Rotorua council joining royal visitors for Avantidrome opening

As a project partner involved in developing the new Avantidrome cycling facility in Cambridge, Rotorua District Council has been invited to participate in the official opening on Saturday by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The new cycling velodrome complex provides a permanent home to the New Zealand Cycling Centre of Excellence, Bike New Zealand and Triathlon NZ.

Rotorua District Council collaborated on the original Waikato bid for the Cycling Centre of Excellence which as a result became a successful joint Waikato/Bay of Plenty bid.

The council was an early funding partner for the facility, along with Waipa District Council and Waikato Regional Council, and the Rotorua District Council logo appears in the velodrome acknowledging Rotorua’s partnership role in the project.

Mayor Steve Chadwick and Deputy Mayor Dave Donaldson will lead the council’s delegation to the official opening by the royal couple on Saturday, accompanied by six councillors and two youth councillors. Councillor Donaldson is also a founding trustee of the Home of Cycling Charitable Trust, the organisation which owns and operates the new national cycling facility.

Mr Donaldson said that part of Rotorua District Council’s contribution to the establishment of the New Zealand Cycling Centre of Excellence was a commitment to develop mountain bike facilities at the Waipa mountain bike car park area.

“We’re very pleased to see the culmination of this major $30 million dollar velodrome project. It’s very timely and fitting that completion of such an important facility is recognised by the attendance of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the official opening.

“The Avantidrome will result in significant regional and national benefits, and will have the potential to attract international events with real spin-off opportunities for Rotorua,” said Mr Donaldson.

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