Residents unhappy with Targa Rally
Road closures put event at risk
BY COLIN WILLIAMS - UPPER HUTT LEADERRelevant offers
Upper Hutt Leader
Residents' opposition to the closure of Whitemans Valley for the Targa Rally may have placed the event at risk of not happening or its preferred course being altered.
A council committee on Wednesday was not prepared to make a decision on proposed several-hour road closures for parts of Blue Mountains, Whitemans Valley, Mangaroa Valley and Flux Roads on Saturday, October 31.
The deferment, moved by Councillor Keith Barnard, means the issue will now have to be decided at a full council meeting a week today.
Advertising of the road closures brought objections from residents angry at the Targa Rally route which is different from previous years and sees access roads into the valley closed for a specified 4 1/2 hours.
Blue Mountains Rd resident Susan Edwards spoke to Wednesday's services committee about the "huge inconvenience to a large number of families on a Saturday," the proposed closures represent.
"There is no other way in or out," she told councillors.
Christopher and Louise Waghorn, of Avian Cres, are "unhappy the council proposes to authorise [our] entrapment".
"Should the council choose to close these roads they would severely inconvenience over 3000 ratepaying residents for the sake of letting a few legalised boy racers enjoy their morning," their written objection says.
Another objector, Tony Griffiths, says: "In the past they have had the use of Wallaceville Rd only. We could leave the valley by three other roads. Now they want more."
"They want to use the whole valley allowing no way of leaving the valley while the rally is on," he says.
Residents are opposed to the larger area of the valley that the rally wants to use this year.
Last year people "at least had the option of taking the long and windy route through Blue Mountains," Edit Burla says.
"This year, everybody will be stuck at home unless they want to get up extra early on a Saturday, often with young children, to get to mid-to-late morning lessons.
"This sport is environmentally unsustainable ... the only imaginable benefit would be to the egos of the race drivers. I find their proposition preposterous, arrogant and totally unacceptable."
The submission calls on the council to "stand by ratepayers and residents and refuse to let the race go ahead".
An estimated 650 houses face the impact of the road closures, information prepared by the council for Wednesday's meeting says.
They are the Blue Mountains area (189), Whitemans Valley (200), Mangaroa (107) and Katherine Mansfield Dr (87) along with the separate Moonshine Hill Rd stage (70) which received no submissions opposing the rally.
Targa organisers have visited residents on the proposed rally route and there is extensive planning for any emergencies and a commitment to repairing any property damage.
''To close the road, tape will be erected across driveways and gates up to two hours before road closure time,'' information for residents says.
''Please replace the tape if you exit before road closure.''
The closure ''will cause some disruption to traffic and residents in the affected areas'', a report to last week's committee from city business director Chris Upton says.
However, he believes planning and consultation can minimise disruption. As part of the consultation, the organisers have identified issues and are working with the affected parties.
''The exposure of having an event as large as the Targa Rally can be valuable for the city and sponsors. It is currently proposed that lunch for the competitors-officials is held at Maidstone Park, which provides the ultimate opportunity for spectators to get up close to this iconic event,'' Mr Upton says.
Business liaison manager Paul Lambert told last week's council committee that Maidstone was ''tentatively booked (for) a big event that day''.
''Putting an economic benefit on it is not easy but there is a lot of pleasure and enjoyment for people lining up, watching the event.''
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"This sport is environmentally unsustainable ... the only imaginable benefit would be to the egos of the race drivers. I find their proposition preposterous, arrogant and totally unacceptable." Can someone tell me what is enviromentally unsustainable about motorsport? What sport is enviomentally sustainable? More fosil fuels are used every weekend for other sports like golf and rugby than motorsport. We pay huge amounts in our rates for sports fields, yet what do we get out of them? Benifits of this event are; a. The money injected into the community not only to local business, but also to local schools. b. The competitors learn skills during the event (in a controlled enviroment) that can save lifes in daily driving on the road. How many other sports can help teach skills that can save lives?
As a resident of Mangaroa valley for most of my life, i loved nothing more than standing at my front gate to watch the awesome machines roaring by, and wished that one day i could have the opportunity to be one of those guys.
This year i've been given the oppertunity to fulfill my dream as a competitor, so i'll be damned if i'm going to let the one-eyed media mess that dream up for me
Well; I have to agree that the basic priciples of journalism are sadly lacking here. Maybe it is for the sole reason of having something seasational in an otherwise boring community paper.
Whatever the reason, it shows that not only is Edit Burla sadly misinformed and uses emotion instead of fact, but so too is this "news"paper. The sport is as environmentally sustainable as a rugby test, bowling on Saturday or indeed a day at Trentham. Of course this could have easily been established if the reporter had actually contacted the sports controlling body. As for the use of the term "boy racers" in the context of organised motorsport events in this country, that just show's blantant ignorance from both the resident quoted and the newspaper itself.
Another classic example of the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) principle in action.
Here is a once a year event that caters to all types of cars, drivers and experience levels participating in a week long event that puts significant emphasis on charity fund raising and putting money into the communities that they pass through.
A few vocal, misinformed people are upset because they have to adjust their routine on ONE day out of 365.
This is not a bunch of "boy racers" skidding up the roads, out of control and causing unrepaired damage. This is a legal motorSPORT event running to strict rules and regulations with a tough line on safety.
How about some balanced reporting for a change? One or more of the reporters could get in touch if you want to come along to an event and see what legal motorsport is really all about.
Gee i hope the minority of residents, aka those with the biggest mouths, get there way, that way all the small communities that would benefit from it won't. Great that the above is also a well ballanced report with 90% of it focusing on quotes from the resident/s against it 10% from a councillor and 0% from an organiser. Standard sensatioanlist journalism as i've come to expect when reporting on anything that could possibly have the term boy racer written in - although by definition those who are racing in the targa can't possibly be boy racers as it is 100% legal
what a load of drivel, oh a couple people put out, well i get put out every time there is a rugby test match on yet me and my neighbors cant get that stopped...or can we......
What an embarrassingly one eyed bit of writing. I continue to be stunned that anyone outside of a primary school newspaper would actually publish this. It is merely a collected series of quotes representing one point of view. I am sure that the schools and community groups that get fund raising through this event will be cringing as they read this. Nice going on this delightful bit of bias, you've served your public well.
Yep, more of the usual disharmony provoking drivel from the media. So some people don't like anything affecting their daily routine, let's publish their letters like it's the opinion of the majority and try to stop a whole bunch of people having some fun. learn to share.
The author of this article should be ashamed. More of the same one sided, sensationalised rubbish NZ is so poorly served up by our ever lowering media.
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Hi All, Thanks for your support!
Great to know that when the silent majority need a voice this happens, and may I add without any prompting from the organiser.
Many misconceptions exist about the Dunlop Targa and I am relieved to learn that most are able to see the positives that our event bring. We engage a number of communities from Auckland to Wellington and offer the opportunity for countless community groups/schools to embrace our event and raise much needed funds for local projects/initiatives. This we like to think is in keeping with the Targa spirit. Regarding attempts, by some, to say that there is a relationship between the Dunlop Targa and “boy racers”, I hasten to add that our event is sanctioned by MotorSport NZ under the guidelines of the FIA. Our event is run in a controlled environment, on tarmac roads, under local council road closure approval with traffic management and safety of the upmost importance and focus.
We are not so arrogant to think that our event does not inconvenience local residents and I must state that we are continually working with affected parties to lessen the negative impact that our event imposes on them. With this said we strongly believe that the greater community want our event and we look forward to presenting our case to the Upper Hutt City Council at 4.30pm on Wednesday, the 12th of August. I would ask that if you have any further words of support please forward these to eventmanager@targa.co.nz and/or join our support team at the council meeting next week.
This is a chance for the silent majority to rise and ensure that the greater community get to enjoy the 15th anniversary of Dunlop Targa.