Wellington likely to drop V8 race over resource consent

Herald File Picture

Wellington should not host a V8 Supercars street race in 2007 because it will cost too much money and too much time gaining resource consents, a Wellington City Council report says.

Council officers have recommended that councillors do not proceed with the high-profile race in the capital because of the uncertainty of the consent application process.

Council chief executive Garry Poole said today trying to get resource consent for the Stadium Circuit could take more than 18 months -- not leaving enough time to prepare for a race in 2007.

The cost of chasing resource consent could be up to $1 million and there was no certainty of outcome.

"It is not the cost to the council alone but also the unacceptable commercial uncertainties for Avesco (the company which runs the V8 championship)," Mr Poole said in a statement.

"Unfortunately they can't guarantee they can wait for us exclusively."

It was likely that opponents of the race being held in Wellington would have appealed any decisions all the way to the High Court, Mr Poole said.

"Even if we streamlined the process as much as possible - to the point of getting the Environment Court's assistance for a fast-tracked hearing - it wouldn't be possible to complete the process in time for a 2007 race."

Councillors could not recommend that the council commit the level of investment required, with no guarantee the resource consent would be granted, Mr Poole said.

Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast said in the statement the report's recommendations highlighted issues with the Resource Management Act (RMA), which was under review.

"The resource consent process has cost Wellington a huge opportunity," she said.

"Generating $22.9 million of new spend, the V8 street race would have been the largest annual event in New Zealand. To create an event of similar size would take a huge amount of time and investment," she said.

Wellington's International Festival of the Arts had taken 15 years to reach a similar level of economic benefit.

"This council is committed to the RMA. But something must be done to change it in order to recognise regional and national interests," Ms Prendergast said.

"The resource consent application process is weighted in favour of minority interests."

The mayor said that despite the likelihood of Wellington not pursuing the race, it would do everything it could to help Avesco keep the race in New Zealand.

Ms Prendergast and Mr Poole had offered to meet with the Avesco board and explain the reasons for the council report's recommendations.

The Wellington council was to have met at an extraordinary council meeting next Tuesday to vote on the V8 proposal. That meeting had now been moved to May 25.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that support for Wellington to hold the New Zealand leg of the Australasian V8 Supercar series had plummeted.

Final results of the public consultation on the race bid showed only 55 per cent of Wellington city submitters favoured it, a massive drop from the 73 per cent support shown in interim results.

- NZPA