Was The Grand Prix Beneficial For MelbourneIssues Part -B-Was the Grand Prix, promoted as “The Great Race” which was held at Albert Parkbeneficial for Melbourne, or was it just a huge waste of taxpayers money? Therace was televised to 650 million people in 130 different countries is expectedto pump $50 million into the Victorian economy every year and boost tourismenormously. I along with the owners of seventy-two percent of hotels, motels, restaurantsand other entertainment complexes agree that Albert Park having the Grand Prixwill have a positive impact on business.
Infact it pumped $10 – $15 million intolocal business. This will mean these businesses did put on more part time staffwho will be gaining valuable work experience and there will also be a flow oneffect to suppliers of these industries. Fifty-nine percent of interstatevisitors and forty five percent of overseas visitors would not have come toAdelaide in a two year period because of the Grand Prix if not for the race. ByAlbert Park getting the Grand Prix created between 1000-1500 new jobs.
The GrandPrix will promote Victoria on an international scale with international press,television and media caring out a world wide coverage of this event. This couldconvince people to come and visit Melbourne and would also be a major tourismboost. Approximately $23. 8 million has been spent overhauling the park and upgradingthe Lake side track.
They built better fences and barricades to help protectspectators in case of a crash, and the track is said to bethe safest andfinest in the world, creating a benchmark for Albert Park. Temporary seatingwill cater for 150,000 people, and there was approximately an attendance of400,000 over the four days. 9,000 part-time jobs and 1,000 full-time jobs werecreated over the weekend. The “greenies” are still trying to stop the race at Albert Park. First it was”Save The Park” and now it’s “Stop The Grand Prix.
” At first they protestedabout the cutting down of hundreds of trees to make way for the track. But thishas been overcome by the replanting of 5000 new trees which would cover 16football ovals. This is almost double the amount of trees that were therepreviously. They don’t care about the huge impact that the race had on Melbourne,instead they unsuccessfully protest against it and by doing so it has cost theVictorian taxpayers $1. 3 million.
But the track has already been built and thefirst race held, so there is no chance of it being removed and the park couldnever be transformed back to its original state. Although there wasapproximately 5,000 tons of rubbish, it has all been cleaned up and in theprocess, a number of people have gained temporary employment. The residents of Albert Park that disagree with the idea for the Grand Prix. They say it would spoil the “Parks Effect” and the fumes will kill all plant andanimal life there previously. They say their houses will be engulfed with fumesand that it would not be very safe for their young children. They do not feelsafe with their houses so close to the track.
But on the other hand becausetheir houses are so close to the track the value of their homes will rise. Because the race was held so recently it is hard to judge how big an impact ithad on the economy. Probably at the same time next year would be a better timeto judge the impact it had. But already we can see the benefits, Albert Park isnow known on a international scale, many new jobs have been created, local andbig business’ have also benefited due to tourism. So it is quite obvious thatthe race overall was a success with no thanks to the protesters.Technology
