With new councillors now elected to Napier City Council, the multi-use facility and velodrome could be on the council table next month.
In June, Napier mayor Bill Dalton announced the decision on whether to progress a proposed new sporting hub, to be housed adjacent to the Pettigrew Green Arena, would not be made by the current council.
Instead, the project's completed detailed business case, estimated to cost a total $500,000, would hopefully be presented to the newly-elected council after its induction next month, following a review by Sport New Zealand and the project steering group.
Yesterday Mr Dalton said while they were still hoping to present the case next month, they had no intention of bringing it to council until they had gotten it "absolutely right ... whatever length of time it takes".
"It's a big, big decision," he said.
The decision to delay had been because there was a number of developments emerging from the business case process, including revenue generation opportunities, which Mr Dalton had said he believed the project team needed time to fully investigate and consider.
It is the business case which the majority of the new group of Napier City Councillors are waiting for, before deciding their opinion on the project - as expressed through questionnaires supplied to Hawke's Bay Today.
Those who have stated a stance - whether for or against - have numerous caveats around their opinion. While recognising the need for additional court space, building a new pool was the more pressing issue.
Taradale ward councillor Graeme Taylor said a multi-use facility with a velodrome in his ward would be brilliant, but his priority was to find a solution to "the aquatic issues" faced due to the closure of the Greendale Pool.
"Some things are nice to have, others are essential," he said.
This was echoed by councillor Richard McGrath, who said "with the information I have received so far I do not support the velodrome, but do support more indoor courts and a better swimming pool complex."
He added council needed to progress the project one way or another, and it was good it had not been rushed through before the election.
Although she had not seen the business case yet, newly-elected councillor Tania Wright said, "what I can say is that after talking to people in the community, the pressing issue is the lack of swimming facilities which will be under even more pressure with the [closure] of Greendale pool, and that should be the priority."
In other cases, such as with at-large councillor Tony Jeffery, outside funding was a key component.
He said he only supported a new sports facility, including "much-needed additional court space".
"To include a velodrome component would without doubt incur additional funding of at least $10 million plus ongoing [operational expenses]," he said.
Although he would not support ratepayers funding something benefiting a minority, he was open to a proposal with full outside fundraising secured.
Likewise, unopposed Onekawa-Tamatea ward councillor Annette Brosnan said as well as awaiting the business case, her support came down to whether there was external funding.
There had been a lot of talk about national funding, which would be available for a velodrome, but not for court space.
Although there was not a lot of public support for the project, she thought this could change if ratepayers were presented with the option of a free velodrome within a sports facility.
Mr Dalton said they were pursuing all avenues of funding, from the Government, to corporate sponsors - and were receiving a lot of support.
The council would not embark on the project until they had established funding for it, he said.
"If we can it'll happen, and it'll be absolutely fantastic for Hawke's Bay sport."