Whanganui Raise the Roof Trust greeted news that the velodrome roof project had received resource consent with tremendous excitement.
Trustee Leigh Grant said he was now in no doubt the project would happen.
"That was an important, major step we had to get passed - I'm over the moon," Mr Grant said.
The trust would now move on developing designs and testing to ensure the ground was suitable to build the roof.
The trust remains about $12million short of the funds required but is bouyed by an assurance that central Government would provide a large chuck of that.