Interesting article on V8SC and the Homebush event

[35R]

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/race-fans-pay-a-super-price-20100529-wmfr.html



Race fans pay a super price

May 30, 2010

AN AUDIT report into the 2009 V8 Supercars event has found the NSW government failed to analyse alternative venues such as Eastern Creek, potentially missing the chance to create a permanent hub for motorsport in Sydney.

The revelation comes after The Sydney Morning Herald yesterday detailed how State Development Minister Ian Macdonald pushed through taxpayer funding for the V8 event to the tune of $35 million over five years, without a proper cost-benefit analysis.

The NSW Auditor-General's draft report on the race, which is about to be released, also found it is likely to cost taxpayers at least $10 million more over the next five years than the cap imposed by cabinet, and will bring smaller economic benefits to the state than first outlined.

The V8 Supercar backers were determined to have the race at Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush Bay, even though this meant the track and improvements would have to be dismantled each year.

Rather than assess Eastern Creek as an alternative, Mr Macdonald's department relied on criticisms by proponents of the V8 Supercar race that Eastern Creek was not suitable, the draft report seen by The Sun-Herald says.

The V8 backers argued Eastern Creek was poorly managed, not convenient for public transport and required a $125 million track upgrade.

This view was contradicted by a KPMG report, referenced in the Auditor-General's report and prepared for the operators of Eastern Creek, the Australian Racing Drivers Club.

KPMG found a $73.4 million investment would have given Sydney ''the best return on investment to meet the long-term needs of Sydney's racing community and help attract major race meetings on a year-round basis''.

Once construction was finished, the rebuilt Eastern Creek would have brought an extra $51 million a year to the state and created an extra 317 full-time equivalent jobs, the KPMG report said.

The Auditor-General found the likely job creation out of the V8s was 71 full-time jobs.



Thoughts?

[NickS]

The V8 Supercar backers were determined to have the race at Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush Bay

Think that pretty much sums it up doesn't it ...

To be honest I enjoyed the Homebush Track and the TV spectacle was pretty cool ... but sticking the cash into EC would have made so much more sense. Why spend 10's of millions building and ripping down a temporary track when you could spend it upgrading something permanent ???

[BLK 1T]

NSW taxpayers done over by Tony C.
IIRC this was predicted on this very forum last year.
Phil

[exploder]

Thoughts?

:soap:
I didnt vote for these clowns never have...

We all knew the truth, long term for all motor sport in NSW investment in EC always made more sense. Yet the NSW state government chose to ignore all advice from interested parties and invest what funds it had in satisfying, albeit the largest ($$$) racing class in Australia, a minority sporting group...

What I hope happens next is the Auditor General refers the matter to ICAC, at the very least to investigate the supposed links between the minister and V8 racing through personal friendships.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mates-race-45m-deal-snares-mp-20100528-wldb.html

[35R]

Think that pretty much sums it up doesn't it ...

To be honest I enjoyed the Homebush Track and the TV spectacle was pretty cool ... but sticking the cash into EC would have made so much more sense. Why spend 10's of millions building and ripping down a temporary track when you could spend it upgrading something permanent ???

Agree with that, street races make interesting tv.

It's such a shame; when you look at what ARDC proposed with their track masterplan (http://www.pressroom.com.au/press_kit_detail.asp?clientID=39&navSectionID=6&categoryID=1000&kitID=265); essentially asking for that money, then Oran Park closes, then ARDC denied the go ahead, then suddenly we're paying out $45m for a temporary track instead? Something stinks, real bad. Eastern Creek isnt perfect and i am sure there are two sides to the story but at the end of the day i think the community would have got a lot more for their $$ directing that money towards their masterplan. I am sure there are lots of mates deals and politics we'll never get to hear about.

[fatas]

i think a super speedway and a sprint car track would go down well out there at E.C then we can close parra and marcos can bring his teams from the USA i know cost and all but we got to have dreams :bash:

[hsvredsled]

There is no reason why Eastern Creek could not have become the Motor racing hub on NSW. There is a heap of room out there!!

Public transport Issues? Bullcrap. Make it an overnight camping deal like they did at Eastern Creek years ago with the bikes. Shuttle buses to Doonside/Blacktown Stations for the Day trippers.

Two or three turns and you are on a Freeway for the car commuters.

Build a purpose built skid pad and encourage more track days to raise revenue.

[Aeron]

All of us here were scratching our heads wondering why the government wouldn't invest the money in Eastern Creek. Homebush is such a waste of money. Sure its a good track, but an upgraded Eastern Creek would be better for everyone.

[choppo]

Keep voting Labour guys.

You did it before (last 12 years), you will do it again :laugh:

[35R]

Keep voting Labour guys.

You did it before (last 12 years), you will do it again :laugh:

I think it's likely we'll see a change in NSW govt. this time chop. I cant even remember who i voted for (if anyone.. i usually don't bother unless there is a pressing need for change.. meh). Do you think the grass is greener on the other side? Doubt it.

[Hethro87]

Typical of the NSW government.

I know they are trying to 'revive' the ghost town that is Sydney Olypmic park but they have enough finical issues as it is let alone something like this coming up.

I agree that EC is a track that, whilst not a great spectator one, should be used as much as it should. Driver training, skid pan days, enduro's, superlaps. Creating jobs around that area is a good idea as alot of people are moving around there.

Worried about public transport? Well M4 is free now and maybe the government should get off their arse and spend some cash on public transport.

But hey lets spend $75 million dollars a week on medication for inmates in NSW prisions who contribute nothing to society, have hurt people and abuse people like myself everyday at work. Oh and whilst we are at it spend $8 million dollars on a 20 bed unit for high risk female offenders which have 22inch LCD tv's in their room and 42 inch Sony Bravia's with a Blu Ray player in the two seperate common rooms......

Oh but dont worry about people waiting for hours on trolleys in ED in Sydney.....

Hethro :D

[choppo]

Do you think the grass is greener on the other side? Doubt it.
The concept is regardless of Politics. Lets say it was 'cars'.
If you went to the same workshop for 12 years, and, year in year out they completely farked your car, reamed your arse on price each time and never actually i anything to improve your car... BUT you keep going back? I'd try another Workshop within the first 12mths :toetap:

[35R]

The concept is regardless of Politics. Lets say it was 'cars'.
If you went to the same workshop for 12 years, and, year in year out they completely farked your car, reamed your arse on price each time and never actually i anything to improve your car... BUT you keep going back? I'd try another Workshop within the first 12mths :toetap:

I reckon we'll see a change this time. But also we'll be having the same discussion in 4, 8 or 12 years time. Politicians!

[Dan_]

We should start a Hat party and run for Govt. Chop can be our leader

[35R]

We should start a Hat party and run for Govt. Chop can be our leader

Surely someone should run with a side platform of motorsport; bound to be a bunch of pent up demand in NSW

[choppo]

Surely someone should run with a side platform of motorsport; bound to be a bunch of pent up demand in NSW
That rings a bell..... i think there already is one???? LETS TAKE OVER!!!! :eyes:

[Scotty]

I am not surprised at all....

I remember getting slightly excited when there was the announcement for the redevelopment of Eastern Creek...

Then had to keep my excitement in check expecting that it was just an attempt to get votes or attention.

Someone needs to put together a political case that is then supported by the financial case and you may get somewhere... but expecting the right decision on purely financial is often not going to happen.

[evo65m]

Surely someone should run with a side platform of motorsport; bound to be a bunch of pent up demand in NSW

Yes but not motorsport a motor car party. My biggest Gripe with any GOV is why do we pay a greenslip for every car and Bike it should be on you licence as you can only use 1 at a time but we still get raped for each car and bike and that shits me no end:weirdo:
P.S I am also a member of the NSW shooters party so I may bring this up at the next meeting

Cheers
Daniel

[toey]

The V8 Supercar backers were determined to have the race at Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush Bay


well we all know the saying the squeaky wheel gets the grease. as said somewhere in the thread the v8s have the most publisity but are still only a minority in the whole australian motorsport industry. in saying that it is silly to waste so much money to keep one catagory happy and neglect all the others. sure the v8s have some pull due to there fan base but investing in a motorsport presinct at ec is a no brainer.

as for the trackchat political party......you would get my vote and i havnt even heard the pitch

[choppo]

Just remember guys/girls.... our preferential voting system... i didn't know what that was until 10 year ago.... you do a protest vote against a Major Party (Labour OR Liberal) by voting Greens or Indepenant or Motorsport dude OR Gun Party OR....... whatever..

You are actually voting for one of the Big Two via their Preferences.

Will repost around election time (soon), not to sway your vote, just so you are aware of what you are voting for! I think it's one of the biggest issues concerning elections, a vote for an offshoot Party to show your disgust for the current/opposition is actually a vote for one of them.

If you want to protest vote - do as dunc does, dont vote OR throw your vote in the bin!!!!

[35R]

isnt the minister apparently responsible for the backyard Homebush deal the same one sacked today? There goes any accountability for that one then... "oh him yes he was sacked... he's gone"...

[.charged.]

We have the same problem here, the Government wont listen about a new motorsport complex, In SA we don't even have a dragstrip but the government has just built a 2.8km tram line extension at cost of 120mil that mirrors the existing rail network less than 200 metres away:soap: . Now there is great debate about the upgrade of the Adelaide Oval at a cost of 500mill for the proposed bid for the FIFA world cup in 2018 or 2022 which Australia isn't guaranteed to win, we have a 60,000 seat Stadium already at Football Park(Aami Stadium) that could have a 100mill upgrade to meet FIFA requirements yet the government is hell bent on the more expensive option of Adelaide Oval, that is under utilised already.

At the last state election I was hoping a change of government would take place but the sheep in SA voted for the government they already knew rather than trying some new blood and new ideas:swear: