November 30, 2004 at 2:04 am
I was talking with a mate the other day about how I’d noticed there was no airshow scheduled by the NZ Warbirds for Ardmore this summer. His reply was that it’s most likely because the local residents have complained too much about the noise. Apparently the new Auckland councils are looking into all sorts of activities that make noise with the hope of stopping them. I had heard that the famous Western Springs motor track was under threat by the nimby’s. And now it seems Ardmore too. 😡
But if Ardmore is being dictated to by its neighbours, I’m astounded. The aerodrome has been there for more than sixty years, is one of New Zealand’s busiest and best known aerodromes, and it holds/held the record for most landings in a day in the Southern Hemisphere.
So I cannot see why people would move in nextdoor and then complain about the noise. They must have known there was an airport nearby!!!
Surely no self-respecting council would allow a few moaners to curb the activities of an important aerodrome like Ardmore.
And how much noisier is an airshow, one day a year, going to be than every other day when there are many aeroclubs and flying schools operating daily.
Can anyone here confirm if this is the case? Has the airshow been canned thanks to the nimby neighbours complaining? 😡 😡 😡
By: Dave Homewood - 30th November 2004 at 11:24
Geese are shot from planes here in NZ, should take it up over there for a sport mate!
BTW, as far as I’m aware, Greer has absolutely nowt to do with us, thankfully.
By: trumper - 30th November 2004 at 11:20
Could you possibly referring to that well known antipodean commentator on the arts Germaine Greer perchance?
Well at the risk of being sued LOL i PMed Dave LOL 😮 😀 😀 Bloody Geese annoy me 😀
By: DavidMC - 30th November 2004 at 11:18
Could you possibly referring to that well known antipodean commentator on the arts Germaine Greer perchance?
By: Dave Homewood - 30th November 2004 at 11:11
Exactly my point Trumper. Thanks. Ardmore was never anywhere near the city when built. The city is encroaching on “it’s” environment. If it were wildlife, the NZ Govt would have protected it by now.
So, who’s this winging git near Duxford from the best hemisphere then?
By: trumper - 30th November 2004 at 09:55
MMMM,thats strange ,we have a well known Southern Hemisphere person who moved into the Duxford area that creates the same sort of noise [whining].
Why oh why do people move into or next to areas such as airfields ,railway lines and then moan because of the noise.They were there when you moved in :confused:
IF the airfields etc were built AFTER they moved then they have some sympathies.
By: Dave Homewood - 30th November 2004 at 03:57
The V8 decision was disappointing to a lot of people but was not unexpected as there has been a lot of objection to the idea as well as support. The narrow-sighted minority win again, usual story in this country.
However Wellington is interested in trying to get the race, as are several other cities. Wellington doesn’t need Resource Consent (which is what quashed Auckland’s bid) and the capital also has the experience – they ran the street race for ten years back in the 1980’s-90’s, which was awesome.
Such events bring in big dollars for the city that hosts it, so I am surprised that Auckland didn’t fight for the race all the way.
But that’s the same with an airshow, it generates tourism and all sorts of other positive benefits. Ardmore is a long established airshow in a very long established venue, and is a very popular event with the public at large – so I’d hate to think some handful of idiots (who are mostly new arrivals to the region) can see to it that it’s stopped. If they live locally and don’t want a few aircraft buzzing their house, maybe the airport could arrange a free bus trip for them to go away to some very quiet peaceful beach or park for the day. I’m sure there would only be enough objectors to fill a bus anyway!
By: setter - 30th November 2004 at 03:13
Hi Dave
i don’t know if you are aware but NZ has just lost the V8 Supercar Race bucause of issues such as this – It seems that no activity louder than reading the newspaper is sanctioned there at present – A real shame
New Zealand jeopardises V8 Supercar future with bewildering decision
Release Date: 23/11/2004
New Zealand may be left out of international expansion plans of the V8 Supercar Championship Series following the perplexing decision to reject a race through the streets of Auckland.
Australian Vee Eight Supercar Company (AVESCO) Chairman Tony Cochrane was bewildered and amazed by the decision of the Resource Management Consent commissioners to veto the Auckland race.
“This is an incredibly bizarre decision,” Mr Cochrane said.
“It is bitterly disappointing for the sport in New Zealand and the hundreds of thousands of fans who are passionate about motor racing but now denied the chance to see the best touring car category in the world race at what would have been an incredible circuit.
“I can’t understand what sort of process would turn down an event like this based largely on objections that had been withdrawn during the resource consent process.
“Considering Transit New Zealand, whose traffic concerns began this whole process, had withdrawn all of its objections and agreed to support the event, I find the decision extremely peculiar to say the least.
“The other bewildering aspect is that the Auckland City Council bid for the race and was awarded it ahead of other New Zealand cities. Why stick your hand up for it in the first place if this is the outcome?
“It must also be remembered that this event was to be for three days out of 365 in a year. Sure there are going to be disruptions with an event of this size but they are far outweighed by the positives.
“We know that the region would have benefited from some $20 million economically each year, that Auckland would be showcased around the world and that New Zealanders would have prided themselves on it.
“We have seen the benefits in Australia through the three biggest sporting events we have – the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Gillette Challenge on the Gold Coast.
“These are three massive events that attract crowds in excess of 240,000 people each and input more than $40 million into each economy each year. And they are all street races, just like Auckland should have been.
“We would have at least wanted it to go before the council to vote on, at least then it is the voice of the city and those who represent the interests of it.”
Mr Cochrane said that with the expansion to China next year and the addition of up to two more international venues as part of the sport’s long-term global strategy New Zealand stands to lose.
“The Auckland street race was an integral part of our international expansion plans as it would have been such a fantastic event shown to more than 700 million people on television across the globe,” he said.
“Rarely do any cities across the world get an opportunity to host international events of this magnitude and the chance to showcase their attractions to a huge worldwide audience.
“I would now consider it unlikely that other major international events could with any confidence consider Auckland as a location as the process is not only costly but fraught with problems such as this.
“The damage this has caused may be irreversible.”