Here we go again. Some entrepreneurial group has beguiled our council into sponsoring an application for one round of the World Motorcycle Speedway Championships to be held at Baypark Stadium.
This initial sponsorship for the application is costing Tauranga ratepayers $100,000!
Motorcycle Speedway is a spectacle, an entertainment. Why is TCC involving ratepayer's funds in entertainment?
Can the Motorcycle Speedway be described as part of Tauranga's infrastructure, necessary for the health and wellbeing of all ratepayers and their families?
Tim Burgess, manager of Tourism BOP – which already receives $500,000 or more from ratepayers - states that International Management Group is behind this move. Why doesn't International Management Group provide the funds for this promotion? They are the ones who are going to profit from it.
We are constantly being reminded by council that Baypark doesn't cost the ratepayer anything, in spite of the $12 million purchase price paid to Bob Clarkson – ex National MP.
Which jam jar is this initial $100,000 negotiating fee coming from? And be assured the $100,000 is only a starter.
As an example, Rugby World Cup 2011 started with $30 million of taxpayers' money toward ‘negotiations' in 2005. This professional debacle has now cost the taxpayer an estimated $800 million and increasing daily.
How much will one round of the World Motorcycle Speedway Championships eventually cost the Tauranga ratepayer?
We need to stop this arrant nonsense now. The ratepayers can't afford it!
R. Jordan, Tauranga