Auckland's bid for a V8 Supercar street race - where to from here?

Auckland City is bidding to host a V8 Supercar street race for seven years starting from April 2006.

The city is looking at providing either a $3.5 million loan to or entering into a joint venture with event promoters, IMG, depending on which option is most favourable for the city. A decision about the preferred option is likely to be announced in April 2004.

The sport’s governing body AVESCO is expected to announce the successful host city for the event at the end of April 2004, when company executives will be in New Zealand for the PlaceMakers V8 International race at Pukekohe.

If the city’s race bid is successful, the final decision on participating and the commercial arrangement will be subject to: an independent professional peer review a decision by the Finance and Corporate Business Committee (which has been delegated authority by the full council).

If the bid succeeds, Auckland City will work closely with key stakeholders to address any concerns about the event.

The resource consent process will then determine the level of formal public consultation required for this event.

IMG (the event promoters) will need to apply to council for resource consent. Auckland City will evaluate the impact of the event on the city, and how it fits within the District Plan, and then make a decision on whether a publicly notified or a non-notified resource consent is required. Also, the city can place certain conditions on resource consents concerning issues like noise levels. Auckland City’s bid will also be subject to the necessary consents being in place by September 2004.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>