innovative open space management

For the first time in five years the Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix returned to the Auckland Domain. A crowd of 40,000 onlookers was expected for the event where up to 100 trolleys hurtle down the winding Lower Domain Drive protected by hay bails on either side. The City Parks Services event cleanup team were contracted to maintain cleanliness throughout the event - and a last-minute request was made to sweep the roadway clean following placement of the hay bales.

On the day, 86 trolleys made it to the starting line, including a speeding Fraggle, a tumbling Portaloo and a racing panda, attempted the track and were judged by a panel of celebrities. Prior to the event a nine-metre skip, two cardboard cages and 100 wheelie bins were delivered to the Domain and were positioned strategically as a collection point for bagged waste and cardboard with the bins provided to collect recycling and general waste.

Many of the crowd opted for the more civilised option of having a picnic on the grassed area in front of the Museum, and watching the action on the large screen. Teams of clean up staff patrolled the event to empty bins and collect loose litter, working in shifts to ensure the Auckland Domain was kept looking as tidy as possible.

Following the pack down on Sunday night, further clean up teams moved in to return the Auckland Domain to its usual condition with the entire clean up completed on Monday.

"Teams of clean up staff patrolled the event to empty bins and collect loose litter"

Benefits

• Cleanliness was maintained to a high standard throughout the event which attracted 40,000 onlookers as well as participants

• 100 wheelie bins were deployed in addition to regular litter bins to encourage people not to litter

• The cleanup team were able to respond to a last minute request to sweep hay from Domain roads

• Further cleanup teams moved in after packdown to return the Auckland Domain to its clean state