Pursuant to the Forest and Rural Fire Acts 1977 Section 22, and the District Council Bylaws, notice is hereby given that the Restricted Fire Season has been partially lifted in the Wanganui District from midnight Friday, 16 April 2010.

Restrictions remain in force for:

• All urban areas
• Windy Point, Paparangi, Brunswick, Parikino, Lismore, Parapara, Mangamahu area
• "Marangai" from the Whangaehu River to Whanganui River from the coast to SH3

Please contact the Fire Rescue Service or District Council for detail. All fires in the open are required to have a permit.

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.

For those rural areas that remain restricted fire permits will be issued on Thursdays and Fridays.

One week's advance notice is required for small fires (less than two hectares), and three weeks advance notice for larger burns (equal to or greater than two hectares). This will allow for inspection/s and the preparation of a burn plan for larger fires.

All inquiries to Fire and Rescue Services, phone (06) 348 0103 or Wanganui District Council, phone (06) 349 0001.

Kevin Smith
Principal Rural Fire Officer
Wanganui District

Public toilets at Durie Hill and Rangiora Street are being refurbished.

Work on the Durie Hill toilets will be complete on April 30. There will be three Portaloos for public use until work is complete.

The toilets at Rangiora Street will be closed from April 12 until May 5. The toilets at Duncan Pavilion will be available for public use.

Pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Reserves Act 1977 notice is hereby given of an intention to issue a ground lease and licence over 1619 square metres of land more or less, contained in Certificate of Title Volume 11C Folio 172 described as Lot 1 on Deposited Plan 34877, also known as 192 Somme Parade, for the purposes of the Wanganui Collegiate School rowing shed and associated activities.

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

Kathryn Yorke
Property Officer
Wanganui District Council
101 Guyton Street
Wanganui

Deadline for submission is 4.00pm on 10 May 2010.

For further information contact Kathryn Yorke, Property Officer, phone (06) 349 0543 ext. 8112.

Council's pensioner units are for older people with limited means who are able to live independently. We have 16 separate complexes in various parts of the city.

The weekly rental is $84.00 for one person and $96.00 per week for couples. These self-contained units include carpets and drapes. The rental includes ground maintenance.

Application forms are available at the Property Office, Wanganui District Council, or by request. For further information contact Martha Hourigan, Wanganui District Council Property Group, phone (06) 349 0540 or 027 201 2743, email Martha Hourigan.

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 a term of 33 years over 2500 square metres of land more or less, described as being part of Lot 7A Deeds 68 and situated at Williams Domain Recreation Reserve, 47 Tinirau Street, for the purposes of the Vintage Car Club of NZ Wanganui Branch Inc clubrooms and associated activities.

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 a term of 9 years over 2536 square metres of land more or less, described as being part of Lot 7A Deeds 68 and situated at Williams Domain Recreation Reserve, 47 Tinirau Street, for the purposes of the YMCA of Wanganui Inc facilities and associated activities.

Written submissions stating the grounds for objection to the issuing of the above leases and licences should be sent to:

Kathryn Yorke
Property Officer
Wanganui District Council
101 Guyton Street
Wanganui

Submissions close at 4.00pm on Monday, 3 May 2010.

For further information contact Kathryn Yorke, Property Officer, phone (06) 349 0543 ext. 8112.

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.

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.

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.

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.