Roofing the Whanganui Velodrome roof has got one step closer with resource consent granted by an independent commissioner, the Whanganui District Council announced today.
The Regional Velodrome Development Trust, an independent organisation which has lobbied under the banner 'Raise the Roof', made the resource consent application to construct a translucent membrane roof over the existing velodrome at Cooks Gardens.
Two objections were received with one later being withdrawn.
Consent was granted subject to the roof being a maximum of 18.75 metres above the height of the existing velodrome wall, as well as a recommendation for approval from the council.
The council, in conjunction with the Regional Velodrome Development Trust, has developed a draft business plan and preliminary design work had been undertaken.
Council Chief Executive Kym Fell said the Whanganui velodrome is a strategic asset for the Manawatu-Whanganui region and acknowledged the importance of council support to protect the facility.
"Without a roof, the feedback we have had from engineers is that our velodrome will need to be removed or rebuilt in about six years' time, so now is the time to be thinking about how we can make sure this regional asset is preserved," Mr Fell said.
"As part of the roofing project, we are looking at developing the area in the centre of the facility so it can be used for a wide variety of regional activities as well as cycling and inline-skating.
"We've had verbal support from the Government, with former Prime Minister John Key, Sport and Recreation Minister Jonathan Coleman and Finance and Infrastructure Minister Steven Joyce visiting the velodrome in the last six months and indicating how significant it is in our wider region as a multi-function events centre.
"We also have support from Whanganui MP Chester Borrows and on Friday we took Transport Minister Simon Bridges for an unscheduled velodrome visit when he was in town to open the shared pathway and he was impressed by what he saw."
The Regional Velodrome Development Trust is progressing with a developed design and geotechnical work to advance the project.
Funding for the project has been allocated in the draft 2017/18 Annual Plan, which will be available for public feedback during April 2017.