Waikato Regional Council hesitates on Home of Cycling velodrome funding decision
The public, including many cyclists in full fluoro gear, crammed into a recent Waikato Regional Council meeting on the future of the proposed Waikato cycling velodrome.
Extra seating had to be brought in to accommodate the public when Waikato Regional Council met to discuss the proposed Home of Cycling velodrome outside Cambridge.
Councillors voted seven to five in favour of carrying out further investigations which will then allow them to decide whether to conduct public consultation over the proposed $6 million cost to the council.
About 60 people attended the meeting including members of the Citizens and Ratepayers Association, Grey Power, and the Hamilton City Cycling Club, who all came wearing full cycling gear.
Waipa District Citizens and Ratepayers Association President Pat Bishop said while he supported the building of the velodrome he did not want ratepayers to pay for it.
“I would like to see SPARC New Zealand and the Government contribute to a point of at least 80 percent. The ratepayers’ bank is shut for business. There are so many people out there who are struggling. We are just going through a cycle right now where all the commodity goods have gone up and people are struggling without rates starting to go through the roof,” Mr Bishop said.
Junior Development Co-ordinator of Hamilton City Cycling Club, Nicky Morse welcomed the council’s decision , said she understood why there was opposition to the velodrome, but added that if it went ahead it would be a great asset to the region.
“I understand they don’t want to have to pay more rates, but it’s a great opportunity to bring something good to the region. It’s great for older people because it’s a safe way to get some exercise. It’s also great for the young people, it’s much better for them to be out cycling than out drinking and doing drugs. I’ve recently been to the velodrome in Invercargill and it’s definitely not losing money. We can make this affordable for everyone who wants to give it a go,” Ms Morse said.
The debate amongst councillors dealt with the possible future issues of the project going ahead, particularly around whether other councils in the region were supporting it and who was going to pay for the ongoing running costs.
Councillor Lois Livingston said the Waikato region is full of young people and the velodrome should be looked at in the bigger scheme of things.
“We have 50 percent of our population under the age of 35 so we need to think about future generations not just about us. We have had visionaries in our city and they have created beautiful things like the Hamilton Gardens, amazing things like sculptures, theatres, and art galleries. And why did they do it? Because it was worth doing,” Ms Livingston said.
