The immediate future of the PS Waimarie has been secured with councillors approving a $70,000 grant to the Waimarie Operating Trust. The funds will enable the trust to continue to operate and come with a range of conditions attached.

In March this year trustees of the Waimarie Operating Trust approached Mayor Michael Laws to discuss the financial future of the Waimarie and to seek assistance. The Waimarie has traded at a loss for a number of years and has reached a point where it can no longer continue to operate without external financial assistance. Since 2006, passenger numbers have dropped by 40%.

The PS Waimarie also needs to obtain a new Safe Ship Management Certificate, with its current certificate expiring on 31 August 2010. The vessel will need to undergo a major overhaul and survey inspection, which requires it to be taken out of the water. The cost of this is estimated at $157,000, which the Trust has undertaken to raise external funding for.

Mayor Laws praised the trustees for their attitude in approaching council for help, being open about the situation they were in and their acceptance that significant changes in operation are required. He acknowledged that the Waimarie has operated since 2000 without council funding, except for a small amount for marketing under the Impact Fund.

"The Waimarie is an iconic attraction for Wanganui and creates a unique visitor experience on our historic river. Without it Wanganui loses a link to our past and a key part of our heritage," Mayor Laws said.

"However, the current experience is a tired, overpriced attraction – it's boring."

At the meeting, councillors were in agreement that the Waimarie was worth supporting but clear that the conditions attached to the funding must be met and that the operation and governance structure of the organisation be restructured with the aim of becoming a profitable organisation.

The conditions of the funding include trustees securing external funding for the survey at a level satisfactory to the council; appointing new trustees to both trusts involved in the operation of the Waimarie; the interim trust reporting progress to each meeting of council; developing a viable business and marketing plan; recognising council as a major sponsor of the PS Waimarie.

Decisions from council

At the meeting council also resolved to:

• Promote the Wanganui District Council and Wanganui Rural Community Board triennial elections to be held 9 October 2010 by holding prospective candidate information evenings; producing a '2010 Prospective Candidates Edition' of the Wanganui District Council Local Governance Statement and Information Handbook; and holding forums for both mayoral candidates and council candidates.
• Add the Gambling Policy to Referendum '10, which will be conducted at the same time as the triennial elections.
• Approve the new level of Dog Control Fees for 2010/11.
• Rename the Visitor Committee the Discover Wanganui Committee.
• Approve the Management Agreement with Wanganui Events Trust to take over the operations and management of Cooks Gardens from 1 July 2010.

The Sarjeant Gallery has re-opened following a month-long closure for maintenance work to be carried out. This has included interior painting, floor sanding and re-surfacing and the installation of new sky-lights.

There are two major exhibitions currently on display and the 2010 Carey Smith & Co Whanganui Arts Review begins on July 10. This annual event will feature work in a variety of media from a broad range of people, showcasing the wealth of creative talent that the Wanganui region has to offer.

Edith Collier - a celebration of the 125th anniversary of the artist's birth

Edith Collier is undoubtedly the most significant painter to have been born in Wanganui. From 1912 to 1921 she spent time in England studying at art school and with distinguished artists such as Frances Hodgkins and Margaret Preston. Since 1985, the Sarjeant Gallery has been fortunate to be the caretakers of her significant artistic output. This exhibition celebrates the 125th anniversary of the artist's birth and features work spanning the breadth of her career.

The exhibition runs from 19 June to 1 August 2010.

Colour

This exhibition brings together artworks and objects from the collections of the Sarjeant Gallery and the Whanganui Regional Museum and is on display in both venues.

By mixing up artworks and objects – from the thickly painted surface of an oil painting, to the plush fur of a stuffed animal – this exhibition looks at what each colour means to us, how it shapes our response to the environment, to each other and to the things that surround us in our everyday lives.

The exhibition is co-curated by Greg Donson and Damian Skinner and runs from 19 June to 24 October 2010.

There's a range of great events to celebrate Puanga/Matariki taking place in Wanganui.

Star Gazing – Matariki in the morning and the night sky

Join an early morning session at the Ward Observatory to view Matariki. There will also be an evening session offering a night view of the sky. The presentation will discuss constellation formations and information around navigation and harvesting of food (both traditional and modern).

Session One: Friday, June 25
Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm

Session Two: Wednesday, July 7
Time: 6.00am – 7.00am

Venue: Ward Observatory

Story Telling @ The Davis Library

Some of Wanganui's talented writers and storytellers will be delivering their stories to the public in the unique and historic environs of the Davis Library.

Date: 26 June
Who: Korero ahiahi (Hannah Rainforth)
Time: 2.00pm -3.00pm

Venue: Davis Library

Visit the Puanga website

Dancers will take to the floor on Saturday, June 26, at the War Memorial Conference and Convention Centre for the Wanganui.com Rivercity Ballroom Dancing Championships.

The Championships attract competitors from across the North Island and dance styles includes ballroom, Latin and new vogue.

The event starts at 1.00pm with tickets for spectators available on the door. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 seniors, NZDA members and under 16 years, $40 for a family pass.

The event has received funding from the Wanganui District Council's Impact Fund, which supports events which bring economic benefit to Wanganui.

To find out more, visit the public roadshow at the War Memorial Conference and Convention Centre on Monday, June 28, between 5.30pm and 6.30pm or visit www.rugbyworldcup.com/volunteer.

Ratepayers who may qualify for a rate rebate must make an application by 30 June 2010 for the 2009/10 rating year. (The rating year runs from 1 July – 30 June).

If your income is low to moderate then you may be eligible for a rates rebate. To determine if you are eligible we require your gross income earnings (before tax) for the tax period ending 31 March 2009. The rate rebate will be calculated on your income earnings and your 2009/10 Wanganui District Council rates and Horizons Regional Council rates.

Please contact the rates department for further information, phone (06) 349 0519.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Wanganui Rural Community Board - Thursday, June 24 (Committee Room 2, 4.00pm)
- Annual Report 2009/10 – Wanganui District Council's Rural Fire Force; New Zealand Agriculture and Horticulture Outlook Summit; Rural Broadband Initiative – Update; Wanganui District Council Wireless Trial – Fordell; Wanganui District Rural Halls Trust – Establishment and Nomination of Trustees.

Community Development – Tuesday, June 29 (Council Chamber, 3.00pm)
- Wanganui District Council Community Views Survey 2010; Archaeology North Presentation – Putiki Drive; Hinau Street Petition; Satitoa Revisited; Community and Cultural Portfolio Activity Report; Iwi Liaison; Mobility Scooter Research Paper; Continuance of the Regional Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Joint Committee After the Elections; Policy and Planning Activity Report; Household Waste Survey; Property Group Activity Report; Update on Virginia Lake Algal Bloom Control; Rotokawau Track; William Birch Pool Update; Sportsgrounds Rationalisation; Dumping of Effluent on Roads; Cemetery Circuit – Closure of Riverbank Walkway.

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, July 6 (Council Chamber, 3.00pm)

Agendas are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui, and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.