Raise The Velo Roof

Here's What Whanganui is Missing Out On

Admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Here’s an example of an event Whanganui is missing out on after the Whanganui District Council decided by a split 6 to 6 vote not to do final due diligence and roof the city’s velodrome.

Ninety talented teenage riders are heading to Invercargill’s covered velodrome this 2021 Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend for the first round of Cycling New Zealand’s National Track Series.

The series, in its third year, was established to provide young riders with the opportunity to develop increased tactical and technical awareness as well as educational, coaching and racecraft workshops.

“The National Track Series has already had a significant impact on developing the technical and tactical ability of young riders,” said Cycling New Zealand’s Graeme Hunn.

“We have seen not only a rise in the number of young riders into the sport, we are already seeing them push on in the sport and hopefully on to the international arena once the global sporting scene settles again.”

The National Track series is one of more than 10 national, regional and local cycling events which could be held in a covered multi-use velodrome at Whanganui. Combined they would bring thousands of visitors to town, along with more than 27 other skating, sporting, community, cultural and entertainment events.

The Council, however, couldn’t make a decision. The velodrome remains shut, with its former world-class wooden track exposed and rotting. The Council meets again on June 22 to affirm its decisions on Long Term Plan submissions. 60% of those submitting on the velodrome said to roof it.

Vote against a multi use facility at existing velodrome a lost opportunity

Admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 12:00:00 GMT

Supporters of the need to cover the existing Whanganui velodrome which would enable the venue to be used as a multi use facility, providing for local, regional and international usage, cannot understand why the council has chosen to walk away from its preferred Long Term Plan option and lose any possibility of gaining external funding to contribute to the project.

The council’s plan was to set aside $9m in it’s Long Term Plan, as it’s share of the total development cost and seek the remainder through external funding.

Council voting was divided on the subject when it came to decision making time, with six for and six against taking the next step to undertake the due diligence needed to decide on the development scope and to prepare the final business plan needed to attract financial partners. One councillor abstained from voting, which meant the decision to go ahead with the work needed was lost.

Leigh Grant who chairs the Trust set up to help progress the long overdue covering of the council owned facility, says the decision ignores the council’s own preferred option, the community and external support, support expressed in submissions to council, and the evidence of the wider community benefit which would come from a multi use facility.

“ It effectively stops the project in its tracks, as council needed to demonstrate its commitment, before the external funding options for the project were able to be fully explored.

It destroys any ability to approach funders, to seek sponsorship, to gain the commitment from other sports, and most importantly denies our community the benefits outlined in submissions.

It ignores the weight of submissions from our community which was strong and supportive for the existing asset to be protected for a new generation of users, and enhanced for multi use across a large number of activities.

Right now we are saddened on behalf of all those who have provided their considerable time and energy, and financial support, to assist the council to find a solution to protect a venue which remains the envy of many other regions. “

Cycling New Zealand told the council when submitting on the proposed project that an all weather covered venue would be supported by them as a Regional Performance Hub for the lower North Island. This would attract those involved in the sport back to Whanganui and bring wider economic benefits.

Cambridge’s covered Avantidrome provided evidence of the wide range of community, schools and competitive usage they are seeing from those in their wider region

Sport New Zealand and Sport Whanganui, rugby and skating , concert promoters, community grant providers, Grey Power, the Ratepayers Association, rehabilitation professionals , and a host of business, architectural, financial and market research professionals all encouraged council to take the next step .

Leigh Grant says,”The facts stand, this project has been put off for so long due to other pressing needs, now was the time to take the next step to secure the future of this important existing community asset.

In the end six councillors listened, and understood what taking the next step meant.

Just one more forward looking councillor was needed to take this next step to avoid destroying an existing multi-million dollar facility and the social and economic opportunity it presents for the future.

We acknowledge that there are other needs in Whanganui and in all regions which need addressing, and that balancing investment for current and future generations is not easy for councils.

But taking a backward step by sacrificing an existing asset is not the solution.”

For further information:

Leigh Grant, Chair, Regional Velodrome Development Trust

Telephone : 027 642 0002

Email: leigh.grant@xtra.co.nz

https://raisetheveloroof.org.nz

The Olympian, Councillor, Mayor and the public: Hear what they’ve just said on the velodrome

Admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:59:00 GMT

Radio New Zealand has broadcast this report by Robin Martin, its Taranaki-Whanganui reporter, on the future of the Whanganui velodrome.

In this he interviews Olympic and Commonwealth medal-winning cyclist Gary Anderson (pictured), Regional Velodrome Development Trust chair Leigh Grant, Councillor Rob Vinsen, Mayor Hamish McDouall – and several people in the street. Hear what they’re saying…

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018791651/whanganui-velodrome-rebuild-hits-a-rough-spot-over-roof

Trust Submitting a velodrome solution to council

Admin — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 12:00:00 GMT

The Regional Velodrome Development Trust (RVDT) plans to submit to the Whanganui District Council that while they want to see Whanganui’s existing velodrome covered, it does not agree with any of the three options presented in the WDC Draft Long Term Plan.

Instead, the trust proposes a reduced option which will still enable use of the centre for local, national and international cycling events, recreational activities and other sports and activities.

The trust’s submission will provide details of two options which could be considered by council, with costs ranging from $21.95 m to $25.6 m.

The council says its preferred option’s cost ranges from $18 to $22 million. The Trust does not agree that a “fit for purpose” solution which enables the range of use required can be provided for this cost range, and believes it is worth considering the additional investment to achieve this.

The trust’s chair, Leigh Grant says: “ We did not agree on all aspects of the review the Council commisioned, including the estimated cost. However, we noted council’s concerns about cost and asked independent experts to look at how the design could be reduced. “

The estimated cost for a reduced, but still ‘fit for purpose design’ was provided to council prior to the release of the Long Term Plan options for the velodrome.

“After looking at all types of options since 2007, we still believe that a tension membrane roof will allow more uses for the velodrome than the council commissioned steel structure design, where centre poles restrict use.

Usage is important as it enables more income from a variety of users and increases the external funding options which will be required to supplement council investment.”

The latest costs for developing a tension membrane covered velodrome come from professional quantity surveyors, BQH, who are very familiar with the work done so far.

Mr Grant says: “ The options enable different types of uses, but provide flexibility for future growth if required, which is not the case for the council commissioned steel structure. The trust’s preference is for the $25.6 m build which would enable wider use because it would have a level central area, attract more income from users, and providing more certainty for the full business case which is required to attract external funding.

“Given the work already completed, including an approved resource consent, construction could begin by the end of 2021 and completed within 24 months.”

Mr Grant says: “Time is of the essence, given the deteriorating state of the existing track, so the sooner work is started the better. The extended timeframes in the draft LTP, which anticipates construction would start in 2023/24, would see further deterioration of the existing velodrome framework, including trusses under the track, and prove more costly as time passes.

“Whanganui cannot afford to lose this community owned asset. This is why the trust has invested so much time and energy, as well as community sourced funds, to provide a solution with Council, which will enable a significant opportunity to gain back our reputation in the world of cycling and provide our community an all-weather venue for a wide range of recreational activities, currently not available in Whanganui.”

Long Term Plan submissions to the council close on April 30.
Submissions will be considered by the council in May and a decision on a proposal is expected in June.

For further information please contact:
Leigh Grant
Chair,
Whanganui Regional Velodrome Development Trust
Telephone: 027 642 0002
Email leigh.grant@xtra.co.nz