Western Springs Speedway ‘had the opportunity to present a proposal’

Pilots in action at Western Springs Speedway before they are recently closed.
Photo: Photosport

The Western Springs Speedway has not given an Auckland Council’s economic and cultural arm any proposal on future use options for its reasons.

However, lawyers say they will still be heard.

The last meeting was held at Speedway earlier this month.

The Council completed two confidential workshops last week, analyzing two options for the future of Western Springs Stadium.

An option presented by From CRS Records Limited, ECCLES Entertainment and Ponsonby Rugby Club would include the installation of a full permanent concert stage and surface in the main bowl, improving terrace seats and installation of improved hospitality infrastructure, and build a new multisport community center.

The second option – presented by MWF Newco – went to a private financing police station and had a new stadium of 12,500 seats alongside community sports, high performance, med -tech, hospitality and live entertainment installities.

But Speedway advocates were still fighting for the Western Springs Speedway to stay where it is.

The controversial decision to dump Speedway and move the club to the south to Waikaraka Speedway was taken under vote by Auckland’s board late last year.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, executive -chief Nick Hill, said the board was investing in the new Speedway site.

“Speedway had the opportunity to present a proposal – they don’t,” he said.

“The investment of the board of 11 million [dollars] In Waikaraka Park to consolidate all Speedway classes in Waikaraka Park, so Speedway has a solution in Auckland. “

Hill said the challenge of keeping Speedway in Western Springs Park was that he limited the use of the stadium, especially in the summer months, saying that concert promoters could use the stadium better without the way there.

“Certainly our opinion is that it is a better use of facilities without limiting Speedway’s ability to hold Auckland events.”

Hill said Tātaki’s Council would consider the two proposals for Western Spring Stadium and give recommendations to the council ruler, after which the counselors would decide whether or not to go to public consultation.

The Western Springs Speedway Association Gate, Jason Jones, said the current Speedway promoter had already agreed with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited to move to Waikaraka Park before the opening of expressions of interest.

“And during this process, what happened is that Speedway was not specifically mentioned, another that the current promoter was negotiating a contract or an extension of that,” he said.

“So if you read these words, why would you subscribe?”

Jones said they would still have the opportunity to submit their proposal to the Auckland Council in May, while the governing body should decide whether to consult.

“In terms of having to take a project forward with a decision, we totally understand that this is part of the process,” said Jones.

“Our concerns are obviously about how this process has been done and how we were left out of decision making on which our future depends.”

Counselor John Watson said the process with Speedway was biased and predetermined.

“Real questions should now be asked about the legitimacy of making this decision of expressions of interest, since everything that happened before it was so poorly executed in terms of obligations under local government law.”

“I think their only option is to go back to the beginning,” said Watson.

He believed that an intermediary between Speedway and a stadium option could be achieved.

“I think there is definitely a midfield, especially with the decision to proceed with the recommendation of Eden Park, which updates this installation, and really if the money is being invested in Eden Park, some of these other franchises will now have an excellent state-of-the-art installation that hosts the boutique crowds for large crowds.

“These decisions were made to support this, so this has some impact on the Western Springs …”

Auckland’s counselors voted last week to endorse an Eden Park reconstruction on a Beira -mar stadium.

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