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Helping the Environment from the impact of holding the Hamilton 400

Hamilton city council have put plans in place to make sure the Hamilton 400 is environmentally friendly. They are trying to make sure the event causes as little damage to the surrounding environment as possible. It was said in a media release that the ‘Council is utilising Hamilton 400 in conjunction with V8 Supercars Australia to increase awareness of environmental sustainability issues as they relate major events and to positively impact on environmental behaviours over the race event weekend’. The planting of trees at Whitiora School was to help with the environmental issues. June 2008, 2000 native trees were planted by the council in the gully of resolution drive. Whitiora School has also provided bicycle and motorbike parking. This helps the public to limit travel by car into the city and have somewhere safe to park there bikes. The V8 green programme was set up in the same way as the ‘V8 Racing Green Programme’ developed by Australia 2007. The programme completely offset all carbon emission coming from the racecars themselves. It was stated in the article that this is ‘the first time a motor sport series has made a season-long commitment to reduce its impact on the environment’. Other activities undertaken to reduce the carbon footprint during the event weekend include; the council promoting the use of a free bus service through the city, pushing the use of cycling and walking as ways of getting to the event. Cycle parks provided by Whitiora School and Garden Place. The councils aim was to make sure the public attending the event help to reduce their carbon footprint. Out of town visitors are to use the free bus service to get around. A big push has being made to recycle at the event. This ensures waste going to landfill is reduced. V8 drivers Greg Murphy and Jason Bright worked with the council to promote simple tips to help drivers cut fuel usage. Transplanted trees were put in Hinemoa Park, Marigolds on the Norton roundabout, specimen grade nikau palms, shrubs, astelias, hebes, flax, cultivators kawakawa and ferns at Founders theatre were all planted sufficiently. Around the event area the council also planted 90 new park trees in the winter. 190 new street trees were also to be planted. It was also stated that ‘in the future approximately 53 trees will be planted in the Frankton precinct were the street tree framework is to be coordinated into the future urban upgrade’.

‘Fast Facts and Beyond Less than 10% of the total V8 emissions actually come from the race cars, the balance comes from transport, travel and other administration functions. Emission calculations include racing, practice, qualifying, team test days and use of our safety cars on track. Off track includes transporters, flights, hire car and the like. Total racing kilometres are close to 655,000kms per year. Total V8 supercar transporters are close to 2.1 million kms per year Total plane flights are close to 1.7 million kms per year Total tonnes of greenhouse emissions are 2587 tonnes per year. Future Climate Australia calculated that just over 15, 000 native trees will neutralise this’ By Hamilton city council, Project V8 racing Hamilton Green Looking at the facts I question weather Hamilton is doing enough to reduce this heavy environmental impact?

Advantages for the Hamilton City economy from holding the Hamilton 400

2008 proved economically success from the Hamilton 400. 28.3 Million dollars was generated by the event for the economy. This was all new money to the city. This figure was 40% greater than initially estimated by a study done by Horwath HTL Limited. 54, 450 visitors were estimated and 23, 900 of those purchased tickets. Accommodation, food and beverage, merchandise, retail, entertainment and leisure out side the event, local transport and the purchase of goods and services associated with event management were the main areas of expenditure. Proving financial gain for local business. Hamilton Mayor Bob Simcock said on Voxy News Engine ‘ The city took on the task of hosting the V8s for two primary reasons. First was to enhance our city’s reputation and second was economic benefit. Clearly hosting the vent has delivered economically in year one. More importantly though, the data from the survey gives us reassurance that these benefits will continue for years to come with a very high percentage of visitors telling us they intend to return in future years’. It was also seen that the city’s reputation has being improved and that the publics views of Hamilton have being changed for the better. Friendliness, vibrant atmosphere, good facilities and infrastructure were just some of these better views. According to a recent article in the Waikato Times, the 2009 event has started off economically slower. Ticket sales were much slower than last year. ‘And the tough times have prompted companies to bail out of $650,000 worth of hospitality packages for next month’s Hamilton 400 V8 Supercar races’ However confirmed by Dean Calvert sponsorship was increased and 33.800 out of an available 50,000 tickets have now being sold. Others also looking to make money are in merchandise, with 25% more to be set up inside the track.

Environmental concerns from holding the Hamilton 400

With all the noise that is generated by the racing cars birds and other neighbouring animals that live in and around the area of the racing track can be harmed in many ways. Gordon Moyes stated in an article that “such creatures are exquisitely sensitive to noise and many are terrified by loud screeching, careening and unpredictable noises. It will be very harmful for them to be bombarded with the high decibels expected.” This could have a similar impact on humans. A table provided by the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology showed that any exposure more then eight hours can be dangerous at 90dB and any exposure with a decibel rating more then 100dB anything more then two hours can have serious consequences. The physiological effect from such a high rating of noise can be known to raise the heart rate and blood pressure, passively contributing to anxiety. As well as noise pollution there is going to be general waste from the public, the Hamilton City Council have done a very good job in providing lots of waste and recycle bins, but rubbish always manages to find its way on to the ground. With the high numbers of spectators that will be in the area will this will in turn increase the litter around the area of the race track. Oil leeks and Petrol spillages are problems that are usually kept to a minimum due the a high standard set by the organisers, but in some cases these accidents do happen and the result can be that these lost fluids can find their way in to the cities drains and/or soaking in to the near by grassed areas. The use of ethanol produced by the super cars generates air pollution that can be unhealthy to residents close to the event. Moyes also stated that “in this era of climate change, in response to the deadly global threat of increasing greenhouse gasses, it would be far more sensible to discourage all human activity that produce massive amounts of pollution”.

The economic concerns to Hamilton City from holding the Hamilton 400

In 2008 the Hamilton city council advised the general public to stay out of the city to keep congestion to a minimal. This in fact made the public stay away which had a negative impact on local business in the city centre such as cafe’s and retail as they did not get the usual weekend trade. There is a growing concern that property values in the area will decrease due to the race track being placed there for the next decade.

References

http://hamilton.co.nz/news/pageid/2145839374 16/03/2009 http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/v8s-28-million-economic-impact-hamilton/5/21 16/03/2009 Waikato Times; Firms pull out of V8s contract 21/03/2009 http://www.gordonmoyes.com/2008/10/23/my-reasons-for-opposing-v8-supercar-races-at   16/03/2009