The last six months have witnessed a disturbing abuse of process in the eviction of speedway from their internationally acclaimed home of 96 years. Formal complaints sent to Council highlighting multiple breaches of process and legal obligations under the Local Government Act to consult with affected parties have all been ignored.
Fabricated and tampered documents were used in the decision-making process to suggest a level of support for the move from Western Springs to Waikaraka Park that does not exist. Individuals linked to these fabrications were permitted to exert an undue influence over the process with little or no apparent oversight from those in positions of authority.
Senior management within TAU and Council as well as the mayoral department were all aware of what has transpired but at no stage have intervened to restore some credibility to behaviour that can only be characterised as biased and predetermined.
The Governing body of the sport (Speedway NZ) was completely misrepresented and a letter of support they provided for upgrades was presented as support for “consolidation”. They were left out of decisions affecting the future of the sport, by TAU, Council, and the Promotion that council has appointed “custodian” of the sport at Waikaraka.
Waikaraka Park is physically much smaller with a much-reduced crowd capacity (3,500) and parking issues. Motorsport is expensive and sponsorship covers a generous portion of costs. Reduced crowd capacity leads to lost sponsorship and decreased competitor numbers, then the crowds stop coming.
Western Springs has a capacity of 20,000 for Sports and 55,000 for concerts. Figures from the previous promoter show over 100,000 attended for a 12-night season.
One sport has received a peppercorn lease for 30 years and $11 million in rate payer funding to control another sport, in a private deal. The sport affected has had no say, nor has the community funding it. The purported reason for the $11million transfer was to accommodate open wheel speedway but these funds contribute towards fulfilment of pre-existing plans that never included it.
Speedway coexists well with Ponsonby Rugby Club who are facing the dire prospect of losing half of their playing fields, mainly used by children. The open amphitheatre of Western Springs Stadium allows the flexibility, for community events, concerts, Ponsonby Rugby, Speedway and more, to coexist.
AFC have plans for a purpose-built venue with half of the current capacity they mostly fill at Mt Smart. What is the benefit to Aucklanders in having its largest capacity open air stadium reduced to a boutique 12,500 capacity stadium and handed over on a proposed 100-year lease? Where is the logic for AFC?
The mayor’s media release last week, regarding Speedway at Western Springs was the same rhetoric from the Governing body meeting that cannot be backed by a business case with essential figures such as revenue, expenditure, attendance etc. (TAU refuse to release these and Councillors made their decision without them). He also claimed that “fewer people go there, than to their corner dairy”.
Following this, a media release alleged that online threats, and a “phantom” doorbell ringer were linked to the speedway community, with no evidence provided. These issues would typically be dealt with by Facebook or the Police (if serious enough), who were not mentioned.
Just like the fable, masses are beginning to see the naked truth.
The Western Springs Speedway Association is filing at the High Court for Judicial Review.
Jason Jones, Saveourspeedway.co.nz
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