After nearly three years of growing dust and sitting idle, the Juan de Fuca velodrome could be open to track cyclists within a month.
Insurance underwriters for West Shore Parks and Recreation and the Greater Victoria Velodrome Association have set out a series of conditions that would allow cyclists on the track, while protecting parks and rec from legal liability.
The proposal needs the approval of the WSPR board of directors, scheduled to meet next Thursday (May 19). If given the green light, parks staff would install a permanent chain-link fence across the velodrome entryway, glue down portions of frayed infield turf, power wash the track and remove the wooden boards.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really excited to get this open again,B次元官网网址� said Moralea Milne, a WSPR director and Metchosin councillor. B次元官网网址淐ycling is a big thing these days, especially with Ryder (Hesjedal) doing so well. I think this is a really good thing.B次元官网网址�
Costs to prep the track are estimated at $10,000 to $12,000, and would be covered by the GVVA. Under conditions of the insurers, only registered GVVA members, covered by Cycling BC insurance, would be allowed to ride the velodrome and set foot on portions of the infield.
GVVA president Chris Anstey, who has vigorously lobbied for the track to reopen for more than two years, said his organization should have no problem footing the bill. B次元官网网址淲e have 99 per cent in the bank today,B次元官网网址� he said.
After offering a number of quashed plans to bring the track back to life, he remains cautious about predicting how the WSPR board will react. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l see what happens Thursday,B次元官网网址� Anstey offered.
The velodrome, used for the 1994 Commonwealth Games, was abruptly fenced off in August 2008 after Aon Risk Control Services reported the aging and damaged infield carpet was a serious legal liability. Installing modern turf was estimated at $800,000.
Many board directors saw little reason to spend hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars repairing what they called an irregular sized field within a 333-metre velodrome that no longer met the norms of track cycling.
But cyclists across the region and Metchosin council advocated loudly, often sparking furious debates at the board table, to find a solution for the velodrome without breaking the bank. In March, the WSPR board struck the velodrome subcommittee on the prompting of Milne and fellow Metchosin councillor Jo Mitchell, with the sole task of getting cyclists back on the track.
On Monday, Milne said the subcommittee B次元官网网址� with representatives from View Royal, Colwood, Langford, Highlands and Metchosin B次元官网网址� unanimously supported the plan that would give a one year lease to the GVVA.
B次元官网网址淚t took some time. Some directors were very cautious about liability for West Shore parks and for the directors,B次元官网网址� Milne said, referring to the fear by some directors that they could be held personally liable if the Aon Risk Assessment report was ignored. B次元官网网址�(Administrator) Linda Barnes and her staff worked so hard on this to make this happen.B次元官网网址�
If the board gives the go-ahead, WSPR facilities manager Wade Davies said it would take about two weeks to prep the site, including power washing the track surface and gluing down portions of lifted carpet.
B次元官网网址淲e just need to make the (WSPR) insurance company satisfied so potential liability is minimized,B次元官网网址� Milne said. B次元官网网址淭here is always some risk, you canB次元官网网址檛 live with no liability, but weB次元官网网址檝e done our due diligence.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
