V8: in essence

If you read what is said on the Council release on this, it becomes clear that the original proposal - so firmly backed by people like the former president of United Future - was totally unworkable.  Pre-existing programmes of street improvement and building activities should have been seen in advance as being insurmountable blocks to the proposal.

I am really pleased the Council is proposing a new route (around the Stadium) as this will address one of my key concerns - making the CBD ultra unfriendly for its normal users. You get the added benefit of the huge stadium concourse being available as a viewing platform.

What does need to be asked, though is: given these flaws should have been readily apparent, why on earth did the City Council launch consultation on the proposal before they had properly checked it out? Now people have put lots of effort into responding to and organising around a proposal which looks like it should never have gone forward at all. Surely Council officials would have known about the consents given for building activities, or the Council's own street improvement plans?

That all said, well done to the Council for acknowledging the flaws. Well done to Marian Hobbs and Sue Kedgley as local MPs for organising forums where the matter was, or in Marian's case, would have been fairly discussed and debated (one presumes the latter meeting will now be delayed, until a new proposal is on the table).

I wonder if the company will be prepared to wear this?  More details as they come to hand.

Comments

[Greg Stephens]

"given these flaws should have been readily apparent, why on earth did the City Council launch consultation on the proposal before they had properly checked it out?"
-because they already had resource consent for that race track from the old race, which existed pre-Stadium (that makes ME feel old).

Now that it needs resource consent it will be much easier to stop it from occuring :-)

[Gooner]

Only a part of the course needs RC Greg.

Why would you want to stop it from going ahead? Isn't it absolutely positively Wellington? Or do you lefties down there abide by NIMBY? I guess anything with the word positive in it is anathema to you lot. After all, Labour is full of unionists who do nothing but spend their days whining and whinging. I hope it goes ahead, and I hope you hate it.

[Hobbo]

Mate they'd rather poor money into the Arts (that bugger all people actually give a toss about) rather cos Sports (esp Footy and Motorsport) are for cretins - for all their left wing shite these tossers have very little in commom with working middle class at all - thats why they look down their nose at events like this that ordinary people actually want to see happen.

[Jordan]

The resource consent isn't the issue for the inner city course - the issue is that it could never have been run because of the Council's own activities. To me, that looks pretty bloody stuuuupid.

Gooner - lots of things are positive, but a street race in the middle of the CBD is definitely not one of them. I would be much more relaxed about the race in the area around the Stadium. As for you being the voice of the common people, don't make me sick. Your politics is to fuck them over and throw things like street races in so they don't notice.

And Hobbo - so authentic middle class that you have time to look at lefty blogs. Ever so convincing. Not.

[Gooner]

"As for you being the voice of the common people, don't make me sick. Your politics is to fuck them over and throw things like street races in so they don't notice."

I never said I was the voice of the common people, but now that you've mentioned it, the common people (85%) want this thing to go ahead. Does Marian not notice this?

As for [my] politics, isn't it your Finance Minister who throws thing in to legislation so your own coalition partners don't notice?

[Craig Ranapia]

Jordan -

So, the V8 race is fine as long as it's not in your backyard? The problem with the whole NIMBY mindset is that everywhere is somebody's backyard - and I wouldn't like to face the well-heeled, well-connected electors and business owners of Thorndon with that line. God knows there's enough of them who stroke whenever there's anything louder than a string quartet at the Cake Tin. :)

[Phil]

This new course is interesting. Totally blocks all access to the Port of Wellington for a week (three race days plus final construct / initial teardown.) So there goes a substantial amount of export freight.

Plus it blocks all access to the Interislander ferry terminal. Access to Bluebridge ferry doesn't look too hot either. Don't want any of those pesky Southerners coming across from Picton.

Railway Station is inside the course. Too bad if you would take the train to work. And for those whose main access to the city from Wilton / Ngaio / Khandallah is via the Hutt Road, too bad.

[davros]

Can any V8 supporter explain why all the tired old reactionary councillours that campaigned on cutting back local government spending (like Rob Goulden) want a V8 race.

As soon as these economic cretins see a harebrained economic report from spin merchants Mcdermott Miller they fall over themselves trying to skive money off maintaining toilets and sports grounds to throw at Aussie business (Avesco).

Have the race, spend all the councils money on something that failed dismally in Canberra just please pass me the sick bucket the next time these champions of the ratepayer cut back on some disabled sports team to save pennies!

[Graham watson]

I agree wtih Jordan, wellington should not have this race.

Auckland should! And we will now (Pukekohe at least) thanks to a Wellington council prevaricating after being scared by a duo of middle aged women.

All the labour voting motorheads in South and west Auckland will be most pleased with Ms Hobbs, but I wager she has already lost wellington Central.