Canberra to host V8s in 2001, amid cost blow-out claims
4/12/2000 18:56 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - Canberra’s troubled GMC 400 event will go ahead next year, despite alleged exorbitant cost blow-outs.
The Senate last week approved the Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation’s (C-TEC) bid for the event to be staged in the National Capital’s Parliamentary Triangle again next year.
However, those opposed to the race are demanding an investigation into the budget for the multi-million dollar event, claiming the costs do not justify the investment.
Jacqui Rees of the ‘Save our Public Spaces’ group says the “hidden costs” have not been assessed.
"Already the cost of the V8 car race has ballooned, Canberrans have paid more than $7.8 million from their own money for this event," Rees told ABC Online.
"And the true costs still have not been revealed because we haven't had the costs taken into account of the adverse impact of things like disruption and road closures," she said.
An independent survey commissioned earlier this year presented a glowing report card for the inaugural event, claiming attendance, visitor satisfaction and economic benefit expectations had all been surpassed.
An estimated windfall of $13 million for the ACT economy had C-TEC Chairman James Service hailing the race as an overwhelming success.
"This is a fantastic result for a first time, three-day event held in the middle of winter, and beats our original economic benefit target of $10.4 million,” Service beamed.
"Local businesses took on contracts worth over $4 million to supply items ranging from concrete barriers, security and cleaning services to traffic management, civil works, hire of portable buildings, communications, security, signage and more.”
"With extra business activity comes jobs, and the GMC 400 created many full-time and part-time equivalent opportunities for local people. Local accommodation houses were full and overflow demand was channelled to the surrounding region," he said.
The reception from most that attended the event was luke-warm however, with organisers caught-out by higher-than-expected crowd figures.
With only 28 percent of spectators travelling from interstate, opposers claim the economic benefits predicted have not materialised.
It is believed the popular Rally of Canberra event, which has been moved elsewhere from 2001, was a victim of the high costs associated with staging the GMC 400 next year and beyond.
The controversy surrounding the event, heavily-backed by the ACT Government, is the latest row to rock the administration and its new Chief Minister, Gary Humphries.
Changes are expected for next year’s event in response to spectator feedback, including, “better spectator vantage points, good track-side commentary, helpful signage, better entertainment, food and facilities.”
The second annual GMC 400 is scheduled for the weekend of June 7-10.
| |
