Wanganui District Council has approved a new community bike park for Wanganui - but not before a "tortuous" argument among councillors lasting an hour.
Councillors unanimously agreed to support the project, which was brought to the council by Sport Whanganui.
Leighton Toy, the council's deputy property manager, told councillors the project came about after Sport Whanganui was approached by members of Wanganui's cycling community to have a bike track built in Wanganui. The initial plan was for a "pump track" suitable for young cyclists, with the possibility of expanding it for older age groups.
Sport Whanganui sought the council's approval to use the empty land between the Splash Centre and the YMCA, in London St. It was not asking for the council to contribute financially to the project.
"The Wanganui Community Sports Stadium Board, the YMCA, and a number of schools have provided their support to this proposal," Mr Toy said.
"All that's needed at this stage is approval for that under-utilised piece of land to be used."
During discussion, councillors became locked in a heated wrangle over procedure and voting, which deputy-mayor Hamish McDouall, who chaired the meeting in the absence of mayor Annette Main, at times struggled to contain. After a series of amendments and alterations, councillors eventually found themselves about to vote on the same motion that had been put at the beginning of the discussion.
Council's lawyer, Paul Drake, pointed out that the council could not vote on the same motion twice in the same meeting, unless new information had come to hand.
While all councillors supported the proposal, the sticking point was the location of the project.
Councillors Rob Vinsen and Philippa Baker-Hogan were concerned having the bike park next to the Splash Centre would cause problems if the council later decided to build an outdoor pool at the Splash Centre.
"I believe more due diligence needs to be done here," Ms Baker-Hogan said.
"There are many places you can put a bike park, but only one place to put an outdoor pool. We have to do this properly, so we have don't have to reverse a decision later."
Councillor Ray Stevens said the outdoor pool issue was a "red herring".
"It's not even in my pipe dream. Someone comes along with a fantastic idea that won't cost us anything, and what do we do? We put obstacles in its path."
The motion to support the project was eventually passed, but without any reference to the location. Mr McDouall thanked Sport Whanganui staff members who attended the debate. "I commend you for sitting through that tortuous discussion," he said.