Work is starting on the council's Discover Wanganui campaign and the public are invited to nominate personalities, events and attractions that are 'uniquely Wanganui' to help us sell the district to the rest of the country.

The Discover Wanganui campaign will promote the city to the rest of New Zealand through a series of television adverts and a range of marketing collateral. The campaign's aim is to attract domestic weekend visitors to Wanganui as well as encourage people to relocate to the city.

The 2009 perceptions survey highlighted that Mayor Michael Laws is a well-known personality associated with the city. Council would like to hear suggestions from the public as to who are some of the other best known Wanganui identities, who could be part of the TV and media campaign.

Wanganui has a long history of success in the field of sports, culture and innovation but who do you identify as the prominent figures that represent our city and would be instantly recognisable? What features, events and attractions are uniquely Wanganui?

Inglewood based production agency ProVision has been appointed to work with councillors and officers to develop the Discover Wanganui campaign and $1.7M has been set aside over the next 10 years to promote the city. The campaign will be the start of a long term process which should benefit the city in terms of tourist visits and associated spending, as well as halting the population decline.

Anyone who would like to have an input into the campaign and suggest prominent identities, events and attractions, should email Mayor Michael Laws, Chair of the Discover Wanganui committee, email michael.laws@wanganui.govt.nz.

Steelform Wanganui put up a fantastic effort in their Ranfurly Shield challenge against the Southland Stags in Invercargill last Friday.

More than 100 Wanganui fans made the long trip south to cheer on the boys, in what was described as a 'David and Goliath' battle.

Fans were treated to a thrilling first half with the Wanganui team at 6-nil after 10 minutes and they held the Stags to 6-7 until the 38th minute. The final score was 62-6 to the Stags.

The team and fans alike enjoyed legendary Southland hospitality and are now back in Wanganui looking forward to the season ahead.

Wanganui District Council is facilitating a professional practices seminar programme for our creative community.

'Strategic Thinking for Artists' is the first of a series of monthly seminars for artists to help develop their professional arts practice. The seminar programme will provide a platform for discussion, exchange of ideas and experience. The first seminar will present some key strategies in helping you develop and consolidate your practice.

'Strategic Thinking for Artists' takes place from 5.00pm to 7.00pm on Friday, July 30, at the Gonville Café Library in Abbot Street. The seminar is free.

For more information contact Wanganui District Council Arts Coordinator Don Hunter, email Don Hunter.

Resource Management Act 1991

Public notice is hereby given, in accordance with Clause 5 of the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991 (The Act), that the Wanganui District Council has prepared Plan Change 19 to the Wanganui District Plan.

The Wanganui District Council notifies the Plan Change as follows:

Proposed Plan Change 19: Noise from Events in Reserves and Open Spaces

Proposed Plan Change 19 proposes to amend the rules relating to noise in the Reserves and Open Spaces Zone in order to accommodate events.

The Plan Change is a result of issues raised by public events which generate higher levels of noise than currently allowed.

The amended rules will apply to Springvale Park and Cooks Gardens.

Copies of Plan Change 19 and submission forms are available for public inspection, during normal working hours (Monday – Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm) at the Customer Service Desk, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, at the District Library, Queens Park, Wanganui, and on this page.

Submissions relating to any aspect of the Plan Change should be in writing on the prescribed form and addressed to:

Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
101 Guyton Street
Wanganui

or faxed to: (06) 349 0000

The closing date for submissions is 5.00pm on Friday, 27 August 2010.

After the submission period has closed, the Council will prepare a summary of all decisions requested by the submissions. The Council will notify the availability of that summary and where the summary can be inspected. There is an opportunity to make further submissions about any of the original submissions. The Council will hold a Hearing to the submissions. All persons who make a submission or further submission and who request 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, Wanganui District Council, phone (06) 349 0001 ext. 8102.

The draft Digital Strategy and draft Broadband Strategy have been approved by council for public consultation. The vision for the draft Digital Strategy is "Wanganui is a leader in the digital world - we are a well connected, socially inclusive, prosperous and sustainable community". The draft Broadband Strategy vision is "To ensure extensive, future-proofed, open access, ultra-fast broadband infrastructure is available throughout Wanganui District as soon as possible, in order to seize the associated economic and social benefits for Wanganui District".

The Digital Strategy seeks three major outcomes:

• A high value economy;
• Vibrant communities and culture; and
• A healthy environment.

The Digital Strategy will provide a clear direction for council and other organisations to make Wanganui a leader in the digital world.

The draft Broadband Strategy sets out council's vision, drivers, principles, strategies and the benefits of accelerating fibre to premises in the Wanganui District. It also sets out the preferred model for roll out of a broadband network, ensuring schools, hospitals and medical centres, government departments, universities and business are connected as quickly as possible.

Consultation
Copies of the draft Digital Strategy and draft Broadband Strategy are available for public inspection, during normal working hours, at the Customer Service Desk at the Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street; District Library, and Sarjeant Gallery, Queens Park; Community Arts Centre, Taupo Quay, Wanganui; and on this page.

The consultation period is from 19 July to 16 August 2010.

Your comments are welcomed and should be addressed to:

Digital and Broadband Strategies
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui 4540

or delivered to our Customer Services Desk at 101 Guyton Street, faxed to (06) 349 0000, or emailed to us.

If you have any queries or require further information, please contact Marianne Archibald at the Wanganui District Council, telephone (06) 349 0001 or email Marianne Archibald.

Comments are to be received by 5.00pm Monday, 16 August 2010.

Public notice
(Sec 83, 86, 89, 155 and 158 of the Local Government Act 2002)

Submissions are invited on the Proposed Wanganui District Council Smoke Free Bylaw 2010.

The proposed Smoke Free Bylaw 2010 is written in a way to empower and authorise council to specify certain Parks and Reserves as Smoke Free public places, from time to time, by council resolution.

Once the Smoke Free Bylaw 2010 is adopted, it is Wanganui District Council's initial intention to designate three of its premier parks as smoke free under the bylaw along with its main public sports grounds.

Copies of the Proposed Bylaw, Summary of Information, Statement of Proposal and submission forms, are available from the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street and at the District Library, Queens Park, during usual opening hours. The documents are also available by telephoning Customer Services on 349 0001 or clicking 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 Friday, 30 July 2010.

Details about the following vacancy are available on this page:

Executive Assistant/HR Administrator
Applications close 2 August 2010

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, August 4 (Committee Room 2, 4.00pm)
- Correspondence; Economic Development Trip to Scion; Wireless Trial – Fordell; Digital and Broadband Strategies – consultation; Rural Directions 2020 – update; Register of Interests.

Community Development – Tuesday, August 10, Council Chamber at 3.00pm

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, August 17 (3.00pm, Council Chamber)

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.