Lake Ida improvements

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31981, 7 May 1969, Page 15

Lake Ida improvements

CUMMER is not a time of ° relaxation for members of the Lake Ida Winter Sports Association. Fully aware of the responsibility they have to the rapidly increasing numbers of ice skaters, they have spent many long hours down at the lake improving existing amenities, providing new ones and generally preparing for the forthcoming season.

The lake, which provides the largest area of outdoor ice in the Southern Hemisphere, is only 78 miles from Christchurch and has tremendous potential as an outdoor winter playground —a potential which association members are not unaware of. Thousands of skaters, learners and experts will converge on the lake when the season opens and the association is determined to be ready for them. The most important project at present is the building of a new pavilion which will include a cafeteria, kitchen, canteen, changing and drying rooms and a viewing balcony from the first floor which will enable the controller to overlook the lake.

The building, which already has the foundations laid, will be of an “A shape” design with a floor area of 1800 sq. ft. It is hoped that it will be finished by the start of the 1970 season.

The financial aspect of the scheme has been eased considerably by voluntary labour In the form of “working bees” of 12 to 18 association members.

Last season, when persistent snow falls ruined three weeks of skating at the peak of the season, the association’s financial situation deteriorated.

However, a raffle has beep run to cover the finance of the structure, which will be situated between the main car-park and the lake, only 20 feet from the lakeside.

Another four miles of the access road have been sealed since the finish of last season, leaving only 12 miles unsealed. The causeway, which has been eroded over the years with continual wave action, is being strengthened with weighty groin baskets and the extensive tree-planting programme has been continued. Club officials,/ hope that

the new season will begin on Queen’s Birthday week-end, but this will depend on the number of frosts in the high country before that date.

Lake Ida will be the venue of the long course New Zealand speed skating championships later in the season.

The picture above i shows Lake Ida with the J enclosure inside the I causeway and the main { lake of 30 acres beyond. ;