Opposition wheeled out for velodrome

CHRIS HILLOCK/Waikato Times

NO THANKS: These members of the Morrinsville community are against a proposal for a $300,000 velodrome to be built at the Morrinsville Recreation Grounds.

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The Morrinsville Wheelers Cycling Club's attempt to re-ignite its proposal for a velodrome in the town has again drawn stiff opposition from most sporting and recreation codes.

Last year the club was forced to ditch its proposal to build a velodrome at Wiseley Park after opponents gathered a 300-signature petition.

The town's recreation ground is now the proposed venue but its users don't want a bar of it.

The Matamata-Piako District Council believes there's enough room for a 3m high 166m x 56m velodrome on the site and called a meeting on Friday to discuss two options – on the polo ground or near the soccer field. Three-metre-high pieces of 4x2 timber were drilled into the ground to give people a visual understanding of what it would look like.

As well as hosting sports such as soccer and cricket, the ground hosts events including the A&P Show, polo, vintage tractors, an annual fireworks extravaganza, walkers and model aircraft meets.

At a meeting with the Waikato Times on Tuesday, about 20 people were adamant the velodrome shouldn't go ahead.

Christine Gill, past A&P Show president and polo club member, said there was just not enough room for a velodrome to be situated anywhere on the ground. It would not only affect the A&P Show but many other sporting groups would have to find alternative playing grounds.

Nicola Bennett of the Morrinsville AFC and Peter Bennett of Morrinsville cricket said they had nothing against a velodrome being built, they just did not want it at the recreation ground. Charlie Matheson, 74, of the polo club, said there was no way a velodrome would be built on their grounds. "We don't want it. Full stop."

Most people were keen for it to be built on Eynon Rd, however there were no toilet or parking facilities there.

Walter Scott said the visual aspect of the proposal was "just an insult" to the recreation ground's original purpose and planning.

Others were worried the velodrome would turn into a "white elephant" and become a target for taggers and vandals.

Graeme Smallwood said the Eynon Rd site was more suitable as it could be more thoroughly patrolled by police and the public. "Surely it's going to be less vandalised if it's in the public eye."

Morrinsville Wheelers president Terry Semmens said their preferred option was the recreation ground "as long as we can be accommodated by the other users, I have no problem with it".

"But if we can't be accommodated, then it's just not going to work." The velodrome would be used by the club's young members as it was an easy and safe way to teach them how to ride. If Eynon Rd was re-zoned by council the club would look at building there.

However, Mr Semmens said the whole idea could be dropped if Sport Waikato was successful in a bid to Sparc to build a new cycling high performance centre in Hamilton.

A decision on that would not be made until April next year.

Mayor Hugh Vercoe said the council could consider Eynon Rd. "They're saying if they don't start doing something very soon, they will lose their grants."

The issue would be discussed at the council's corporate and operations meeting on September 22.

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