Help save Western Springs Speedway

[gjm 3258]

Auckland Council want to close western Springs, the speedway which has been in regular use since 1929. Plans include turning it into yet another cricket pitch, which would see the end of any activity other than cricket.

Currently, Western Springs hosts 12 races per year, countless concerts and cultural festivals, including the Pasifika festival.

From the Western Springs Speedway site:

"Western Springs Speedway needs your help – PLEASE SHARE THIS!
If we don’t take the time to ‘Have Our Say’ with the Auckland City Council NOW, next March may be the end of Speedway at the Western Springs venue.
Please take the time to either send them an email at this address - [email protected]
Or
post your feedback on Facebook at this link: facebook.com/aklcouncil

Feel free to express yourselves, however, we don’t need any colourful language as it will have your submission thrown out.
Here are some ideas to use in your message:
• Speedway has been there for 90 years, since 1929.
• It is family friendly and a great night out for everyone.
• Only 12 nights a year
• Mention how long you and your family have gone.
• The crowds are huge, the atmosphere is unlike anything else in Auckland.
We need over 50,000 submissions before 8pm Wednesday 28th March, so spread the word!"

 

[hotwire 352]

Yet again! This topic rears it's ugly head every couple of years it seems.

Auckland Council - GET REAL! 

Nearby residents - GET A LIFE! Western Springs was there before any current residents - they chose to buy/ live nearby & now cry about the "inconvenience" Diddims!

What next? Eden Park & the Zoo as well?

[Eagle 1662]

^^ Agreed. Akin to townies moving to rural setting and crying about all sorts of sh*t.

 

[hotwire 352]

Yep That too.

I am in a rural town  Kihikihi Speedway is about 200m away.

I don't overly care for Speedway but am not bothered by it in the least. sh*t, maybe someone is having some fun

[zero 1162]

If these nimbys moved next to the airport and complained about the noise the council would laugh at them, but because its motorsport the council is all ears.

[zero 1162]

26 minutes ago, 3pedals said:

time it went , totally inaapropriate activity in an urban area - move on 

Where do you propose the big outdoor concerts and pasifika be held?

[hotwire 352]

Yup, been to many a concert at the Springs. Brilliant location for such!

[zero 1162]

5 minutes ago, hotwire said:

Yup, been to many a concert at the Springs. Brilliant location for such!

Way better than Mt Smart, and way bigger capacity. The Springs has seen crowds of over 80k for the biggest concerts - almost double what Mt Smart can handle.

[richard 384]

they just put on more concerts. Ed has just had 3

 

[gjm 3258]

43 minutes ago, 3pedals said:

time it went , totally inaapropriate activity in an urban area - move on 

The point is that it wasn't an urban area. Urbanisation came later.

If the council would like to provide an alternative venue - which they appear to have no intention of doing - then it might be a different matter.

[zero 1162]

This reminds me of a few years ago the council wanted to move the speedway to mtsmart, and move the warriors to north harbour stadium.

 

Moving both away from their fan bases is just dumb.

[gjm 3258]

20 minutes ago, zero said:

This reminds me of a few years ago the council wanted to move the speedway to mtsmart, and move the warriors to north harbour stadium.

 

Moving both away from their fan bases is just dumb.

No-one ever accused a council of being smart!

[huff3r 347]

8 hours ago, 3pedals said:

time it went , totally inaapropriate activity in an urban area - move on 

Funnily enough the Palmerston North speedway is right in the middle of town, and there are no dramas because the council fully supports it. 

 

Rather than complain, the neighbours embrace it as part of the character of the area. It's been there far longer than most residents. 

From my experience over the last 3 months in Auckland there seems to be a large proportion of the population here who feel entitled, and want everything for nothing, and they are the ones making it an issue. 

[gjm 3258]

1 hour ago, huff3r said:

Rather than complain, the neighbours embrace it as part of the character of the area. It's been there far longer than most residents. 

From my experience over the last 3 months in Auckland there seems to be a large proportion of the population here who feel entitled, and want everything for nothing, and they are the ones making it an issue. 

Same story her e. How much Auckland was there in 1929, when Western Springs opened? There may be one or two people around who remember it opening, but they will be in the tiniest minority.

It does seem to be newcomers who cause problems. It's happened time and time again.

[kwhelan 241]

10 hours ago, 3pedals said:

time it went , totally inaapropriate activity in an urban area - move on 

come on thats not a even a good attempt at trolling, expected better from you

[hotwire 352]

10 hours ago, huff3r said:

Funnily enough the Palmerston North speedway is right in the middle of town, and there are no dramas because the council fully supports it. 

 

Rather than complain, the neighbours embrace it as part of the character of the area. It's been there far longer than most residents. 

From my experience over the last 3 months in Auckland there seems to be a large proportion of the population here who feel entitled, and want everything for nothing, and they are the ones making it an issue. 

Also Manfeild in Feilding. Not aware of any issues there either.

[richard 384]

11 hours ago, huff3r said:

 

 

From my experience over the last 3 months in Auckland there seems to be a large proportion of the population here who feel entitled, and want everything for nothing, and they are the ones making it an issue. 

when you have a city with 1.5 million people and traveling time from one side to the other can take the best part of 1.5 hrs . Millennial see open green areas as the  perfect place to build and sporn.

just look at the mt Albert housing development , LOL 4000 houses no roads, bike lanes and no one to build them . Pie in the sky stuff. but what do you expect from a Sheila up the duff.

I cant help but thinking there is a deeper issue here at play I drought it will ever be a cricket ground

[NZ BMW 368]

14 hours ago, huff3r said:

Funnily enough the Palmerston North speedway is right in the middle of town, and there are no dramas because the council fully supports it. 

 

Rather than complain, the neighbours embrace it as part of the character of the area. It's been there far longer than most residents. 

From my experience over the last 3 months in Auckland there seems to be a large proportion of the population here who feel entitled, and want everything for nothing, and they are the ones making it an issue. 

Holding Palmy up as an exemplar are we? Wow.

Just because something has been there since 1929 does not mean it should continue. That being said we don’t need another cricket ground either. 

What’s the bet the speedway becomes another affordable housing area under Kiwibuild? 

[zero 1162]

10 minutes ago, NZ BMW said:

What’s the bet the speedway becomes another affordable housing area under Kiwibuild? 

All paid for with taxpayers money too......

[jeffbebe 1559]

The Zoo has been there a lot longer than the Speedway and the safety and welfare of its animals will be greatly improved without their annual fireworks display. Another location seems sensible.

 

 

[gjm 3258]

21 minutes ago, jeffbebe said:

The Zoo has been there a lot longer than the Speedway and the safety and welfare of its animals will be greatly improved without their annual fireworks display. Another location seems sensible.

That's fair, and I don't think there would be so much concern if another location was being offered, proposed, or even considered. At present though, that's not the case. The action appears to be a simple 'shut the speedway and redevelop'.

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2956]

On ‎27‎/‎03‎/‎2018 at 6:49 AM, huff3r said:

Rather than complain, the neighbours embrace it as part of the character of the area. It's been there far longer than most residents. 

From my experience over the last 3 months in Auckland there seems to be a large proportion of the population here who feel entitled, and want everything for nothing, and they are the ones making it an issue. 

Yeah, in the UK they were called NIMBYs = Not In My Back Yard. Move in then complain about something that's been there for decades before them.  Brands Hatch Race Track was a great example, been there since 1930s then some cock moves in and complains about the noise in the garden of his house next door - end result, fewer race meetings, no engine starts before 8.30am racing to be finished before 5pm, etc. Absolute BS, if you move next to a track, expect noise. If you didn't know it was there then you didn't do your due diligence - your fault.

Even heard about a case of a woman moving into a new estate on the edge of a country village, then complained about the "noise of the cows" and the fact they would stand in the field at the end of her garden and "look at her" - yup true story.

If this is truly about residents complaining about the noise from the springs, then this is very much in this category. It's like me moving into a new house and complaining about the neighbours curtains. IF the council is proposing a new site, and has put through planning permission and zoned the area accordingly to enable the Speedway to move to a more suitable (ie not so residential area) then fair enough, that's progress. But to just close it down and not have an alternative is not a solution.

[jeffbebe 1559]

37 minutes ago, gjm said:

That's fair, and I don't think there would be so much concern if another location was being offered, proposed, or even considered. At present though, that's not the case. The action appears to be a simple 'shut the speedway and redevelop'.

Pretty sure that's not the case. My understanding is that council has negotiated that Speedway move out to Waikaraka Park and offered to cover relocation costs. I think the owner is being a bit disingenuous in the press.

[gjm 3258]

Could be. I'd not seen that. I think there is a family speedway at Waikaraka already? Might make sense to put money into developing one site rather than having two.
Of course, that might mean more racing (as opposed to once a month) and that'll doubtless upset the locals (see Jon's post above!)

Edited March 29, 2018 by E30 325i Rag-Top

[gjm 3258]

1 hour ago, E30 325i Rag-Top said:

Yeah, in the UK they were called NIMBYs = Not In My Back Yard. Move in then complain about something that's been there for decades before them.  Brands Hatch Race Track was a great example, been there since 1930s then some cock moves in and complains about the noise in the garden of his house next door - end result, fewer race meetings, no engine starts before 8.30am racing to be finished before 5pm, etc. Absolute BS, if you move next to a track, expect noise. If you didn't know it was there then you didn't do your due diligence - your fault.

Even heard about a case of a woman moving into a new estate on the edge of a country village, then complained about the "noise of the cows" and the fact they would stand in the field at the end of her garden and "look at her" - yup true story.

If this is truly about residents complaining about the noise from the springs, then this is very much in this category. It's like me moving into a new house and complaining about the neighbours curtains. IF the council is proposing a new site, and has put through planning permission and zoned the area accordingly to enable the Speedway to move to a more suitable (ie not so residential area) then fair enough, that's progress. But to just close it down and not have an alternative is not a solution.

When I was in the UK, we lived about 3 miles from Deighton Hills Shooting School. Been there forever. You'd hear occasional pops from the school, but nothing else.
Over time people moved in and complained. and complained. And as house prices went up, the complainers became more influential. Didn't quite get to the point where the school was closed, but it cost Mike Reynolds (former British Olympic shooter) a fortune in sound reduction stuff.