversely proportionate to that event for NZ motorsport. In fact, this will make NZ motorsport look like a used Japanese import car - some tool just wound back the speedo and some schmuck is looking to buy it. It's not a flash situation to be fair.

Yes, this is passion; yes, this is a belief in NZ motorsport, this is a sad day for motorsport in NZ - absolutely; we will miss the Supercars - without doubt!!!!

[stoned pony]

Can anyone explain the Resource Management Act in simple terms, please?

[Marcos Skaife]

It in extremely basic terms means that if you want to do something like ....I dunno.......... build a prison, Build something large , have a street race etc you need to consult with all parties likely to be affected by said activity. You then once you have been around all said individuals ,corporations,other business`s ,and local maori tribes (I`m not kidding) then take all of this information to your local regional council to ask for consent to perform whichevr activity you are attempting to do.

After filling in a million and one forms and applying to whichever dept suits(you have councils in Aussie they are the same everywhere)!! they will then put whatever restrictions they feel need to be put on to ensure that your activity does not interfere with the previous mentioned interested parties.

You then can get on with planning the activity but at all times keep within the plan you have been given the permit under and if you happen to not follow the rules to the T you can have the activity stopped in its tracks with no chance of a refund for any and all monies you may have spent in the meantime!

Then if someone objects to your activity...............................It just goes on.Sorry if its not the answer you wanted -I`ll try again!!

Resource Management Act = Rule s to prevent the population disturbing itself or anyone else, makes sure you don`t harm hurt or damage the environment or anything related to it.

Good eh Bro`s????

[tanalised]

what a crock.
I'm alway's amazed at the new levels of stupidity in our ever increasing over PC country.
So... to summarise:
no street racing in NZ, no supercars
no dirt track racing at Western Springs
no Americas Cup (thank god)
little chance of ever hosting the rugby world cup again, let alone winning it
no chance of qualifying for the soccer world cup (but thats the Aussies fault, not some ejit bureacrat who has a pencil and the Treaty shoved up his ass)

It's obviously PC not to have fun in NZ

[William Dale Jr]

When did the Resource Management Act come into being? Does it pre-date the original Wellington street race, or did it arrive after 1996?

I hate to say it, but with TC looking to run a championship full of street races, this was bound to happen sooner or later. It's a shame Pukekohe is no longer an option for whatever reason, but is there really nowhere else in NZ that can hold a round?

[911]

tanalised, it won't be long before this PC Govt. will NOT allow you to say things like that if they pass the ridiculous 'hate speech' law being proposed.
That's how stupid political correctness is becoming.
Anyway, you must be some kind of evil-doer to diss the bureacrats and talk about the treaty like that. You must be punished.
(Answer = very large fine to go with all the other new ways of tax collection the Govt. has come up with.)
Can any of our forum posters from Aussie tell me if there is enough room in the chosen land for one more Kiwi ???

[Ross Cadell]

There is plenty of room for another native of our "seventh state" unfortunately due to the drought we are down on potential bed partners for you (think about it) but our social security more than makes up for the inconvenience. (unless you’re a single mum)

On a serious note we too need planning consent for such events but they seem nowhere near as onerous or expensive as these “resource management act thing” given that the NSW government close the Sydney harbour bridge for a demo run by Webber.

I understand the desire of Avesco for better facilities than Puke, when I came back from last years event I had to hand in all my shoes and take off my trousers at customs due to the mud etc that was unavoidable at the track. Motorsport needs (V8’s at least) need big bucks to maintain the show. It is hard to justify a glamour sport as you trudge knee deep in a cross between clay and supa glue™ to a tent called “the paddock club”.

The series needs to go to New Zealand but it must also seek both the best deal and facilities possible. I pity the possible loss of any round for you guys but think that calmer heads will come up with some option. Tasmania initially only offered token help for a round until they thought about it and now they have a round and a track only about the same standard as Puke but on the improve.

[Breezzee]

Looks like us Kiwi's better renew those passports of ours......

[Raglanparade]

But the Tasmainians have two heads... surely that helps them think better ?

Ps. I reckon Baskerville or a Hobart Street circuit around Salamanca would be better then Symmonds plain.

[Antrodemus]

Originally Posted by William Dale Jr

When did the Resource Management Act come into being? Does it pre-date the original Wellington street race, or did it arrive after 1996?

The RMA came in in 1991 I think. Existing activities at that time were more or less allowed to continue I think.
And if you think the RMA is bad, if you actually get a consent, wait for someone to object to the conditions - off to the Environment Court and another two years + down the drain...
And then you've got to look out for future development and 'reverse sensitivity' - like what happened to Western Springs speedway. Its an absolute bloody nightmare.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by tanalised

So... to summarise:
no street racing in NZ, no supercars

It doesn't have to, if everyone so desperately wants the v8's to come over, a permanent course will have to be sought (you know there designed for actual racing TC might not see it, but you can)
So everyone will have to get behind the cause.

Theres no point blaming the council, from my limited understanding of the Resource Management Act, it seems someone felt they would be disadvantaged by the race occuring, so the move is justified.

I'd would be aiming my frustration soley at Avesco, and why they are so one eyed about a street event in NZ. I love it how the NZ councils are sticking up to him and telling him where to go, if only here in Australia we could adopt this ability.

Just Do it, you spoke about the precarious position of NZ motorsport and its categories, surely a street race is only a short term patching of the problem. NZ motorsport has to look at why they are in this position and how they can overcome this, not by allowing Avesco to waltz in, take their money and then leave.