The Home of Cycling Charitable Trust is one step closer to securing funding for the National Cycling Centre of Excellence after a decision by the Waikato Regional Council to consider contributing $6 million.
The trust is the organisation behind a joint Waikato/Bay of Plenty bid to develop a $29.5 million world-classcycling facility, including an indoor velodrome, in the region.
Rotorua would provide the mountainbiking component of the centre while an indoor velodrome and BMX track would be built near Cambridge.
It would offer access to quality cycling programmes for the entire community, across all ages and abilities, and promote cycling for fun, fitness and health as well as performance.
The council's decision to consider funding represents the next step of the council's democratic process and follows extensive consideration of the economic, social and health benefits the Home of Cycling would provide the Waikato Bay of Plenty community.
Newly-appointed interim chief executive Geoff Balme said they were looking forward to clearing up misconceptions in the community over the coming months.
"This is truly a community facility, a hub for programmes which will boost participation in all forms of cycling and across all of the cycling facilities in the region."
The council was now seeking information that would determine whether or not it proceeded to public consultation.
The trust was confident the information would lead to a positive decision and would be working with the Waikato Regional Council to meet the current Sparc timeframes.
