A proposal has been put forward to keep speedway at Mercury Baypark until 2039. Photo / Supplied
A proposal has been put forward to keep speedway at Mercury Baypark until 2039. Photo / Supplied
The community is being asked if speedway should stay at Mercury Baypark Stadium as the council decides whether to extend the club’s lease.
Baypark Speedway has called the Mount Maunganui stadium home since it was built in 2001 and has a lease to operate there until 2029.
Tauranga CityCouncil is considering a proposal that would extend speedway operations until 2039.
The proposal would involve Speedway Racing Ltd buying the north stand of 15,600 seats for $1 and being responsible for its maintenance, while leasing the land from the council through the facilities arm Bay Venues.
Speedway would prefer a longer lease than 2039 because of the investment it would make, she said.
“We intend on investing a considerable amount of money into improvements at the stadium, and we need the security and longevity for our investment.”
Webb said it was understandable the council wanted Tauranga ratepayers to have their say on the proposal.
Tauranga City councillor Kevin Schuler says the council wants to hear the community’s views on Mercury Baypark Stadium’s future. Photo / David Hall
Councillor Kevin Schuler said before decisions about the proposal were made, the council wanted to understand the community’s views.
“This consultation is about testing the community’s support for the proposal and weighing up what Mercury Baypark Stadium’s future should look like for the next decade.”
The proposal provided a way for speedway to continue operating without placing immediate costs on ratepayers, he said.
“If there’s not strong community support for this approach, we’ll explore alternative options for the site beyond 2029.”
Schuler said the north stand was in poor condition and required investment to remain operational.
It was used almost exclusively for speedway events, around 15 times a year.
“If speedway continues until 2039, it would be under new arrangements that shift the immediate cost and responsibility for maintaining the stand to Speedway Racing.”
Under the proposal, speedway would buy and maintain the curved north stand at Baypark Stadium. Photo / NZME
“If not, there are potential opportunities to reimagine the site for future recreational or commercial uses that could serve the wider community from 2029.”
Speedway was at risk of being displaced in 2022 when the commission governing the council had plans to replace the stadium with a multi-use sporting precinct for outdoor netball, track and field athletics and gymnastics.
A protest was held and a “Hands Off Baypark Speedway” campaign was launched.
There was also the threat of legal action if an agreement about speedway was not reached.
