Chester Borrows: I've not gone yet

Roofing the velodrome (visualised here by Copeland Associates) remains one of three key projects for Chester Borrows before he finishes as MP for Whanganui.

IT'S been a funny old week, and readers will have no doubt seen the news that this will be my last term in Parliament.

I appreciate the wonderful praise that has been coming through various channels, but it is important to remember that the job is not finished - I campaigned for a three-year term and that is what I'll do.

Last week we saw a great announcement that the Government will stump up with $10 million to strengthen, refurbish and extend the Sarjeant Art Gallery.

This is a massive project for Whanganui and, while there will be many who trundled along there on a class trip from primary school and have never darkened the door again, most people will recognise that holding the most significant art collection outside of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch is the privilege of Whanganui and we should make the most of that opportunity.

Even if people don't get their buttons pushed by fine art, they must recognise the tourist potential in having this facility in our city, knowing that arty types have lots of money to spend and will come and stay in town to look at it.

This, alongside the many local opportunities for people to extend their own art through courses or workshops in studio and at UCOL, is money in the bank.

The Government - and the taxpayer - is also putting $400,000 on the table to seismically strengthen the Whanganui Regional Museum. It will be added to hopefully, with about another $400,000 to come from lotteries and some other private community funding so the museum can meet the $1.2 million cost of the project.

Whanganui Museum houses the most important colonial and pre-colonial artefacts in New Zealand and every ambassador and minister - including Prime Minister John Key - whom I have taken to see this collection has been absolutely rapt.

The national and international significance is plain. Funnily enough, when it is right under our noses some people never bother to visit.

The next big one is getting a roof on the velodrome - and, fortunately, we have regional and national support for this project, too, so we won't be scrapping alongside Manawatu or Taranaki for funding.

Cycling New Zealand is firmly in our camp and the several ministers - including the Minister for Sport and Recreation Dr Jonathan Coleman and the Prime Minister - are very pleased to know that broad support has been given to this Whanganui enterprise.

The fastest velodrome in the country, it has the ability to radically assist those seeking admission to world competition by allowing the fastest qualifying times - so, more medals for more New Zealand cyclists.

So it is all go for me until 2017 General Election - full speed into a glowing future for Whanganui.