Manawatu Waterpark Venues Proposal.

 

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Proposal for Manawatu’s Aokautere Rowing Venue and Ian Ferguson Canoe Slalom Venue.

 

There is one thing missing from our Manawatu region.  A suitable water venue for water borne sports.  My proposal is for two water venues, the Ian Ferguson Canoe Slalom Venue and the Aokautere Rowing facility.

 

The Ian Ferguson Canoe Slalom Venue is self-evident.  An international venue capable of local talent use, national competitions and international competitions. There is a Stop Bank on the borders with the Manawatu Awa with grandstands placed at start, mid-section and finishing areas. 

 

The Aokautere Roing Facility is a multi-use facility, primarily rowing and canoe sprints.  But also available for recreational and competition sports use, like Waterskiing, Wind Foiling, Jet Ski racing, Kite Boating, skiff sailing et al.  The Aokautere Carpark is also a venue for Land Yachting.

 

The Aokautere Rowing Facility is 2,500m long and 100m wide.   It has two embankments either side [from start area (2km) to 150m at end of course where two Grandstands and Admin/Storage areas are].  The course is 8m deep from start to finish.  Envisaging heavy earth moving equipment scour out the course and depositing the soil on the embankments to create viewing areas.

 

There are four 30 room motels to be used by competitors, in competition sports, free of charge.  Outside competitions, the motels are for commercial use. Horizon Council as owners maintain these facilities.

 

There are two 100 vehicle carparks.  The Aokautere Carpark and the Te Matai Carpark. The Aokautere has access from Aokautere Road to both venues, and the Te Matai Carpark has access by a footbridge over the Manawatu Awa also to both venues. Envisaging both carparks are free parking.  Also, on competition days, buses will service the venues from the city for free.

 

Costings: -

Both venues are yet to be costed.  As these venues are Horizon owned and operated, costs should not be prohibitive.  And they provide a recreational and competitive use and becomes a legacy for Te Papaoiea and its residents and visitors. Fair to say, costs for spectators are a manageable cost, say day passes at $30 per adult, $15 per child aged 8 - 15, $50 for adult couple, and $80 for a family of four plus.  But it is not a moneymaking endeavour, Horizon manages them as public facilities.

Basic Logistics.

1.       Grass Embarkments mowed regularly.

2.      Water for the Ian Ferguson Canoe Slalom Venue and Aokautere Rowing Venue initially drawn from the Awa Manawatu with a full flush out of both venues weekly.

3.      Rowing and canoeing craft housed in storage buildings at start and finish lines of Aokautere Rowing Venue.  Canoes also housed in Ian Ferguson Canoe Slalom storage building.

4.      Lane markers are manipulated up and down by hydraulics depending on events.

5.      Maintenance crew and facility managers.   One Facility Manager for each Venue with a maintenance crew of 5 for Aokautere and 3 for Ian Ferguson.