Auckland seeks indoor velodrome on back of continuing success

Success by the New Zealand Junior Track Cycling Team at the World Championships in Moscow over the last week has provided a further spur to the establishment of an indoor Velodrome in Auckland.

Triple Gold Medalist Sam Webster did much of his training at the 20 year old outdoor Manukau Velodrome.

Fellow Aucklander Ethan Mitchell who was part of the gold medal winning team sprint along with Southland’s Cameron Karwowski was in a similar position.

Cycling Auckland is looking to build a covered free span, all weather 250 meter track of International Standard for the sport to gather more momentum and attract more participants at all levels.

For several years, a small group of Cycling Auckland people have been investigating possible venues and building the framework for an organization to drive the project to fruition.

A charitable trust has been formed by Cycling Auckland with Peter Walker being the designate Chairman with John Coker and Mike Barnes assisting.

Manukau City Council officials have indicated provisional support, including provision of a site for an indoor velodrome’s construction adjacent to the existing outdoor Velodrome.

Planning and costing for the new sports facility is well underway and prospective designs and budgets should be available shortly.

The trust announced today, that once this has been finalized it shall be actively seeking funding from, Corporations, Government and other sources.

With the birth of the new “Super City” this will be a facility that all Aucklanders will be proud of and provide track cycling in the top half of the North Island a focal point.

The use of an all weather Velodrome by track cyclists of all levels should see a dramatic increase in the numbers participating in competitive cycling if indications from Invercargill where New Zealand’s only Velodrome is based. It opened in mid 2006.

Inter secondary school participation can expand on a huge scale, and will create a breeding ground for future champions like Sam Webster.

The use of an indoor Velodrome is likely to cover 15 hours a day 7 days a week

Initial designs have incorporated additional facilities for other sports such as Netball. It is possible it could also house the National Headquarters of all those organizations related to cycling and have some use as the National Cycle Way’s Head Office and act as a registration and transition point for international recreational cyclists visiting the country.

With the possibility of the Auckland Super City hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games the construction of a new Velodrome as soon as possible would help cement a successful bid.

When built the Auckland complex could draw a number of International Track events prior to the Commonwealth Games in 2018