Hobson duo, Transit hold supercar keys

By BERNARD ORSMAN


The proposed V8 supercar race in downtown Auckland hangs in the balance with Transit New Zealand and two new city councillors holding crucial roles in the decision-making process.

Transit will study fresh plans before deciding whether to give the race its blessing at a reconvened resource consent hearing next month, acting Auckland regional manager Richard Hancy said yesterday.

Transit, which said the central city location would cause motorway mayhem, later agreed to a call by planning commissioners for more detailed work on the traffic issues.

"We need to go through this in detail and really understand the contents because the consequences of our call in terms of the adequacy or otherwise of the work is extremely important," Mr Hancy said.

The commissioners are unlikely to grant resource consent for the race round Victoria Park without Transit's backing.

If resource consent is granted, the event will have to go to the new council for final approval, probably late next month.

A Herald survey of the 19 councillors and mayor-elect Dick Hubbard found 10 councillors opposed to the race and seven in favour. Mr Hubbard said his support was conditional on Transit backing and a successful resource consent outcome that satisfied event organiser IMG.

That leaves the two new Action Hobson councillors, Christine Caughey and Richard Simpson, effectively holding the balance of power if resource consent is granted. If they supported it, the vote would be 10-all and Mr Hubbard would have the casting vote.

Mr Simpson said he and Christine Caughey, who want to be seen as an independent, conservative force on the council separate from the centre-left majority, would study the new race work and talk with Hobson residents before deciding whether to support the event.

"It seems a good idea but I can't answer if it is in the right place or not," Mr Simpson said.

City Vision leader and deputy mayor-elect Dr Bruce Hucker said he had not seen anything to change his mind that the race was a great event in the wrong place. The City Vision-Labour team, plus independent councillor Faye Storer, oppose the location.

North Shore Mayor George Wood, whose council is opposed to the race location, said he wanted Transit to take work upgrading the Victoria Park flyover into account when reaching a decision.

"I don't want to see a street race taking precedence over the construction of the Victoria Park flyover. This is the most important motorway upgrade across the region right now," Mr Wood said.

At the earlier resource consent hearings in August, Transit said it was disappointed that the Auckland council and IMG appeared not to have taken any account of plans by the national road builder to widen the flyover during the proposed seven-year contract for the race.

IMG New Zealand general manager Dean Calvert was confident the independent planning commissioners would be able to reach a decision following yesterday's release of new work.

The work includes additional traffic information based on earlier figures of 40 per cent fewer trips from North Shore to central Auckland, 20 per cent fewer trips from North Shore to south of central Auckland and 30 per cent fewer trips from the east, south and west to central Auckland. It also includes further information on noise and favourable peer reviews of a travel behaviour survey and a communications plan.

The reports said the Link bus service would need to stop and turn round at Sky City and Three Lamps in Ponsonby, only one helicopter would hover over the event to film racing and big traffic changes were envisaged round Wellington St, Cook St, Ponsonby, Grafton Gully and the central city.

Mr Calvert said many questions had been answered and the many perceived problems could be overcome.

Mr Calvert and the city councillor leading the bid for the race, Scott Milne, said now that former mayor John Banks was no longer involved in a personality-driven debate, the race could be argued on its merits and the evidence.

The resource consent process is so far well within its $750,000 budget.

For and against

* For the race location

Mayor Dick Hubbard (conditional)

Doug Armstrong (Citizens & Ratepayers Now)

Scott Milne (C&R Now)

Noelene Raffills (C&R Now)

Linda Leighton (C&R Now)

Toni Millar (C&R Now)

Graeme Mulholland (C&R Now)

Bill Christian (Independent)



* Against

Dr Bruce Hucker (City Vision)

Penny Sefuiva (CV)

Vern Walsh (CV)

Cathy Casey (CV)

Neil Abel (CV)

Glenda Fryer (CV)

Richard Northey (Labour)

John Hinchcliff (L)

Leila Boyle (L)

Faye Storer (Independent)



Don't know

Christine Caughey (Action Hobson)

Richard Simpson (AH)