The Green Point Athletics Track opened just a week ago amid much fanfare, but clubs and schools have not been able to use the R85 million facility because it’s not yet been given a safety clearance.
“An inspection was conducted by the fire and rescue services department and few minor faults were identified,” said Gert Bam, city director for sport, recreation and amenities. “Once the remedial work has been completed, a final inspection will be done and the safety certificate issued.”
At the track’s opening, mayor Patricia de Lille said: “This stadium is now available for a range of athletics events, from school athletics days to national athletics competitions.”
A representative of Western Province Athletics said they were still waiting to hear from the city when they could use the facility.
Bam confirmed no events had yet taken place, and none were planned for this week.
The first international event – the World Triathlon Series – is scheduled to take place in April.
The construction of the track, which includes a state-of-the-art cobalt blue tartan track, was delayed for two years because of problems with the main contractor, Filcon Projects. The city was forced to cancel its contract with the firm when it hit financial difficulties and could no longer meet its contractual obligations.
Meanwhile, as athletes wait for the green light to start using Green Point, cyclists from all over the city are concerned that uncertainty about their access to the Bellville Velodrome cycle track during the construction of the Galleria development could jeopardise their training.
The Bellville and Tygerberg Cycling Clubs have alleged that the city has reneged on its lease agreement with the Bellville Sports Federation by not providing alternative premises while this development is under way.
In terms of the developer’s agreement, R65m is to be spent on the renovation of the Velodrome and the building of a sports centre.
The cycle clubs use the facility for an average of 140 days a year, but there is no clarity on how much access they will have once the facility is complete.
In a meeting in December, the city told representatives of cycling and athletics that it would not be possible to continue using the tracks while construction was under way. But there was also no possibility that the city would provide another track during this time.
“It is not prudent to provide an alternative while the facility is being upgraded,” said Bam, according to the meeting’s minutes.
In response to questions from the Cape Argus, Bam said cycling clubs could use the Paarl cycling track while construction was under way.
He said the contractor of the Galleria had agreed to accommodate training sessions until construction work made this unfeasible.
But Abdul Davids, of the Bellville Cycling Club, said this uncertainty made it impossible to finalise cyclists’ training schedules or events at the Velodrome. “We’ve got the Olympics in about 18 months but we have no schedule because we don’t know what’s going to happen beyond June.”
Davids said the clubs were still considering legal action to enforce the city’s contractual obligation to provide comparable alternative premises. - Cape Argus