January is a busy time in Wanganui for events, some of which have received financial support from Wanganui District Council's Impact Fund. The Impact Fund supports projects which will generate significant economic benefits to the Wanganui city and district.

Almost $140,000 has been allocated to a range of events for 2009/10. Recipients to date have included the Raceweek series of events which took place in December 2009 and the Wanganui Glass and Literary Festivals in September 2009.

Wanganui Opera Week, which started on January 3, has received money from the Impact Fund. The Opera Week runs until January 14 and includes a number of public performances. Opera Week culminates with a Gala Evening Concert at the Royal Wanganui Opera House on January 13. Tickets are available from the Royal Wanganui Opera House Box Office.

Wanganui Cricket Festival is another event taking place with the assistance of the Impact Fund. The Festival attracts children's cricket teams from across New Zealand over a three week period.

Teams range in age from under 11 to under 15 and there is also a girls secondary school cricket competition. The festival runs between January 4 and January 21, with matches taking place from Monday to Thursday at Victoria Park and Wanganui Collegiate School.

Dilan Raj, Operations Manager for Cricket Wanganui, is grateful for the support of sponsors and funders who enable this event to happen.

'The cricket festival is a great event for Wanganui. Now in our 11th year, many families include coming to Wanganui for the festival as part of their annual summer holidays.

'We have more than 1000 kids playing cricket over three weeks and the festival brings around 3500 people to Wanganui including families and friends. As well as being great for local businesses it also means our children are exposed to different types of cricket styles as they face teams from across the country.

'We've received great support from national and local businesses including Wanganui Car Centre and Mars Petcare as well as Wanganui District Council’s Impact Fund. We couldn’t put the event on without this support – it’s awesome.”

Impact Fund support has also been given to Laird Park Bowling Club and Bushy Park Trust for events in late January.

The Women's Anniversary Open Pairs event attracts women bowlers from around the North Island, with a large contingent coming from Taranaki and Wellington. The event is growing in popularity every year, and this year there will be 80 teams entering the tournament. Held over Wellington Anniversary weekend, the competition takes place across Wanganui at using bowling greens at Durie Hill, Gonville and Laird Park.

Also taking place on Wellington Anniversary weekend is the annual Bushy Park Festival. Held on Sunday, 24 January the all day festival runs from 10.00am to 4.00pm. There will be entertainment including the Emerald Brothers, The River Men and the Wanganui Boys and Girls Gym Club and a variety of food, drinks and craft stalls.  There will also be helicopter rides available. The festival is a great day out for the whole family. Tickets are $10 for adults, with free entry for children. The event attracts thousands of people from locally and across the lower North Island.

The Whanganui Artists Open Studios event in March and Wanganui Floral Art Group exhibition and conference in April have also received financial support from the Impact Fund.

There's just a week to go until the Big Day Out 2010. If you're aged between 16 and 20, and planning on going to the Big Day Out the WDC Youth Committee can help you get to Auckland and back safely with the 'Cheapskates $20 Bus to the Big Day Out'.

The $20 ticket is for the bus ride to Auckland and back only – it doesn't include a ticket to the BDO (available online), accommodation, food or other transport.

The BDO is on Friday, January 15. The bus departs from i-SITE Visitor Centre at 10.00am on Thursday, January 14, and arrives in Auckland at approximately 6.00pm. The bus departs central Auckland at 10.00am on Saturday, January 16, and arrives in Wanganui about 6.00pm. Trained youth workers Ben Mashiter and Stacey Foskett will for the third year accompany the festival-goers, and are available if required during the entire trip.

Bus tickets are only for Wanganui youth aged 16-20 years who are attending the BDO. Everyone needs to sign a form at purchase and those under 18 must have parental permission. Tickets are available from MyMusic and Cheapskates (both in Victoria Avenue).

The Youth Committee thanks major sponsor Cheapskates and supporting sponsors First Mobile, Tranzit Coachlines and Double S Motordrome.

For more information about the BDO, click here.

Somme Parade between Dublin Street and Gloucester Street

Road works are due to commence in Somme Parade between Dublin Street and Gloucester Street from 18 January 2010 for an estimated period of three months.

The road works are necessary to address deficiencies in the existing road pavement, enable widening of the carriageway and alterations to intersection layouts for safety purposes.  The completed works will make provision for cyclists. Motorists will notice significant improvements to road surface smoothness.

At times during the work, the public will experience unavoidable delays. Motorists are encouraged to use alternative road routes around the perimeter of the road works.

Residents within the work zone will be informed of impending work via a letter drop and be updated on progress during the project period.

Wanganui Wastewater Separation Project
(contractor Wanganui Drainage Contractors Ltd)

Manuka Street will be closed from 12 Manuka Street to 26 Manuka Street from Monday, 11 January 2010 to Friday, 12 February 2010 for the purpose of pipelaying.

The work will be done in two stages commencing at 12 Manuka Street.

Vehicle access to residential properties on the closed section will be available at all times unless advised by the contractor.

Section 158 of the Local Government Act 2002 requires Wanganui District Council to review its Bylaws. In accordance with this requirement Council proposes to revoke and replace Part 4 – Animal Control - Wanganui District Council Consolidated Bylaw 1997 with a new Bylaw.

Submissions are now invited on the Proposed Wanganui District Council Animal Control Bylaw (2009).

Copies of the Proposed Bylaw, Summary of Information, Statement of Proposal and submission forms are available here.

Submissions should be addressed to:

The Chief Executive
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
101 Guyton Street
Wanganui

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Monday, 8 February 2010.

Herbicide spraying will take place at Lake Wiritoa on Monday, 18 January or Tuesday, 19 January 2010 on the area designated for public swimming and waterskiing.

The spraying is required to control the water weed Hornwort which is present in the lake. The use of the lake for swimming is prohibited for 24 hours after the application of the herbicide.

Persons within 1km who may draw water from the lake should not bathe in it, use it for human consumption, fish farming or livestock watering for 24 hours after application. Water should not be used for overhead irrigation for 10 days after treatment.

Nominations are being sought for the Wanganui Sports Hall of Fame. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognise sporting achievements by athletes and coaches who have made a significant impact on Wanganui's sporting heritage.

The current inductees into the Wanganui Sports Hall of Fame are:

Gary Anderson (cycling), Philippa Baker-Hogan (rowing), Ernest (Moke) Belliss (rugby), Peter Belliss (lawn bowls), Harry Cave (cricket), Ron Cheatley (cycling coach), Trevor Coker (rowing), Coleman Family - Percy, Rod and Bob (motorcycling), Arthur Holder (athletics), Alan McIntyre (hockey), Bill Osborne (rugby), Arthur Porritt (athletics), Billy Webb (rowing), Les Wilson (hockey).

To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, nominees must be from the Wanganui District, by birth or adoption, have been retired at least five years from top competition, represented New Zealand at 'senior' level and/or contributed positively to, and brought credit to, sport in the District.

Nomination forms are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui and on this page.

Nominations close on 8 January 2010.