Cromwell's motocross track is now being operated legally by the Central Otago Motorcycle Club, which has been granted retrospective consent for the community facility.
The club had been operating the track since its inception in 2000, but did not realise it required consent from the Central Otago District Council to do so.
Nine years ago the club entered into an agreement with the Cromwell Community Board to occupy and manage the track on council-owned land at the Cromwell end of Bannockburn Rd.
The club thought the agreement covered operation of the track and recently discovered otherwise, prompting managers to seek retrospective consent.
The track is now open to riders from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 6pm during weekends, although the gates will open at 8.30am on Saturdays and Sundays for practice during weekend racing events.
Previously, the track was open to 8pm on weekdays but Bannockburn Rd resident Peter Kircher submitted against the proposal to keep hours unchanged.
Mr Kircher said he and his wife, Lois, were sick of listening to constant bike noise from their home near the track.
In total, consent was granted subject to 18 conditions, which included a cap on racing events to no more than 10 each year.
Up to 40 riders are able to use the track at any one time, and motorcycles must be in compliance with noise limits.
The club also has to construct additional bunding along parts of the track's border within six months, to mitigate noise effects on neighbouring properties.
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Comments
Have just read this article & was initially thrilled that the council had granted a restrospective consent for this track.... Upon further reading though was disappointed to see that a Mr & Mrs Kircher had put in a single submission that has forced the closure of this track at 6pm.... I'm sure if they had thought this through that much.... If they're family people surely they can see the benefits of young people getting off the streets so to speak; belonging to a club, socially interacting in a sport that will challenge them to the max, teaching them so many skills including letting them find their limits in a safe & controlled environment, learning how to maintain & becoming aware of the costs of running their bikes. What about the people (young & old) who work & just want to have some fun in the summer evenings on their bikes as a way to unwind.. Surely there could be a bit of leniency & perhaps allow for 1 or 2 'late' nights.... Maybe the track could be open from 12pm to 8pm on these days instead? Anyway, just my thoughts....