After five years in the planning, Waihī Community Forum is pleased to announce that the VeloSolutions build is complete.

Members of the community have requested a Pump Track for nearly 10 years. When funding seemed impossible to secure Forum member, Bhavesh Ranchhod suggested that the Forum take on the project. What started as a rough sketch on a scrap of paper has become a larger-than-life track built to an international competition standard alongside a learners and wheelchair-accessible track, so all the family can join in the fun. 

The project has been a community effort from the start, with local rangatahi and other community members generously giving their input, enabling the creation of a free facility that all ages and abilities can enjoy. 

Forum Chair Bindy Burke says, "It's incredible we now have a track like this in our town, and I'm sure it will be in constant use like the basketball courts the Forum installed a few years ago. We hope that the opportunity will arise to have competitions someday, be they national or international, bringing more visitors to Waihī so we can show off our awesome town's hospitality, too.”   

Waihī Ward Councillor and Forum member Anne Marie Spicer adds, "The track is a wonderful addition to Waihī, made possible thanks to a good partnership between the Forum and Council, and with incredible financial support from local businesses, clubs and external funders. We hope this is the start of something very exciting at Morgan Park, with the addition of a new skatepark and BBQ area to come.”

OceanaGold External Affairs and Social Performance Manager Kyle Welten says the company was really happy to contribute to the community's vision for a pump track in Waihī, and it's exciting to see the dream become a reality. 

"Waihī is a great town, and we're really pleased to support this initiative. It's a credit to the Forum and a great example of what can be achieved when the community, council and local businesses collaborate. I'm sure it will have a positive impact for years to come; I know my kids are going to love it, and who knows, I might even dust off my old skateboard and give it an outing!”  

The pump track is stage 1 of an outdoor recreation hub that will include a skatepark, BBQ area, seating, shading, kids' playground, adult exercise equipment, and a wheelchair swing. Plenty of planning, preparation and fundraising is already underway for the next stages. 

The Waihī Community Forum would like to extend a massive thank you to those who have financially supported the pump track to this point - Oceana Gold Waihī, Hauraki District Council, the Lotteries Community Facilities Fund, Valder Ohinemuri Charitable Trust, Lion Foundation, One Foundation, Lions Club Waihī and Waihī Beach RSA. 

Waihī Community Forum is a charitable trust dedicated to improving Waihī's facilities for the benefit of the local community and surrounding areas. You can find out more about them on their Facebook page or at www.waihicommunityforum.co.nz

(Credit for the attached photos: Mickie (Michael) Williams Photography)