Court battle looms over moving speedway from Western Springs

Auckland Council’s decision to move speedway from Western Springs to Waikaraka Park now faces a court challenge. 

The Western Springs Speedway Association suggests that the council used selective evidence and failed to consult with it sufficiently. It recently lodged a judicial review in the Auckland High Court over the lawfulness of the council decision in October to move the motorsport to Waikaraka Park.

The association argues the Onehunga venue’s smaller capacity will lead to lost sponsorship and decreased attendance.

Speedway’s days at Western Springs were effectively over on October 30 when councillors voted to spend $11m upgrading Waikaraka Park to accommodate speedway from next summer.

Mayor Wayne Brown was amongst those who voted in favour of the move. He turned down a request from speedway supporters to address the governing body.

The October 30 vote followed the revelation that Speedway New Zealand general manager Aaron Kirby supported the move. However, Kirby denied that, stating he was misrepresented.

Association spokesman Jason Jones said the council’s actions were bordering on unlawful. He said the aim of the judicial review was to overturn the council’s decision and hold a fair process. Work on Waikaraka Park should be put on hold while the legal battle took place, he added.

The association alleges breaches of processes and legal obligations by the council to consult with affected parties.

It also says that fabricated and tampered documents were used in the decision-making to suggest a specious level of support for the move from Western Springs.

The legal action has cost the association roughly $40,000 to date, and Jones believes further court action would cost as much again. The association has received donations from speedway drivers, supporters, and the public to fight the council.

Jones says Waikaraka Park is too small, with a crowd capacity of 3500, much smaller than that of Western Springs.

“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,” he said.