Avantidrome gets officials' blessing

Mayor Steve Chadwick and Dave Donaldson will be accompanied by six councillors and two youth councillors to the opening of the Avantidrome in Cambridge.

Rotorua mayor and her deputy will attend the official opening of the Avantidrome in Cambridge tomorrow.

The council is a project partner involved in developing the new Avantidrome cycling facility. The new velodrome provides a permanent home to the New Zealand Cycling Centre of Excellence, Bike New Zealand and Triathlon NZ.

The council collaborated on the original Waikato bid for the Cycling Centre of Excellence.

Steve Chadwick and Dave Donaldson will be accompanied by six councillors and two youth councillors. Mr Donaldson is also a founding trustee of the Home of Cycling Charitable Trust, the organisation which owns and operates the new national cycling facility.

He said that part of the 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."