Matheson was with the regional velodrome roofing team who presented their proposal to the WDC at the end of the July.
The team believes if $5.8 million can be raised a 135-metre long and 75m wide tension membrane roof can be erected over the velodrome's wooden track at Cooks Gardens.
"This [hub] announcement confirms what council was told," said Baker-Hogan.
"It is a very real and exciting opportunity that our community must capitalise on, but will require the group and council working closely with Cycling NZ and gaining clear support from our regional councils and cycling clubs, especially Palmerston North, in the very near future."
Baker-Hogan, a former world champion rower, pointed out Wanganui missed out to Blenheim for getting a regional high performance facility for rowing a decade ago.
"Which was a sporting and economic loss to this community and continues to stymie the development of young rowers, at much disappointment to myself and others. I have no doubt the time is right to finally protect a key asset and real point of difference for Wanganui, with limited ratepayer cost, but clear benefits to not just the development of our sporting elite but enhanced community use and economic benefits."
Matheson said Cycling NZ would be working with a two-three year timeframe to get all eight hubs up and running, but "we will need to bring regional resources and funding to bear to achieve this".
"The rollout of regional CPH will be key to our sustained future success. Our current outlook is extremely bright, with rainbow jersey wearers in our squad, unparalleled Commonwealth Games success, a world-class facility in the Avantidrome, a UCI World Cup on home soil in just over 100 days, and our Rio [Olympic] prospects tracking well.
"But to ensure we can sustain and further build on this success, our pathway needs to be world-class too, and the hubs will help strengthen this link in the chain," Matheson said.
The roofing project team secured $80,000 from Powerco Wanganui Trust to have a design of the roof prepared.
At July's meeting, WDC councillors endorsed the project in principle.
