Council representatives have been invited to attend next Saturday's opening of Te Awa Tupua, the Whanganui Iwi exhibition at Te Papa Museum of New Zealand.

The Council is sponsoring Te Papa in conjunction with the exhibition. The partnership with Te Papa will run until May 2006, the duration of the exhibition.

Thirty Council representatives, including the Mayor and Councillors, staff and special guests (Wanganui MP Jill Pettis and representatives of Enterprise Wanganui and Destination Wanganui), have been invited to attend the exhibition opening on November 29. The group will travel by bus, leaving Wanganui at midnight to reach Wellington in time for the 4am opening. Following the Powhiri, there will be a blessing of the exhibition.

The participants will then move on to the 6.30am sponsors' breakfast at which Mayor Chas Poynter will speak on behalf of the Council, as one of two principal sponsors. The other principal sponsor is Horizons Regional Council.

After the formalities, the exhibition will be open for viewing and there will be entertainment throughout the day, including kapa haka, waiata and films.

The Council group will leave Wellington for Wanganui at 10am.

The Council's presence at Te Papa in conjunction with the exhibition will provide a unique promotional opportunity, highlighting the District to more than one million people who will pass through Te Papa during the sponsorship period.

At Your Service - Airport

Wanganui Airport, located on the coast eight kilometres from the city centre, is acertified aerodrome for passenger services.

The Airport is controlled by an Airport Manager. Services provided include a 1300 metre sealed runway with landing lights, pavement markings, apron and aircraft parking. The Airport terminal has public toilets, car parking, and capacity for commercial operators such as a cafeteria, rental vehicles and ticketing/baggage handling. There are also four grass runways.

A number of commercial operators lease property at the Airport from the Council. The Airport has a water supply with fire fighting capacity.

The Airport is operated and maintained in compliance with the Aerodrome Certification Exposition, including security and safety for passengers, luggage and goods.

Monitoring of the service includes quality assurance, three-monthly inspections and two annual Civil Aviation audits (security and aerodrome).

The average ratepayer pays $6 per year for this service. In addition, there are landing fees and ground rentals.

Further information is available from Ian McGowan, Roading and Public Spaces Manager, phone 349 0001, email Ian McGowan.

Information about all of the Council's services is available in the At Your Service booklet available from Customer Services and the District Library, and on the Services pages of this site.

In February and March 2003 the Council arranged meetings to hear the community's views on what is important for Wanganui's future. The results of those meetings were analysed by the Council's policy team and the common themes were drawn out as representing the Desired Community Outcomes. Each Outcome is supported by a number of Priorities, which provide additional detail.

We'd now like to hear what you think about Wanganui's future based on the desired outcomes and priorities produced.

"Following on from the 90 meetings, these are the things that have come out as being important," Cr Sue Westwood, Chair of the Strategy Committee, said.

"However, it is important to remember that these are the community's desired outcomes, not the Council's. The Council still has to determine what its response to this will be. The process will involve working together with other organisations to achieve the priorities."

The identification of community outcomes is now a requirement under the Local Government Act 2002. The Council's role in this process is to:

• Facilitate the process.
  
• Promote or achieve the outcomes (as one of the parties that is capable of doing so and to the extent that the elected council deems appropriate in the Long-term Council Community Plan).
  
• Monitor the progress towards the achievement of community outcomes.

At the extraordinary meeting of the Wanganui District Council Strategy Committee on 1 October 2003, it was resolved that the Draft Community Outcomes be notified for public consultation.

You are invited to make a submission in one of the following ways:

In writing addressed to: Community Outcomes Submissions, Wanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Wanganui
Via our web site
By Email
Telephone hotline: 349 0501 Monday-Friday 8.00am-5.00pm

Submissions should be received no later than 5pm on Monday, 1 December 2003.

Draft Community Outcomes

Desired Outcome: 1. A growing economy
Priorities:
Attraction of new businesses and industries to Wanganui.
Creation of new jobs by new and existing employers.
A demographically balanced and growing population.
Development of services and infrastructure to support growth.
Development of the tourist product within the District.
Development of employment opportunities for youth.

Desired Outcome: 2. Diverse and quality educational opportunities
Priorities:
Access to educational opportunities at all levels.
Linking of educational opportunities to employment.
Preserving and developing tertiary opportunities.
Development of educational activities and facilities that attract youth to the district.

Desired Outcome: 3. A safe and healthy community
Priorities:
Provision of appropriate local healthcare services.
A safe environment.
A clean city.
Access to recycling opportunities.
A transportation network in which people can move easily and safely.

Desired Outcome: 4. Recognition as a great place to live and visit
Priorities:
An improved Wanganui image.
Promoting Wanganui well both locally and externally.
Development and effective promotion of existing attractions.
Promotion of the Whanganui River, the arts sector, heritage and sporting opportunities as our distinctive character.
Making Wanganui attractive to youth.

Desired Outcome: 5. Development of amenities and recreational opportunities
Priorities:
Development and positive management of existing recreational and sports facilities.
Development and positive management of existing parks, walkways and reserves.
Development of arts facilities, performances and events.
Enhancement of the ecological and scenic values of the coastal environment and the recreational use of the beach.
Continuing development of a vibrant Central Business District.
Development of activities and facilities for youth.

Desired Outcome: 6. Development of the full cultural and environmental potential of the Whanganui River
Priorities:
Safe access to the River for a variety of uses.
Environmental enhancement of the River edge.
Improving access to and use of the River edge.
Developing a co-ordinated approach to river promotion.
Promotion of the River from the mountains to the sea.
Promotion of cultural tourism.

Desired Outcome: 7. People working together
Priorities:
An integrated vision with good leadership.
Community participation in the decision-making process.
Community input to determine funding priorities.
Different sectors of the community working together particularly in the:
sports sector;
economic development agencies;
education and employment sectors;
arts sector;
marketing and promotion areas;
tourism sector;
tourism sector specifically with Iwi;
Iwi and the wider community.

November 22: Wanganui Christmas Parade
1pm. St Hill Street, Ingestre Street, Victoria Avenue.

November 22: Young Farmers Competition
Venue: Cooks Gardens.

November 22: Steam vs Sinew
Venue: Whanganui River (Upokongaro to Dallas Wharf opposite Wairere House). 10am. Rowing clubs versus steamboat 12km challenge.

November 22: Harriers Pre Christmas Road Series - Vaoga Cup
City Bridge/Dublin Street Bridge course. 4pm walkers 10km, 4.20pm all other events. Open to all comers. Contact: Rodger, phone 348 9428, or Geoff, phone 344 4779.

November 22: Putiki Mini-Market
Venue: Putiki Parish Hall, Anaua Street. 8.30am-12noon.

November 22: Eastside Market Crafts and Car Boot Sites
Venue: Scout Hall, Duncan Street. 9am-2pm.

November 22: Rivercity Markets
Venue: Wanganui Racecourse. 8am-1pm.

November 25: Athletics - Gonville School Inter-School
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Cooks Gardens. Alternative date, November 27.

November 25: Greyhound Racing
Venue: Hatrick Raceway. 2pm.

To December 6: Restaurant Theatre - Mystery on the Orient Express
Venue and bookings: Amdram Theatre. Shows on November 27-29; December 4-5 (December 6 sold out).

Throughout November:
A wide range of exhibitions at the Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui Regional Museum and other galleries.

More information about things to do in the Wanganui District is available from the i-Site Wanganui Visitor Centre, 101 Guyton Street.

What do you want for Wanganui? We'd like to hear your views

The Council recently received three applications seeking to change the use of the custodian's residence at Virginia Lake to a café, a café/residence or café/gallery/meeting rooms. The Council is seeking comments on the principle of the proposals to convert the residence into a refreshment outlet. It is also seeking proposals on other potential uses for the residence so that it can determine how best to proceed.

The residence, which is located in the trees immediately in front of the main car park between the Winter Gardens and aviary, served the Council for some 60 years (until the early 1990s) as a custodian's residence. For the past 10 years it has been a housing rental property.

Virginia Lake is well known for its green, peaceful lake setting which attracts people from far and wide. Motorists passing through Wanganui often break their journey for a while. Events such as Carols by Candlelight and the occasional concert add to the ambience. The Winter Gardens, wildlife and aviary are also major attractions which enhance the park.

The applicants have all suggested their proposed changes would benefit the park users by offering a range of light refreshments, including ice creams. This would avoid the need to cross the busy Great North Road to access the Lake View Café & Bar opposite the park.

It may be useful to note that the Lake View Café & Bar provides a small takeaway service, which includes a range of fruit juices and soft drinks, tea, coffee, ice creams, sandwiches and wedges along with "eat in" ice cream sundaes.

Any potential use would need to reflect the community's wishes and aspirations while adding to the range of quality facilities the park offers. Any changes to the frontage of the residence would need to reflect the Winter Gardens' colours and architecture.

We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Any individual or group wishing to comment on the proposal is invited to send their response by Monday, 22 December 2003.

Parking meters reinstated in Watt and St Hill Streets

The Council recently decided to reinstate the parking meters in St Hill Street.

The reason for the change is that the free two-hour time restriction trial did not favour shoppers.

Initially, most of the meters will be the original non-digital Duncan meters. New digital meters, which are more user-friendly, will be installed in the New Year.

The meters are the same as those currently in operation in Watt Street. They accept only 20 cent coins and can be fed for up to two hours at a time.

The meters will be operational from Monday, 24 November 2003.

Lake Wiritoa will be closed to the public on Saturday, 22 November 2003, and Sunday, 23 November 2003, to allow the West Coast North Island Tournament Water Ski Association to host a regional coaching weekend.

The beach area of the lake will remain open for passive recreation.

The Council apologises for any inconvenience this may cause the public.

Recent additions to this site include:

Services - Details of each of the Council's major services, which are also outlined in the At Your Service booklet, are featured in the Services section.

The information includes the airport; animal control; cemeteries; community development; economic development; emergency management; footpaths, berms and walkways; halls and community buildings; libraries; parking; parks and reserves; pensioner housing; port; resource management, building and health control; roading; Sarjeant Gallery; solid waste and recycling; swimming pools; wastewater; water supplies; waterways and natural drainage; Whanganui Regional Museum; and Whanganui River control.

Unless otherwise noted meetings are held at 2.00pm in Committee Room 2, 1st Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

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.

The Council welcomes members of the public to attend its meetings.