News Release 20.5.04
Auckland City Residents and Ratepayers

Belly-Up to V8's in Auckland's Inner City

"Come on. Are we really surprised by the Mayor's revved up passion to have V8's racing through Auckland's inner city streets?" said Elaine West, spokesperson for Auckland City Residents and Ratepayers. "I doubt it."

"Try putting on the Mayor's blinkered car-is-king spectacles and find how we conveniently forget what we don't want to see."

"Fail to see the costs to Auckland's economy as inner city roads are blocked and more than 165,000 Harbour Bridge commuters sit steaming in their vehicles while listening to the V8's .. get ready, get set and. get roaring.

"Fail to see any social and environmental costs. For instance, picture Victoria Park residents who are supposed to be conditioned to motorway stressors not noticing the increased vehicle noise, thickened emission clouds, and jam-packed heritage spaces."

"Now, take off the rose-coloured blinkers and think about the whole V8 race scenario" said Ms West. "See the steaming Harbour Bridge commuters not getting to work and paying hyped-up congestion fees - causing havoc at home and in the staff room.

"See the expected 200,000 V8 enthusiasts jump for joy when a vacant parking site appears and then see them rush to find a safe spot to view the modern V* chariots.

"Before the last elections, the Mayor said Boy Racers would be banned from his parade. They brought noise and destruction and were a pest to the inner city. Almost three years on, we are told that V8's are OK as they are a better class of noise and destruction."

"And now ponder the most important point of all - who actually asked the people of Auckland City about the feasibility of an inner city V8 racing circuit before ACC strode forth to sign up."

"Under the Local Government Act 2002, the affected community have GOT to be consulted and what the community says is LAW. If the community says NO, then don't go!"

"Under the Resource Management Act 2001 sustainable management of natural and physical resources is fundamental to getting resource consent - that's on ACC's own website. Without the Mayor's blinkers, we can see how the RMA protective shield works."

Take Section 15 of the RMA - the discharge of contaminants into the environment, is not allowed. Haven't V8's have got exhaust pipes? Petrol contamination and air pollution are real environmental factors."

"Section 16 of the same Act says there is a 'duty to avoid unreasonable noise' - now that's going to be a tall order for V8 engines to deal with."

"And why didn't the Mayor refer to our own 2003 Victoria Park Motorway Report - there's lots of quality community consultation in that and the ACC Transport Committee were given a copy.

"Anyway, what's wrong with the track at Pukekohe, or locating another purpose-built racing track?"

"A road circuit around the Mayor's Remuera home may be just the perfect location?"

"So belly-up to the idea of V8's racing around Victoria Park and inner city roads.

The Mayor and his buddies should have been looking for an appropriate site and so put ratepayer money to better use.

After all, we're not against V8 racing - in its proper place."

ENDS

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