Dunedin police are planning a large-scale operation to tackle any post-rally disorder if the Undie 500 or any alternative goes ahead this year, including bringing in extra staff from Canterbury for the weekend.
Dunedin area commander Inspector Dave Campbell confirmed yesterday that police were preparing for the eventuality of the Undie 500 going ahead, despite authorities repeatedly telling organisers the rally was not welcome back in Dunedin.
‘‘I am realistic enough to appreciate that although [the Undie 500 was not sanctioned by officials], there could still be an event and we are currently planning for a large-scale operation if that should eventuate.''
With the rally usually held in August, it was ‘‘far too early'' to go into the details of the operation or what tactics would be used, but Dunedin police had already spoken to Canterbury police about extra staff from Canterbury being stationed in Dunedin for the weekend if any event went ahead.
The exact approach would depend on the police assessment of the situation, Insp Campbell said. The weekend of the rally's arrival in Dunedin has resulted in multiple arrests in the past two years following alcohol-fuelled disorder in student areas.
Uncertainly hangs over the 2008 rally after organisers from the Canterbury University's Engineering Students Association (Ensoc) said earlier this week they were ‘‘considering their options'' following last week's final rejection by Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin, Dunedin police and the Dunedin fire service of their proposal for events around the rally's arrival in Dunedin.
Despite that, Ensoc president Graeme Walker said Ensoc still wanted a chance to ‘‘work alongside the authorities'' to ensure the Saturday night ran safely for participants and the public.
‘‘We feel that [Mr Chin's] decision is risky due to the numbers of people that are showing interest in the Undie 500 . . . and that if we are unable to organise the necessary controls and activities [i.e. a concert], then the possibility of unwanted behaviour could be high.''
Ensoc would not condone an ‘‘underground Undie 500'' and was talking to ‘‘various parties'' in an attempt to ‘‘come up with constructive and mutually beneficial solutions to the issues surrounding the Undie 500'', Mr Walker said.
Ensoc representatives would meet Christchurch authorities tomorrow to discuss what they thought about the rally and the options.
He declined to discuss the options until after that meeting, but said Ensoc had to go with an option that would not destroy the reputation of the engineering students or the University of Canterbury.
Otago University Students Association president Simon Wilson said life would be easier for Dunedin students if the rally did not come at all, given that Otago students received the blame for any trouble, although it was generally the out-of-towners who caused most of the problems.
He cited last year's arrests during the Undie 500 weekend, only a third of which were Dunedin students.
Canterbury students were always welcome, but the trouble was not, he said. His concern was that if Ensoc decided to not hold the rally, people would come south anyway.
He joined University of Canterbury Students Association president Michael Goldstein in discouraging any underground event where the purpose was ‘‘drinking and carnage'' rather than the engineering aspects of the rally.
University of Otago student services director David Richardson said the university's consistent position that it did not want the Undie 500 to continue had not changed.