They have their place, esp. for training. What WASN'T acceptable [ IMO ] was the butchering of a very good facility here at Riccarton to install, the arbitrary closing down of courses to 'rationalise' costs - and force the use of said AWT's for races/trials - and the use of taxpayer funds for their installation.
Cambridge with the climatic conditions they face have, I think, found it invaluable for training, but also, there are still available grass courses in the Waikato.
The CD has faced track closures, forced - again - by edict from head office. But clearly, the demand for AWT trials is still not there. And the heavy load placed upon the remaining tracks , some of which just can't cope, shows how little knowledge those charged with directing the industry really have.
Although Purcell made an ass of himself over the 'I raced 90' rubbish - and cost the industry yet more unnecessary money in bringing the action he did - he was on record of saying he was NOT in favour of forced track closure, but that NZTR would work with any club that chose that option. Saundry took things much further and left a messy legacy. By all appearances Sharrock might have just left!
Locally, trainers are getting behind a move to get jumpouts back at Rangiora. Balcombe has been down for a meeting with locals, is quite OK with this, has given verbal indications to this effect, and the team are just awaiting a formal tick from head office. When asked why the course had been 'decommissioned', he was unable to give a reason, but indicated he was impressed by the facility as he had never seen it before.
Go figure.