A major rowing championship in Twizel will be positive for businesses but some locals are anxious about the risk of spreading Omicron in the area, the district mayor says.
File photo of the National Rowing Championships at Lake Ruataniwha in 2013. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 2022 New Zealand Rowing Championships in mid-February was to be held in Lake Karapiro, Cambridge but has been moved to Lake Ruataniwha.
Mackenzie District mayor Graham Smith said the Lake Ruataniwha site did allow for more room to keep people apart than Cambridge.
"We have more room, we've got a bigger (lake) frontage. The whole area will be divided into zones, bubbles will stay under 100, they have to have a Covid pass and they will be monitored."
Spectators won't be allowed at the event, but there will be supporters and parents in town.
Smith expected 600 to 800 people to take part in the event.
Twizel has a population of about 1700.
Smith said it was positive news for the town and businesses badly needed the customers.
"We just hope we don't end up with a super-spreader or something like that.
"While Rowing is anxious, and quite keen, to go ahead they are quite mindful of how Covid and Omicron is spreading throughout the community. So, if between now and then, it gets too bad the event probably won't take place."
Smith said prospect was causing some anxiety in Twizel with some in the town are questioning why the event was going ahead.
He said some locals were likely to avoid town during the event.
Rowing New Zealand said it would reconsider hosting its national championship in Twizel if locals were opposed.
General manager Mark Weatherall said it could operate the event safely, but was checking regularly with council to gauge local opinion on the plan.
"There's the community of rowers which we are bringing to town, but there is also the community that live there, and we want to come back in the future. So that relationship is really important. So that's an on going daily discussion and as we progress if there is a desire, or a message that its not the right thing to be doing then we'll take that into account for our decision making and that's its really important."
Weatherall said Twizel's Lake Ruataniwha had more space to deal with the Covid-10 restrictions than Karapiro.
"We are set up along the lake in a 100-person pod. So the rowers come into that pod, stay in that pod for the event. They launch their craft from that pod, they race and then return to that pod. So they don't mix at all or come into contact with any other pod."
Participants will also need to wear masks and be vaccinated.
Weatherall said once the rowers left the lake they would be asked to remain within their groups.
Lake Ruataniwha Holiday Park owner Tony Ritchie said the event was positive for the area.
"I haven't heard of any opposition. Of course you'll get some people worried [the visitors] will bring Covid down with them. But as long as they follow the rules, and do everything, I can't see a problem."
Ritchie said he had had steady bookings since the new location was announced earlier this week, and was now about 70 percent full for that week.
He said the event would be a welcome boost as they head into the quieter season with no international tourists.
