Speedway to move from Western Springs, paving way for cricket to move in

Friday, 8 June 2018

Colin Dale Park identified as new home for Speedway in Auckland.

International cricket at Western Springs in Auckland is a step closer, with speedway promoters agreeing to move from the venue to a site near Auckland Airport.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between Auckland Council, Regional Facilities Auckland and Speedway Promotions Limited earlier on Friday.

Once its lease ends in November 2019, speedway promoters would move from Western Springs to Colin Dale Motorsport Park in Wiri.

Speedway promoters have agreed to move from Western Springs, opening the way for the venue to become the home of test cricket in Auckland.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said speedway came up with the proposal and the move was the best option.

**READ MORE:

Speedway Promotions' Bill Buckley and Regional Facilities Auckland's Sir Don McKinnon sign a memorandum of understanding proposing Colin Dale Park as the future home of Speedway in Auckland.

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Western Springs Speedway promoter Greg Mosen said the decision to move had been 'one of the toughest imaginable'.

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'It's a win-win-win situation, there's a new home and heart for speedway,' Goff said.

'It's a win for Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board and the utilisation of Colin Dale Park, and it's a win to open Western Springs for potential activities in this area.'

There is interest from New Zealand Cricket to use the Western Springs area but there is 'a considerable amount of work to do', he said.

As for Eden Park, where test cricket has been played in Auckland, work still had to be done on the issue of concerts at that venue, Goff said.

Springs Promotion director Bill Buckley said the Western Springs Speedway would be sadly missed.

'We had to look at our future - Western Springs would have needed redevelopment,' Buckley said.

'We're excited at the certainty of the future.'

It was originally proposed that all speedway operations would be moved to Waikaraka Park in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga, which was recognised as a designated motorsport precinct within the unitary plan.

MP for Maungakiekie, Denise Lee, said she was incredibly disappointed negotiations for the Western Springs Speedway and Waikaraka Speedway to co-locate had collapsed.

'The decision to move Western Springs Speedway to a site near Auckland Airport will mean there will be two facilities and we all know where the funding will go,' Lee said.

'Having a top-class speedway facility in central Auckland is unique and should've been the first option for council.

'Onehunga is already transforming and council is wasting the opportunity to take advantage of that.'

However, Buckley said the Onehunga site was not compatible as it was a close wheel speedway and club run.

Moving to Colin Dale Park would also bring more jobs, Buckley said.

Mayor Phil Goff said Auckland Council was always going to help fund the Western Springs Speedway move and it was speedway's choice not to go to Waikaraka Park.

Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board chairwoman, Lotu Fuli, said the board was overjoyed.

'We're happy that it's happening - it's a perfect location for speedway and motorsport,' Fuli said.

Having the speedway in Wiri would provide young boys, girls and fans of speedway in south Auckland an opportunity to experience it nearby, she said.

Regional Facilities Auckland chairman Sir Don McKinnon said the move would 'unleash other possibilities in Auckland'.

'It's a great day for speedway and a great day for Auckland,' McKinnon said.

The speedway at the new site in Colin Dale Park is set to open in November 2020.