Wanganui District Council is seeking the support of other councils in the lower North Island for its bid to establish a covered velodrome in Wanganui.

Sport & Recreation New Zealand (Sparc) has called for applications from North Island centres interested in building an indoor velodrome.

Sport and recreation spokesperson Cr Philippa Baker-Hogan said that despite gaining huge community support through Referendum '08 for the project, Wanganui is now in danger of being pipped at the post.

"We are concerned that there are now five North Island centres bidding to the government for a covered velodrome," Cr Baker-Hogan said.

"There are proposals by Hastings and two from the Auckland region. The latest to throw their hat into the ring is Palmerston North and it is a serious risk that Wanganui could once again be pipped at the post by our neighbour.

"This council, the Wanganui community and the group that has been working on this project for three years cannot afford for that to happen. We have tremendous community support and have spent nearly $300,000 of council and government money on developing the project. We also have the only outdoor wooden velodrome in the North Island, which needs to be protected.

"I don't want the community to think that we have been sitting on our bums since the outstanding referendum result - we have continued to work on the project and now we need to ensure that Wanganui gains government backing for the velodrome."

At its meeting on November 23, the council made the following resolutions:

That Wanganui District Council confirms its support for the Events Centre/Velodrome project as a significant and likely capital project.

That Wanganui District Council seeks the support of district councils in the lower North Island region to support Wanganui's strong and thorough bid to Central Government for a velodrome in the lower North Island.

"Wanganui has a strong knowledge, history and pride in cycling and the Events Centre and covered velodrome will bring benefits to the city and whole region. I hope our neighbouring councils will recognise that and support us in our bid to the government."