Whanganui District Council is seeking submissions on its Long-Term Plan and the velodrome project looms large in the matters on which it seeks feedback.
We have been exposed to submissions by advocates for Options 2 and 3 of the velodrome project.
Cycling Whanganui was scornful of thelikelihood anyone could seriously advocate for Option 1. Despite this potentially being a lonely path, it's a case that needs to be argued.
The argument seems to be that, because the velodrome has a history, once was the fastest track in New Zealand and is in disrepair, the council should front up with $9 million of a $20 million budget to fix it. That assumes the velodrome is capable of becoming a significant community asset, but that seems to reflect hope rather than actual evidence.
The Bramley report advised that the need for the facility had never been demonstrated for either any current use or for any expanded use. Cycling Whanganui suggests it is an asset that sets us apart economically but they provide no evidence for that proposition and in my opinion there is no viable business case for this project.
The Bramley report could not find a business case. The Bramley report suggests use of about 1900 hours a year by 27 high-performance athletes and 157 other community riders. Evidently 53 schools were approached and only three indicated they had use for a covered velodrome. (Ed's note: The report's authors note that an email survey to busy schools with only email follow ups is unlikely to fairly reflect school demand.)
Why are we committing $9 million and $1 million per annum thereafter on a facility that might be used by so few people and where no reliable community need has been established?
Submitters refer to the Cambridge velodrome. The Cambridge velodrome was an entirely different proposition: the council made a contribution but otherwise was excluded from ongoing risk, the land was owed by a charitable trust which was settled by Sport Waikato, the project responded to a central government-led performance sport initiative and Waikato won because of what it delivered through the location of the facility rather than what Waikato got out of it. The Whanganui velodrome has none of that, with all the risk being left with the council, no evidence of any national support for the facility and no demonstrated need for the facility by enough sports cyclists to have any economic benefit to the region.
Under Option 2 the council would come up with $9m and $16m under Option 3. Even Option 2 requires $11m from other sources.
An early artist's impression of a roofed Whanganui Velodrome. Image / File
All large capital projects have consequential impacts on other sectors of the community as money that flows from local businesses or philanthropic organisations for one project is not available for other projects.
Many organisations in Whanganui seek funds from the same organisations that the velodrome supporters intend to call upon. Most of those philanthropic trusts have limits on what gets allocated to each region, so the velodrome will inevitably crowd out other local cultural and social initiatives. The velodrome will also crowd out other local recreational cycling initiatives and they will probably face increased reluctance from the council to commit funds to recreational cycling in the next five years when so much has been committed to the velodrome.
Recreational cycling interests are not necessarily the same as sport cyclists as represented by entities such as Cycling Whanganui. Recreational and commuter cycling is part of a national strategy about healthy lifestyles, environment and connection, but the velodrome isn't about a broad community use, it is basically an elite use.
So mine might be a lonely submission to the Long-Term Plan, but either Option 2 or Option 3 represents a triumph of nostalgia over common sense. Enough already. If a business case for the velodrome cannot be established to an appropriate standard, we should demolish and move on.
• Submissions on the Long Term Plan 2021-2031 close at 5pm, Friday, April 30.
• Murray Lazelle is a Whanganui-born forensic accountant recently returned to the city, a recreational cyclist and supporter of the city's arts and music scene.
