The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is considering making a financial contribution to the construction of the ‘Home of Cycling' in Cambridge through its Ten Year Plan.
The ‘Home of Cycling' is intended to be a world-class cycling facility built in Cambridge as a central point in the North Island to which many people will have ready access.
The initial bid for $4 million from Bay of Plenty local government authorities, including the regional council, was directed towards it through its annual plan process.
The council has ruled out adding it to its annual plan, but has referred the funding request to its Ten Year Plan.
This plan is due for consideration in the coming 12 months, with its planned adoption in June 2012.
Regional Council chairman John Cronin says the council wants to look at the request in more detail than is possible through the council's annual plan process.
'Referring this request on to our Ten Year Plan process will give us time to gather further information and make a more informed decision,” says John.
During the Tauranga City Council annual plan process conducted last month, that council determined not to support the regional council in providing financial assistance to the project.
A firm supporter of the project is Tauranga Road Cycling Club president Greg Taylor, who says a velodrome at Cambridge would be 'fantastic” for Tauranga.
'In line with rowing, cycling is a sport Kiwis seem to perform best on the world stage in, and I think that a high performance centre in the Waikato will be hugely beneficial for the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and New Zealand athletes to improve in their cycling ability both for the national and world stage. I think it will be fantastic.”
9 comments
Pray tell....... Learned bike riders
Posted on 07-06-2011 18:21 | By Tony
Can you offer some more detail as where you see the benefit for Tauranga in this project,and how it will be "fantastic" For Tauranga?
Underfunded
Posted on 07-06-2011 19:06 | By The Tomahawk Kid
What about a tiddlywinks centre? Why are the tiddlywinks players so woefully under catered for? Lets give $4 million to them too
Crazy....
Posted on 08-06-2011 07:51 | By wreck1080
How about paying off some debt? Every cent counts.
No hope for velodrome
Posted on 08-06-2011 11:02 | By al pillocksworth
For the ratepayers sake I hope that the referral to the Ten Year Plan is just a way of letting the velodrome lobby down gently. That the BOP Regional Council is even considering funding this in the Waikato is strangely alarming.
JUST SAY
Posted on 08-06-2011 15:01 | By YOGI
It is such a wee simple small word and leaves no doubt about anything! I agree with WRECK, pay off some debt is a much better idea EVERY DAY!
MORE THAN CRAZY
Posted on 09-06-2011 02:24 | By TERMITE
Irrational, mad, madcaps, what are you thinking ... ops sorry there was no thinking done at all, just leap in a max pace.
Posted on 09-06-2011 09:12 | By The Tomahawk Kid
Just think! (I know it's difficult for some!) If the council didn't steal (I mean ask you nicely) for rates (apart from what is necessary to pay for the essentials of a city) All those cyclists would have a whole lot of extra money in their pockets. THEN, if they REALLY wanted a velodrome, they would have all that money - their OWN money - to spend on it. The cyclists would be happy that their money was going to a velodrome, and the others would be happy because THEIR money was not being spent on something they do not value. I can't understand how you all think that the use of FORCE is the best - or even a MORAL way to get things done. It is the envy of other peoples wealth, and the belief that you have an un-earned RIGHT to it that is the cause of problems of this nature - All kindly delivered to your children over generations of the government-run education system - so there is no escape - this is what you are ALWAYS going to get
How much?
Posted on 09-06-2011 20:33 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
How much is this donation worth per cyclist?What will the financial returns to the people(ratepayers)be?Lets see some facts and figures.
SH'ELL BE RIGHT MATE
Posted on 10-06-2011 12:44 | By PLONKER
Just add it to the rates ...
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.