Editorial: Motorbike museum idea opportunity for Whanganui and Partners to prove itself

A motorbike museum would make Cemetery circuit even more of a draw card. Photo / Lewis Gardner

A golden opportunity, gift-wrapped and hand delivered by economic development angels has arrived on the door step of Whanganui and Partners if it wants to pick it up.

It's a jigsaw puzzle which needs solving.

A proposal to build a national motorbike museum in the city has stalled because the Whanganui District Council says the desired site can't be built on.

But this can't be the end of it and it seems as though some facilitation is needed.

If it wasn't involved already, Whanganui and Partners should have been on the phone as soon as Wednesday's front page story on the proposal slid across the desk at its new St Hill St Innovation Quarter.

The district's economic development agency has been through a turbulent year; an overhaul of staff, the drafting of new strategies and plans, and a lot of big talk.

But councillors and ratepayers are getting restless and want to see something tangible for the more than $2 million pumped into it each year.

Here's a prime opportunity.

We hear about abstract "exciting projects" that will "challenge Whanganui" but here's a really simple one with all the pieces scattered across the table just waiting for something or someone to pull together.

The project supposedly had a willing backer, and has the support of the Mayor (no doubt many others) and motorbike groups.

Whoever wants to take it on, it fits perfectly with Whanganui and Partners' stated aims; to grow business, jobs and education and promote tourism.

This should be like shooting fish in a barrel for an economic development agency which desperately needs to prove its worth to the people who fund it.

Whanganui and Partners can have grand plans but Whanganui is going to grow one puzzle piece at a time.

In a district of motor enthusiasts - with our Cemetery Circuit history and location - this idea is a winner and should be easy to pull off.

Think of this as a corner piece.

If it proves too difficult to get there's not much hope for the rest of the puzzle.