Hsinchu City Council Rejects Debate on Troubled Cycling Velodrome Project

A proposal by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus to alter the Hsinchu City Council's agenda to include a special report on the troubled cycling velodrome renovation project was narrowly defeated by a vote from the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People's Party (TPP) councilors.

The DPP caucus had sought to bring the issue to the floor for discussion, citing numerous engineering defects in the NT$118 million (approximately $3.6 million USD) project. They argued that the velodrome, which has been accepted for six months, suffers from recurrent flooding and significant structural damage, including landslides and track deterioration following heavy rainfall. The party questioned why the city government, led by Mayor Kao Hung-an, was hesitant to address these issues and accused KMT and TPP councilors of shielding the administration.

Despite the agenda change being blocked, the DPP's proposal to establish a special supervisory committee to inspect and improve the velodrome gained traction. Seven councilors were selected to serve on this committee, tasked with overseeing the necessary rectifications. The DPP caucus expressed strong criticism regarding the project's quality, describing it as a "nightmare" with continuous flaws, including debris accumulation on the service road and severe leaks in the indoor facilities and spectator stands.

The party demanded a special report from the city government, raising concerns about potential mismanagement or corruption given that such significant defects were overlooked during the acceptance process. The vote on the agenda change saw 11 votes against the DPP's 9, effectively blocking a formal council debate on the velodrome's condition. However, the formation of the supervisory committee indicates a continued focus on addressing the project's shortcomings.