City pushes for national velodrome

Palmerston North is only a couple of months away from finding out if a $15 million indoor cycling velodrome will be built in the city.

Massey University and Palmerston North City Council are behind the proposal, each pledging $3 million capital funding.

They say if their bid goes ahead, the facility would be more than just a cycle track. It would also house Sport Manawatu, Massey teaching facilities and indoor tennis courts.

The velodrome centre would be built at Massey, next to the rugby and football fields.

The bid is up against proposals from Auckland, Hawke's Bay and Whanganui for about $7 million in national funding. None of the other bids has a university partner. As yet no commercial partners have been sought.

It is expected Bike NZ will make a recommendation to Sports Minister Murray McCully some time in the next two months about where the velodrome should be.

New Zealand's only other indoor velodrome is in Invercargill and it is this model Palmerston North hopes to replicate, including the use of local construction companies to build the venue.

Palmerston North City Council leisure assets planner, city networks, Aaron Phillips said an arrangement to fund and maintain the indoor centre would be similar to the Massey-council partnership in place for the community athletics track.

"It's pretty obvious that Palmerston North is always searching for things to add to its reputation."

Council contributions to the project were coming from already budgeted 10-year-plan funding.

Conservative figures suggest the velodrome centre would have an annual economic impact of $667,000 to the city, Mr Phillips said.

It was expected it would run at an operational loss of about $50,000 a year, which would be covered jointly by Massey and the council. The council was "comfortable" with that, as it was similar to the community athletics track annual loss, Mr Phillips said.

Massey University director of sport and exercise Stephen Stannard, a former top cyclist, said it was no coincidence the New Zealand track cycling team had moved swiftly up the world rankings once the Invercargill velodrome opened.

The region was home to three New Zealand riders: Jesse Sergent, Simon van Velthooven and Levin's Gemma Dudley.

Should the Palmerston North bid succeed, Mr Stannard said he would expect many top cyclists and cycling coaches to be attracted to the university and the city.

Feilding Cycling Club president Paul van Velthooven said the national velodrome was slated for completion within two years.

Whanganui's bid proposes to upgrade the city's existing cycle track and turn it into an indoor complex.

"It's not as simple as just putting a roof on it," Sport Manawatu chief executive Mike Daisley said.

According to the bid's written proposal, Palmerston North was one of the most accessible locations for a velodrome in the North Island, especially because of the city's proximity to Wellington.

"Cycling ... is particularly popular in the city known for its cycling friendly motorists, quiet roads and opportunities for all types of cycling," the velodrome proposal said.

Palmerston North mayor Jono Naylor said building a velodrome centre was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".

The bid had the unanimous support of council.

Palmerston North's Memorial Park was previously home to an outdoor cycle track, although it has not been used since the mid-1990s.

- © Fairfax NZ News