Auckland mayor questions move to defer controversial Western Springs speedway relocation

Thursday, 3 January 2019

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

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has come out questioning a council vote to stymie speedway's shift from Western Springs so the ground can be used for international cricket.

It appears likely another vote on Western Springs' future will take place early this year. Goff has queried why anyone would vote against moving speedway.

The saga has become increasingly controversial – with everything from a surprise vote in November to defer the sport's mooted move to Colin Dale Park, to complaints over whether a council staffer misled elected officials about driver support for the shift.

'I understand the argument the speedway's always been there but, the fact is, as the city grows around a speedway [site] then more and more people [hear it] – I was talking to somebody that lives in Ponsonby and they said they can hear the speedway from there,' Goff said.

Late last year, a majority of councillors stymied Goff's preference to move speedway to Colin Dale Park.

* Calls to investigate top official for 'hoodwinking' council over signed racing helmet

* Is Phil Goff losing control of his council?

* Speedway slows down: Decision delayed until wider stadium decision takes place**

'Why wouldn't you move the speedway to an area where there were no neighbours to bother, where they had the opportunity to expand and where they had brand new facilities that were tailor-made to their needs?' he asked.

Speedway is restricted to holding 12 race meets a year at its current Western Springs home.

Back in June, Goff announced speedway would move from Western Springs. The move requires yet-to-be-secured approval from Auckland councillors.

The drivers and Speedway Promotions had concluded moving was the best option, Goff added.

'And we've said we're deferring the decision.'

Councillors had different views on the matter 'for reasons that sometimes are best understood by themselves'.

'The lease runs out in March on speedway, so councillors have got to make a decision what they're going to do about that,' he said.

Goff said the wider Auckland stadium debate was going nowhere, despite a Regional Facilities Auckland report painting a dire picture of the region's current stadium portfolio.

'This issue has been around, [well] it's been around forever, but right since the formation of the super city and it's gone nowhere at the moment,' he said.

'What basically the venue development strategy says is we have too many stadia under-utilised and becoming [they are] increasingly expensive to maintain, upgrade and to operate and that is true.'

However, despite making his views on a potential speedway move clear, the mayor made it clear a wider debate on Auckland's stadiums was low on his list of priorities.

'I've made it clear that it isn't a priority, that my priorities are housing, environment and transport and creating a more inclusive city.'