The Firestone car park (behind ANZ and ASB Banks) on St Hill Street is closed, due to redevelopment work taking place in the area.

The car park was sold to a developer in January 2005, with a condition attached that any development on this site must include 71 public parking spaces in perpetuity.

Wanganui District Council managed the car until the closure last week.

A resource consent for the area was approved on 6 November 2009 to demolish the buildings between 83 and 85 Victoria Avenue and to construct a new two storey building with frontages to Victoria Avenue, Maria Place and St Hill Street, including car parks at the 1st floor level.

Resource consents are valid for five years. There is no indication of when building might start.

The New Zealand Historic Places Trust has issued an archaeological authority for the site. This requires the developer to undertake a comprehensive archaeological investigation before any works can occur that may damage evidence of previous human occupation.

Parking is available further along St Hill Street in the Winstone carpark, opposite Central Glass. Metered parking is also available along sections of St Hill Street.

For further parking options the public can contact Wanganui District Council on (06) 349 0001 during normal working hours, 8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

The request proposes to change the zoning of 236m2 of land adjacent to 321 Victoria Avenue, Wanganui from being zoned Residential to being zoned Outer Commercial.

Public notice is hereby given in accordance with Clause 10(3) of the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991 (the Act) that at its Ordinary Meeting on Monday, 15 March 2010, the Council determined that Plan Change 8 to the Wanganui District Plan be approved.

The Council confirms Plan Change 8 without modification. The change is a change to the Wanganui District Plan Planning Maps U15 and U21 to extend the Outer Commercial zoning to include Lot 1 DP 353434.

Submitters to the Plan Change have the opportunity to appeal the decision within 30 working days of receiving the decision.

If you have any queries on the above plan change please contact Clive Aim, phone (06) 349 0001 or email Clive Aim. Copies of the Hearing Committee's recommendation and the Council's decision on the Plan Change can be obtained from Wanganui District Council, Customer Services Counter, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui; Wanganui District Library, Queens Park, Wanganui; or on this page.

Recreational users are advised of potential health risks arising from the discharge of wastewater to the Whanganui River.

Under the coastal permits issued for the wastewater project, the Council is required to regularly inform the public of these potential risks.

At present, the existing combined sewer and stormwater system may overflow and discharge wastewater into the Whanganui River during periods of rain. However, this overflow will be eliminated progressively as sewage is removed from stormwater systems on both private and public property throughout urban Wanganui.

Property owners are reminded that the deadline to comply was 1 July 2007. All sewage must leave their property in a separate pipe that contains no stormwater.

For further information, please contact the Separation Hotline on (06) 349 0001.

The Wanganui District Council is working with the Wanganui Resene PaintWise Programme. Wanganui residents can return unwanted paint (no solvents accepted) and paint packaging to the Resene Colour Shop. It is then mixed into varying shades of grey paint. Resene donates the resulting good quality waterborne Resene paint to community groups in Wanganui.

Residents can return up to 10 packs of any brand of paint free of charge.

Where: Resene Colour Shop, 17 Wilson Street, Wanganui; phone (06) 348 0048
When: Deliver it on the last Friday of every month
Time: Between 2.00pm and 4.00pm

You can also help by reporting graffiti as and when it happens. Telephone the Graffiti Hotline 349 0500 for removal of graffiti in highly visible areas of Wanganui.

Pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Reserves Act 1977 notice is hereby given of an intention to issue a ground lease and licence for the term of 20 years over 1871 square metres of land more or less, contained in Certificate of Title Volume 11C Folio 174 described as Lot 3 on Deposited Plan 34877, also known as 200 Somme Parade, for the purposes of the Aramoho Wanganui Rowing Club Inc clubrooms and associated activities.

Written submissions stating the grounds for objection to the issue of the lease and licence should be sent to:

Kathryn Yorke
Property Officer
Wanganui District Council
101 Guyton Street
Wanganui

Deadline for submissions is 4.00pm on Monday, 19 April 2010.

For further information contact Kathryn Yorke, Property Officer, phone 349 0543 ext. 8112.

Summary of submissions available and call for further submissions to:
Plan Change 16 - Rezoning of 12 Lenihan Street, Wanganui
Plan Change 17 – Rezoning of Raupo-Hinau Street Reserve, Wanganui

Public notice is hereby given in accordance with clause 7 of the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991 (The Act) that the Wanganui District Council has prepared a summary of submissions made to:

Proposed Plan Change 16: Rezoning of 12 Lenihan Street, Wanganui
Proposed Plan Change 16 seeks to rezone the property located at 12 Lenihan Street, Wanganui, being Lot 1 DP 59241, from Reserves and Open Space to Residential zone.

Proposed Plan Change 17: Rezoning of Raupo-Hinau Reserve, Wanganui
Proposed Plan Change 17 seeks to rezone the property located on the corner of Hinau Street and Raupo Street (known as Hinau-Raupo Reserve), Wanganui, being Lot 1 DP 421649, from Reserves and Open Space to Residential Zone.

Copies of all the submissions received and a summary of the submissions to the proposed Plan Changes are available for public inspection, during normal working hours (8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday) at the Customer Service Counter, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, and at the District Library, Queens Park, Wanganui.

The Wanganui District Council now invites further written submissions in support of, or in opposition to, those submissions already made.

The following persons may make a further submission, in the prescribed form:

(a) any person representing a relevant aspect of the public interest; and
(b) any person that has an interest in the proposed policy statement or plan greater than the interest that the general public has; and
(c) the local authority itself.

Further submissions may only be in support of, or in opposition to, submissions already made to the proposed Plan Changes 16 and 17. Further submissions must be in writing, and be in the prescribed form, which is available from the Wanganui District Council, and addressed to:

Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui
or faxed to (06) 349 0523

The last day for further submissions in support of, or opposition to, those submissions already made is 4.00pm on Friday, 26 March 2010.

Note:
You must send a copy of your further submission to the person or organisation whose submission you are supporting or opposing, within five working days of sending your submission to the Wanganui District Council.

Following the close of further submissions, if required, the Wanganui District Council will then hold a Hearing of the submissions. All persons who make a submission or further submission and who requested to be heard will be advised of the date, time and place of the Hearing. The Council will then make decisions on the submissions and further submissions. Any submitter or further submitter may refer the decision on their submission to the Environment Court.

If you have any queries or require further information please contact Clive Aim at the Wanganui District Council, phone (06) 349 0001 ext. 8102.

Pursuant to the Forest and Rural Fire Acts 1977 Section 22, and the District Council Bylaws, notice is hereby given that the lighting of fires in the open air in the Wanganui District is restricted as from midnight Friday, 12 February 2010. All fires in the open are required to have a permit.

This restriction applies to all the land administered by the Wanganui District Council as a Fire Authority.

This restriction remains in force until further notice.

Exceptions – the following activities are permitted:
Barbecues lit in properly constructed containers and solid or gas fuelled.
Hangi fires lit a minimum of 3 metres from any combustible structures or vegetation.

Provided:
That no such fires shall be lit when strong or gusty winds are prevailing.
In all cases a person lighting a fire within the bounds of these exceptions shall remain in attendance at the fire until it is fully extinguished.
It shall be no legal defence against claims for damage caused by any fire that such fire was of the type, or lit at the time permitted, by this notice.

Rural fire permits will be issued on Thursdays and Fridays.
One week's advance notice is required for small fires (less than 2 hectares), and three weeks' advance notice for larger burns (equal to or greater than 2 hectares). This will allow for inspection/s and the preparation of a burn plan for larger fires.

All enquiries to Fire and Rescue Services, phone: (06) 348 0103.

Kevin Smith
Principal Rural Fire Officer
Wanganui District

Consumers are advised that automatic garden sprinklers can be used by all residents (irrespective of whether their house number is an odd or even number) between the following times:

7pm to 9pm During the hours of daylight saving
6pm to 8pm Outside the hours of daylight saving

Hand-held hoses can be used at any time.

Wanganui Wastewater Separation Project
(Contractor B Bullock (2009) Ltd)

Matai Street, at the intersection of Rangiora Street, will be closed from Monday, 22 March 2010, until Thursday, 1 April 2010, between 7.00am and 7.00pm for the purpose of constructing new stormwater drains.

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

A sign posted detour will not be provided.

Somme Parade between Dublin Street and Gloucester Street

Road works are being done 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 routes around the perimeter of the road works.

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

Until 25 April 2010 the ski lane area will be closed on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 5.00pm to dusk and Sunday mornings from dawn to 12 noon for Wanganui Water Ski Club, and Wednesday nights from 5.00pm to dusk for jet skiers.

The passive area will be open to the public throughout the season.

The lake will also be closed on the following dates from dawn to dusk.

The income threshold for rates rebate is $21,910 and the maximum allowable rebate is $550.

However, if your income exceeds $21,910 you could still be entitled to a rebate depending on the total cost of your rates and the number of dependents.

Eligibility for a rates rebate is determined by:

• the ratepayer's income for the previous tax year (year ended 31 March 2009)
• the amount of rates (both Wanganui District Council & Horizons Regional Council)
• the number of dependents

To assist you with your application, please bring in the following:

• evidence of all gross income for the tax year ended 31 March 2009 (this includes income from interest)
• your Wanganui District Council rates assessment for 2009/10
• your Horizons Regional Council rates assessment for 2009/10

Ratepayers need to apply to the Wanganui District Council for a rates rebate. Those who are eligible will then either have their rates reduced by the amount of the rebate, or receive a refund if the rates have been paid in full for the year. The Department of Internal Affairs reimburses the Council from Crown funds.