Waikato velodrome strikes strong opposition

A decision will be made in September. Photo / Thinkstock

Public opposition to the Waikato Regional Council putting money into a proposed National Cycling Centre near Cambridge is outweighing support for the $28.5 million centre.

About 60 per cent of the 7000 people - mainly Waikato residents - who made submissions to the council were opposed to it spending the money.

However, a second survey - a council-funded Versus Research telephone survey of 1000 people - showed opinions were more evenly split with 48 per cent opposed and 44 per cent in support.

Waikato Regional Councillors were given the results at a closed workshop yesterday before next week's hearings on the velodrome, at which 183 people have asked to be heard.

A decision over whether the council will contribute $6 million to the centre will be made on September 14 and will be the deciding factor over whether the facility goes to the Waikato or to the two other short-listed bidders, Auckland or Palmerston North.

The Herald understands the council received legal advice yesterday ruling out its two most outspoken councillors on the issue - Russ Rimmington and Lois Livingston - from participating in next week's hearing.

This is because both have expressed predetermined views.

The main reason for people not supporting the spending was because their rates were too high, while the main reason for the 40 per cent supporting it was because they thought it was a small cost to pay, according to the phone survey conducted between July 24 and August 16.

More than 75 per cent said they would not use the velodrome and 65 per cent said they were unlikely to attend events there.

Should the velodrome go ahead, more people (57 per cent) preferred a flat fee of $3.18 a year per rateable property compared to 37 per cent who opted for a two-tier funding plan, which would mean areas closer to the facility would pay more than other ratepayers.

A quarter of those surveyed did not support either option mainly because they were against the concept.

Hamilton Citizen and Ratepayers Association president John Easto welcomed the result and hoped the council would listen to the public.

"We have to start thinking in terms of cutting our cloth according to our costs."

Home of Cycling Trust chief executive Geoff Balme said the survey showed a large number of people did not have a great understanding of the proposal and this was highlighted by a large number thinking it would used only by elite sports people.