Residents voice dragstrip fears

Masterton residents voiced their concerns over the construction of a permanent dragstrip near their properties during a public forum at Masterton District Council on Wednesday.

Masterton Motorplex plans to build a national standard drag strip facility near Hood Aerodrome, but have had some opposition from residents.

Hugh Lundie, main spokesperson for the affected group, said they were not opposing construction of a new strip, but a planned change which would meant the starting line and burnout pad would be closer to their properties.

"We oppose the layout as these proposed locations will be close to existing residential development and consider the proposed activities will result in adverse environment impacts of a more than minor nature on the surrounding neighbours in terms of noise and air pollution," he said. "Further, we have little confidence such impacts can be sustainably mitigated."

Mr Lundie also said the residents were upset there was no notification when the plans for the facility - which they originally supported - were changed.

He said they only became aware of it when a proposed layout plan was leaked by an organisation which had been approached for funding.

District planner Sue Southey said council did not have to notify anybody of project changes.

"[The new plan] would have been available if it had been asked for," she said.

Mrs Southey said she had done everything council had required to do, and the residents' questions were answered in a letter she sent in response to an Official Information Act request.

Mr Lundie also circulated a petition to show how many parties were affected by the change.

He said it was not about the number of signatures on the petition, but the fact he had spoken to everyone affected by the project - including motor sport fans - who signed it.

Chief executive officer Wes ten Hove suggested the affected parties could meet again at the next council meeting on December 21, when council should have more information to present.

"There certainly has been a suggestion the Motorplex folk themselves are happy to meet with the residents," he said.

Masterton Motorplex event co-ordinator Bob Wilton was also at the public forum, but did not speak.