The Naseby Luge Track, the ice rink and the Maniototo International Curling Rink are adjoining facilities.
‘‘It will lift the profile of the complexes and make us the ice sports capital of New Zealand,'' Mr Dunford said.
The luge track would be ‘‘the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere'' and would be run in conjunction with the rink.
Would-be luge riders took to the track on sleds and skis when snow settled in Naseby during the weekend following Queen's Birthday.
‘‘It was looking good all Monday afternoon, then we got that big thaw and it disappeared by Wednesday.''
A snow machine arrived at the complex during the weekend but, before snow can be made, temperatures need to be -2degC or below.
The New Zealand Olympic Luge Association is the national governing body for luge in New Zealand.
It is a member of the International Luge Federation and the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
Association president Geoff Balme, of Hamilton, has taken an active interest in developing the track at Naseby.
The track, at 360m, was shorter than an Olympic track which was more than 1km long, but he could see no reason why it couldn't be used for luge competition.
‘‘All the top national luge races are European-based. It's the Italians and Austrians who are the best,'' Mr Balme said.
‘‘They're keen to see what it looks like and how it goes.''
However, he hoped the community would have the most enjoyment from the luge.
‘‘The more New Zealanders we get on it the more visitors will come.
‘‘If we can start to develop a good New Zealand luge operation, I've got what I want.''
About $225,000 has been spent on the project. Mr Balme made applications for funding, and grants were made by the Community Trust of Otago, Southern Trust and Caversham Foundation. The Maniototo Lions Club also gave a generous donation and was one of many community groups to give volunteer assistance to build the track.
Originally Mr Balme was asked to consider Naseby as a luge venue by curlers in the community.
They could see the potential of building one in the forestry block owned by Ernslaw One next door to the Maniototo curling rink.
‘‘It was actually Peter Becker [national curling representative and coach] that said to me, ‘you should come down here and see what we've got that could work'.
‘‘They planted the seed and I happened to come along and now this is what we've got.''
Karl Flacher, of Austria, who is a professional coach employed by the International Luge Federation, spends most of the winter running training camps, one of which has been set aside for Naseby before the official opening of the luge track on July 12.
Mr Balme hoped as many children from the area as possible took advantage of the training camp from July 7 to 11 to learn the techniques required to operate a luge.
‘‘By the end of that week we should have 20 people that are skilled enough to get on a sledge at the top and come down.''
Adults interested in forming a luge club are encouraged to attend the training camp.
