Despite the warm weather, the outdoor ice-skating rink in Alexandra will open as scheduled next Friday.
Ice Inline chairman Graham McNabb is pictured inspecting the rink's new coat of paint. Making the ice is expected to start on Sunday night.
It was expected to be the last season for the arena on its site beside State Highway 8.
Ice Inline Central secretary Dianne Elliot said while the weather was lovely, it was not the weather they were hoping for going into the winter season.
''We're ready to make the ice but we rely on the weather to do its bit as well,'' she said.
Over the next week, crews would work at night spraying water into the rink and waiting for it to freeze, before spraying on more water and building up the ice ''layer by layer''.
Cold mornings and evenings were required to help the ice-making process, but she said they were not worried about the lack of frosts at this stage.
The rink would be open for three months and would be ''used constantly'' by ice hockey and curling teams, as well as school groups and for public sessions in the weekend.
A new covered ice rink, to be constructed next to the Molyneux Aquatic Centre, was approved by the Vincent Community Board last year. Waste heat from the rink would be used to heat the pools.
President Graham McNabb said the new facilities were estimated to cost more than $3 million.
Up to $1.5 million was provided by the board through a ''fundraised'' loan.
