Media Release

26 November 2008

A motor-sporting venue for Manukau

Colin Dale Park near Auckland airport will soon be a venue of motor-sport action.

Manukau City Council has successfully sought a special motor-sport zone for Colin Dale Park which will smooth the path to it becoming a citywide and regional facility for a wide range of motor-sport, says Dr Digby Whyte, group manager, Manukau Parks.

Motor-sport activities have unique environmental effects which need to be managed, and this puts restrictions on where these activities can be located.

"The park is ideally located in a rural pocket surrounded by metropolitan Auckland near the airport. It's good news for motor-sport codes and fans because it is getting harder for motor-sport to find a venue in or near the city because of noise issues," Dr Whyte says.

"There will be some limits to event size until vehicle access is developed further. There are limits on the number of events with high levels of noise but by way of example speedway could operate with far less restriction than at Western Springs."

Motor-sport activities will be restricted to the following hours:

9am to 10pm - working days and public holidays that precede a Saturday

9am to 10.30pm - Saturdays

9am to 6pm - Sundays and public holidays that precede a working day

There will be no motor-sports activities allowed on Good Friday, Anzac Day and Christmas Day.

There are noise restrictions put in place, says Peter Reaburn, acting manager for district plan development and monitoring for the council. "Many motor-sports activities will be able to meet the standard noise levels which are 55 decibels (9am-6pm) and 50 decibels (6pm-10pm).  Motor-sport activities exceeding those levels will be limited to no more than 50 days in a year. This may include up to 25 days for noise levels up to 60 decibels and a further 25 days for noise levels of up to 65 decibels."

The plan change also opens up more possibilities for the park. "It can be used for other activities such as a concert venue," Mr Reaburn says.

The plan change to Manukau Operative District Plan becomes operative on 12 December 2008.

ENDS

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