Delay puts raceway in the red

A funding delay for a national driver training programme has dented the books for Manfeild raceway, leading to a $41,000 deficit for the Manawatu¯ raceway and events venue.

It was announced last year the Feilding facility would pocket $2.8 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to expand its National Driver Training Centre, to train 700 drivers and machine operators annually.

Despite an initial promise the money would be drip-fed from October last year, a Provincial Development Unit spokesperson said the contracts had only just been signed and funds wouldn’t be handed over for another couple of weeks.

The unforeseen delay has disrupted Manfeild’s budgets, recording a $41,854 loss in the final six months of last year against what was forecast to be a $142,000 surplus.

Income from its driver training centre was also $487,000 under budget following the setback to offer heavy vehicle licensing.

Manfeild is calling for tenders to reconstruct its back circuit to offer training for class 2-5 vehicles, but its chairman Gordon Smith didn’t expect work to start before June.

‘‘We’ve been talking about this for two years. We expected to have [funding] by October, and that got pushed out so we thought we’d have it before Christmas. But it’s now [March]. This means the project will be late commencing, and to be concluded.’’

Manfeild had wanted to start the programme in November, but it now wouldn’t be feasible until next February.

As part of the deal with the Provincial Growth Fund, the park must contribute $815,000 towards redeveloping the facility, Smith said.

The regional fund would provide a $609,000 grant for operating expenses and a loan of $2.2m for capital expenditure. The loan is interest-free for five years.

Smith said the training centre didn’t make a lot of money from its class one licensing programme.

‘‘It’s a good community service and a pathway into class 2-5, but it will never make a lot for Manfeild.’’

A Provincial Development Unit spokesperson said statefunded loans took longer to approve.

‘‘We understand that funding recipients want to move urgently to progress projects – so do we. However, as careful stewards of public money, we need to be thorough in the execution of these agreements, including completing the due diligence the wider public expects from us.’’