PT costs for V8s not revealed to ratepayers

Despite all the hype to catch the train or a bus to the V8s in Pukekohe last month, only about nine percent of attendees actually did, with Auckland Transport now refusing to release the cost to provide the public transport to Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer.

“To think only 7.7% of attendees caught the train and less than 1.5% took the bus will raise a few eyebrows particularly given the huge cost to put on the special weekend services.”

Mr Brewer has been refused any information around the costs associated with the provision of public transport, which he points out are costs over and above the $10.6m ratepayers have already committed to the annual motorsport event over the next five years.

Figures obtained by Mr Brewer show only 7.7% people caught the train to the event which attracted 117,167 spectators over the three days and just 1,753 people caught a bus. He said many ratepayers will be disappointed to learn just how low the take-up was given the huge additional cost to provide it.

“We were all promised a big uptake of public transport with the Mayor leading from the front, but in the end less than a third of what could have been expected took the train and the buses were only a third full on average.”

Mr Brewer says given so few used the celebrated trains, it was completely over the top to have 100 contingency buses parked up over the weekend just in case the trains broke down.

“The expense to have buses and their drivers’ just sitting there on standby must have been significant but Auckland Transport also refuses to disclose this cost, again citing commercial sensitivity. The CCO however has revealed the cost of the new pedestrian over-bridge at $321,000 which will have to be replaced when Pukekohe gets its new rail station.

“I can’t understand why organisers ever thought the public transport option was going to be popular. After all, we are talking about the V8s and so the main method of getting to Pukekohe was always going to be either via a Ford or Holden!”

“Even without knowing the end cost it is definitely not good value per passenger and in future years organisers need to cut their cloth. Let’s not go completely over the top if it’s not going to be used. In the meantime ratepayers deserve to know how much this has all cost them,” says Mr Brewer.

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