Palmerston North has lodged a proposal with BikeNZ and Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) to build New Zealands second international indoor cycling velodrome.

Palmerston North City Council, Bike Manawatu, Sport Manawatu, and Massey University with the support of Manawatu District Council have lodged a proposal with BikeNZ and Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) to build New Zealand's second international indoor cycling velodrome.

Manawatu and Palmerston North are the perfect locations for this being central and easily accessible. Easy to get to by road we are a three hour drive gets you to a million people, regular air services, easy accommodation access to the track.

More than an international cycling track the facility would also include:

1. Our Sport Manawatu offices and Sports House.  We have been bursting at the seams for several years and adding our offices to the Velodrome has a number of benefits. It will mean we have access to indoor space for the activities and training we run. The administrators of many sporting codes will also have purpose built office space. The space will be large enough to accommodate several sports that have been waiting for space to join the collective that is Sports House.


2. Tennis have been advocating for indoor tennis space for many years and it is proposed that the 4 indoor court spaces would target that sport with a surface the same as the Melbourne Open. A motorised net system will mean lower level cycling and tennis can take place at the same time, maximising the use of the facility. Tennis Manawatu administration would be onsite and stand to benefit from any activity they generate on the courts.


3. Disability, learn to ride and injury rehabilitation cycling will all benefit from the indoor space and track. Southland experience suggests learning to cycle in the indoor environment was a big plus before people move out on to the streets and roads.


4. The heart of Bike Manawatu – the 3 clubs in the region are looking to merge to this entity now – would be at the Velodrome. Their offices and clubrooms would be there. Southland experiences showed a tripling of the cycling clubs membership in the years after the Velodrome.


5. Massey University have made a significant push into the sports research and training areas. The Velodrome will compliment the incredible sports science facilities and equipment they already have and will be used to attract new PhD research and undergraduate students to Palmerston North.


6. The sports park that is Massey University benefits the whole community and the Manawatu Community Athletics Track was a successful partnership. The Velodrome is another cog in that wheel. The Sport and Rugby Institute has gone from strength to strength in recent years attracting regular regional and national training camps from a variety of sports. The facilities are complimentary and will work together to attract even more events and sports business to the Manawatu.


7. We are already immensely proud of our medal hauling cyclists. Having an international track here will give us the ability to see them close up and personal at national and international events. Focus on cycling is growing nationally, being a principal medal winner and often referred to as the “new golf” of the boardroom. Now is the time to cement and build on that pride by being the heart of sport cycling in the North Island.

Designs

The designs for the Velodrome and Sports House can be downloaded here

Feedback

Feedback on the designs is welcome and can be sent to: aaron.phillips@pncc.govt.nz or 063568199

Economic Impact Assessment

Council has considered the value the Velodrome would add to our region. A copy can be downloaded from the link below. The assumptions have been reviewed since the assessment was prepared. The most likely scenario is $900,000 per year of impact, made up of the events and Massey employment value added funder the medium scenario. Bike NZ staff relocation to Palmerston North is excluded, at least in the short term, we would keep working on them.

Downloads

• Velodrome Design Plans [PDF file 3,018KB]
• Economic Impact For Velodrome [PDF file 38KB]

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