Cyclists competing during last year's River City Wheelrace. Photo / NZME
Whanganui District Council is not expecting to meet an annual revenue target of $19,380 for the city’s velodrome, but it hopes to make that up through other venues.
Council visitor services manager Sam Ryan said no velodrome revenue other than from Cycling Whanganui had been received in the financial year to date.
Hiring the track costs $100 an hour and hiring the inner circle costs $80 an hour.
In November 2023, the council opened bookings for events in the inner circle, with concerts, fairs and markets suggested options.
At the time, then-general manager of community and customer experience, Marianne Cavanagh, said the council wanted “to activate the space as much as we can”.
Ryan said the inner circle had been booked for one event since the option was launched.
“We receive only one or two inquiries a year for non-cycling uses of the inner circle,” he said.
“A non-cycling inquiry for January 2026 did not proceed, and we don’t have confirmed paid non-cycling inner‑circle bookings for 2025-26 to date."
Ryan said the council supported Cycling Whanganui with regular training and racing, and hosted an international cycling camp in late 2024.
“Based on current demand, the council does not expect to meet or exceed [the revenue budget] this year.
“Importantly, the wider venues and events portfolio is tracking ahead of budget, and we expect to exceed overall revenue targets for 2025-26, driven by strong performance at the War Memorial Centre, Royal Whanganui Opera House and Cooks Gardens.”
In 2023, the velodrome’s track was replaced, costing the council $2.5 million.
“Revenue at the velodrome primarily comes from cycling use - club bookings, meets, training camps - and associated recoveries such as light‑tower consumption," Ryan said.
“Our immediate focus is to keep the facility safe and serviceable for cycling through routine maintenance with the parks and property teams.”
Cycling Whanganui president Marty Hewson said there were training sessions at the velodrome three afternoons a week, from the beginning of October to the end of March.
“The next event is the 75th edition of the River City Wheelrace,” he said.
“Last year, we drew riders from Cambridge, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatū and Wellington.”
Hewson said, in his opinion, it would be great if the council appointed or engaged someone to market and promote its facilities, including the velodrome.
“It has sort of felt like it’s up to us to do it, but it’s not.
“We are a tenant and we’re challenged enough just holding our own events.
“We would love to see the velodrome being used more than it is.”
He said the Snell Pavilion, located next to the track, had been used for meetings, including by Athletics NZ.
“We own the building and lease the land, and we pay rent to use the velodrome.
“That’s pretty standard for most facilities.”
Ryan said the council’s venues and events team was keen to see more use of the velodrome for non-cycling events, “based on what’s practical for the venue”.
“We recognise the velodrome is a significant community asset and an important part of Whanganui’s recreational infrastructure.”
Other than Cycling Whanganui’s regular sessions, there had been six one-off bookings in 2025, including a two-day school event and a Masters Games event, both in February, he said.
Hewson said the club’s youth training session, currently paused, was likely to return every Monday from Term 1 next year.
“There is potential for events there.
“A couple of years ago, a lot of vintage car people came to town.
“They could have parked all their cars in the middle [of the velodrome] because it’s lockable.”
In 2021, a $20m plan to roof the velodrome was scrapped following a 6-6 vote from councillors, which meant the motion was lost.
The council would have provided $9m, with external funding sought for the rest.
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.