Tourism subsidies a real drag: Australia Institute

It’s still a lame-arse ‘build it and they will come’ business model. The law and order shit doesn’t wash when you stack it up against jobs created. If we had decent law enforcement that did something about these pricks there’d be heaps of jobs – lawyers and their myriad of para-legals to represent the offenders, auctioneers to sell the confiscated cars, taxi drivers to drive the hapless saps home, schools painted and garden beds sorted by the convicted pricks doing community service … the opportunities are endless!

I just don’t want one

S4anta,
Can it be explained how the ACT Government (and ratepayers) directly earns a return from Floriade? No entry fee is charged. About the only direct income would be parking and speeding fines garnered from attendees. Certainly local businesses gain income, and locals are employed, which makes the dollar go round, but isn’t this what the CT article was arguing. At least the Dragway pays rates/rent directly to Government and also helps the dollar go round from attendees spending.
The executive fiat has a turbo, its the fiat executive that has the V8.
Cranky

Floriade may be a money spinner, but what about the $300,000 a year spent on getting the kangaroos to play at Manuka. The Australia Institue has a point about governments wasting money attracting events with no economic value. In the end we were lucky the Goldcoast out bid us for the kangaroos games, saved a bit scratch.

Cranky, I would be careful including Floriade in this. It has been proven time and time again, that it is real money spinner. My opinions on dragways and the wankers that go to them is tainted by the fact that I live on a very wide, straight road and I get to hear/feel folks blazing up and down said road at least six nights a week.

Although this would be minimised by the dragway, I seriously doubt it.

Cranky when you say “…executive fiat” do you mean a Bambino with suicide doors, leather upholstery and a turbo charged V8?

You don’t own a recumbent that you ride in the nude do you?

I’m sorry that this guy is going to lose his farm, but I’m sure the property is far from pristine wilderness. Our old dragway (which was still OK) was taken away from us, the govt has promised a replacement dragway to motorsport fans for many years now, and all ACT land is leasehold. I heard no complaints from these guys when they reclaimed the dragway land, now the shoe is on the other foot.

First they came for the Comunists, and I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out. Then they came for me.

I’m not sure who this article is aimed at, apart from the anti-dragway crowd. Financing the Dragway is a result of election promises (by both Labor and Liberal) to correct the closing by executive fiat of a profitable, non government funded, privately run dragway that returned an income in rent/rate return to the ACT government. This reason for funding is not a result of Government deciding a return will be gained from the investment, although it is virtually guaranteed, based on the previous well run operation.

Why was the Dragway singled out in this article? I would love to see cost/benefit results for Skyfire/Balloon Circus/Floriade/etc.

Whatever guv. Jack the petrol up to $10/litre, stir some real care and investment into alt. fuels. Whatever, I ve been drinking and listening to question time on ABC news radio and it’s fired me up

Letter to the Chronicle, AUG 8 2006, Trevor Brogan.
“I am the lessee of Block 51, Majura Road, on which the proposed dragway is to be developed. Please let me clarify a few pooints to Mr Allen.
Not many people are actually aware that our farm is to be resumed so that a minority of dragway supporters can indulge in their sporting interest. To take a beautiful habitat which includes many varieties of fauna, some that are endangered, and see it destroyed is heartbreaking.
For it to be taken by force and given to a minority organisation which will cause major devastation to the environment is unjust and truly devastating.
Our farm has been part of our family’s history for many years. How would you feel if your home was taken from you? Not a very appealling prospect one would think. Seems a bit unfair wouldn’t you say?
Even if in the unlikely even that a dragway is not developed it has been a stressful year to say the least. Not knowing if the ACT government will take my home and livelihood away has meant I am unable to make or implement any plans.
Mr Allen’s statements regarding our neighbours being 3.2 km away really shows how ill informed he is. The nearest is a mere 400 metres and the others within a 1km radius. This doesn’t include the public that use the Ainslie reserve for recreational activities who will be affected. Training on a daily baisis and the scheduled racing events will cause unbearable noise conditions for residents in Pialligo, Hackett and Watson. (continued)
This is not something you would enjoy living with on a day-to-day basis would it? The events will run all day and late into the evening. The noise generated by the racing and revving of engines will be accompanied by an intrusive PA system.
Who do you think you are kidding? A fine prospect for those who live and work in the valley. Just as long as it’s not in your backyard, hey Mr Allen?
Trevor Brogan, Majura Valley.

Sorry for the typos above – is there any way to delete double posts?