It's V8 accompli 
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS ... the cost of the V8 Supercar race is adding up
LIZ McKINNON
24Apr08
TOWNSVILLE City Council was behind closed doors for its first official meeting to plan how to fund the growing costs of the V8 Supercars.
The State Government is refusing to reveal how much extra cash will be needed to host the international car race.
Outraged Councillor Jenny Hill said Mayor Les Tyrell wanted to run an accountable and transparent council but was shutting the public out of one of the most controversial issues to hit the agenda.
The council is prepared to invest $3.5 million but was not prepared to discuss it in front of the public gallery despite protest from Cr Hill during the marathon five-hour meeting.
"If you don't have an open process people will always view it with suspicion," Cr Hill said.
"We've got to be out there and able to show people something and allow them to comment on it, but we really haven't done that."
Cr Tyrell said it was a budget issue that should be discussed in a closed session, in line with the Local Government Act and on advice from Sports Minister Judy Spence.
"There are other parties involved in this which make it a commercially in-confidence discussion as well," Cr Tyrell said.
"The minister especially asked that we keep the discussion on the funding issue in confidence until that decision is made and I'm happy to abide by that.
"There is nothing sinister about it. We don't want to give away our bargaining position to the state, obviously, because it could well mean we end up in a worse position."
A spokesman for Ms Spence said the cost estimation was still not final, although it is believed to be more than $1 million.
In a statement last week Ms Spence said the department was working with the council and V8 Supercars on the revised cost estimates and required funding.
She said they would be identifying any opportunities for savings in construction costs.
"As consultation is still under way in relation to final construction requirements and associated costs, no definitive final budget can be provided at this stage," Ms Spence said.
Cr Hill, a self-confessed V8 Holden driver and fan, said the council had to be open about its V8 dealings or it could be facing a very disgruntled city come race day.
She said it only took one trip to New Zealand, paid for by race organisers, and already the council was
ending the decision-making process by overlooking community input.
"We all have a role to play," she said. "We put pressure through the election to get funding out of the feds and state. The event will have a lot of pluses for the city but a section of the community feels disenfranchised and that is slowly growing.
"You don't want that to be occurring in people's minds, otherwise you'll end up with people having to walk through demonstration or picket lines just to watch the race. You'll have tempers flaring and you'll see the same rubbish we have seen in Melbourne in the past.''