ALTHOUGH HE acknowledges he is a middle-aged man in lycra, Napier City Council chief executive Wayne Jack is shutting down concerns the proposed multi-use sports facility is a "vanity project" for him.
Some residents raised this concern as Mr Jack is an active cyclist, and member of the Ramblers cycling club who have thrown their support behind a velodrome.
"This is not my project. I actually have to manage all projects within council," he said. "Yes I am a MAMIL, a middle-aged man in lyrca, it is my current form of exercise I use to keep active and manage stress and just get out and enjoy Hawke's Bay.
"But at the same time I was a Cook Strait swimmer," he said. "I was the NZ Iron Man champion for surf lifesaving, I held swimming Hawke's Bay records. We are also working on a major upgrade and new swimming pool to our aquatic facilities, I don't see people coming out saying I'm conflicted in regards to that one as well."
As CE, Mr Jack said he was responsible for the management of all council projects - ensuring they had the right governance, were properly assessed, and ensuring the right objectives had been met.