Visitor Centre receives business award

i-SITE Wanganui Visitor Centre has received more recognition for its outstanding service.

The Visitor Centre received a Highly Commended award in the inaugural ABN AMRO Craigs Wanganui Business Awards last weekend. The award was for achievement, excellence and innovation in the "Rush Hire Tourism and Hospitality" category.

This follows on from winning the Visitor Information Network's "Most Outstanding Visitor Centre" award last year.

i-SITE manager Tony Cato (pictured) was delighted with the highly commended placing in the Wanganui Business Awards.

"We only have a small team but they provide a great service, spending as much time as they can with the visitors who come in and dealing with a large number of phone enquiries," Tony said.

"It is great to see so many businesses being recognised through the Wanganui Business Awards and I'm proud that my team has been acknowledged for its excellent customer service."

November 6: Cooks Gardens Sky Show
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Cooks Gardens. Gates open 4pm (kapa haka, entertainment, displays); fireworks display 9pm.

November 6: St Peter's Awesome Garage Sale
Venue: 71 Koromiko Road. 9am-1pm.

November 6: Gonville Craft Market
Venue: Gonville Town Hall, Tawa Street. 10am-3pm.

November 6: Rivercity Markets
Venue: Wanganui Racecourse. 8am-1pm.

November 6: Capital City Council Music - Variety Show Spectacular
Venue: War Memorial Hall. 1.30pm.

November 6: Star FM Oceanview Speedway - Practice
Venue: Oceanview Speedway, Landguard Road. 7pm.

November 6: Theatre - Shop 'Til You Drop
Venue: Wanganui Repertory Theatre. 8pm. Bookings at Royal Wanganui Opera House.

November 6-7: St John's Hill School 75th Jubilee
Venue: St John's Hill School.

November 6-February 13: Exhibition - Young Maori Contemporary Artists
Venue: Sarjeant Gallery. Hemi McGregor, Reuben Paterson, Star Gossage, Saffron Te Ratana and Wayne Youle.

November 7: Dancing - Ballroom, New Vogue, Old Time
Venue: Gonville Town Hall, Tawa Street. 7.30pm.

November 7: Motor Show - Holden 50 Years in New Zealand
Venue: Wanganui Racecourse. 10am-3pm.

November 7: Wanganui Lyric Singers Concert
Venue: All Saints Church, Moana Street. 2pm.

November 7: Star FM Oceanview Speedway
Venue: Oceanview Speedway, Landguard Road. 4pm

November 8-14: Exhibition - D Penwarden
Venue: Community Arts Centre, Taupo Quay.

November 9: Junior Athletics
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Cooks Gardens. 5.15pm every Tuesday.

November 12-20: Artrageous
Artrageous is a week of festivities that reflects the rich tapestry of Wanganui UCOL students work throughout the year. Thirteen different exhibitions and events will be held during 12-20 November. Graduation exhibitions in fine arts, computer graphic design and the graduation fashion show at the Royal Wanganui Opera House are the highlights of the week. Programmes available from Wanganui UCOL (06)9653800 or 0800 GO UCOL.

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.

At Your Service - Animal control

The Council provides the animal control service to protect public health and safety; to protect the public from nuisances caused by animals; and to encourage better care and control of dogs.

A team of rangers is based in the Council's Guyton Street building and there are dog pound facilities in Ridgway Street. The team administers dog laws and the Council's Dog Control Policy.

The service includes dog registration in accordance with the Dog Control Act. The goal is to register all dogs. Impounding of animals is done in accordance with the Impounding Act 1956 and Dog Control Act 1996, including provision and maintenance of pounds.

Currently the rangers respond to 3500 enquiries per year, carry out regular patrols and inspections, register 7100 dogs per year, and impound 1000 dogs per year as well as wandering stock in the rural area.

The ranging programme includes requests for service and after hours on-call response. The rangers provide information and advice, including school visits, particularly relating to housing and welfare of animals.

Wanganui has 22 signposted dog exercise areas with serviced 'doggy poo' bins.

Animal control services are available through the Council's front counter and telephone services from 8am to 5pm on weekdays. After hours response services are available through the Council's after hours telephone service; however, response is determined by the urgency of the problem. A dog control officer undertakes ranging and surveillance programmes during the weekends as well.

The dog pound (Ridgway Street) is open between 12pm to 1pm and 3.30pm to 4.30pm, or by prior arrangement.

The animal control service is monitoring through independent audits of the service on a regular basis and benchmarking against other territorial authorities.

The average ratepayer pays $2 per year. This pays for animal control services apart from dog control. Dog control is funded totally through dog registration, impounding fees and dog control prosecutions.

For dog owners the base dog registration fee is currently $96 per year. However, there are rebates available for early payment, good dog owner, fenced section and de-sexing which, if all claimed, bring the fee down to $31.

Impounding fees depend on whether the dog is registered and whether it has been impounded before.

For further information, contact Richard Munneke, Environment Manager, phone 349 0001, email Richard Munneke.

Invitation to creative people at
Castlecliff Beach this weekend

Driftwood Sculpture Competition

On Sunday, November 7, the entries for the Driftwood Sculpture Competition will be on display around the Castlecliff Domain. Winners will be announced at the Duncan Pavilion at 3pm on Sunday, November 7.

"the foreshore in the future"

Mural Competition

Entries for the Mural Competition will be on display in the Duncan Pavilion at the beach.

The entries will be judged on the day and the winners will be announced at the Duncan Pavilion at 3pm on Sunday, November 7.

Remember - it's not just the experts who can create

Vacancies

Executive Assistant to Mayor Michael Laws
Applications close 14 November 2004

Business Accountant
Applications close 14 November 2004

Gambling in Wanganui - Have Your Say

A Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Wanganui

Do you find gambling fun?
Do you think gambling is an important part of a community's entertainment?
Does gambling generate revenue for you?
Do you think gambling is a problem in Wanganui?
Or do you think gambling is a personal choice?
Does gambling affect you or your family?

These are some of the questions that we would like you to comment on.
The Council wants to hear from you.

Why do we want to know?
In March 2004 the Council adopted its Gambling Policy, which requires a review by March 2005. As part of the Gambling Policy Review, the Wanganui District Council must have regard to the social and economic impact of gambling within the District (Section 101(2)).

The Council is seeking community participation in undertaking a Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Wanganui. The findings from this study will be used in the review in 2005.

The Council is keen to hear from those interested in contributing to the gambling study.

If you wish to hold a community forum, please contact us. On the other hand you may wish to submit your written comments.

You are invited to send your written comments to:

Gambling Impact Study
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui
Attention: Marie Gorinski

Fax: (06) 349 0000

Email us or visit this page to make an online comment.

The consultation period will last until 15 December 2004.

Notice is hereby given that the Triennial Meeting of the Wanganui Rural Community Board will be convened in Committee Room 2, 1st Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui, at 4.00pm on Tuesday, 9 November 2004, for the purpose of transacting the following business:

• To appoint a Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
• To provide a general explanation of legislative matters which affect Community Board members.
• To provide an explanation of the Wanganui Rural Community Board's roles from the Wanganui District Council.
• To adopt the Board's Standing Orders.

Following the Triennial Meeting, the Board will consider items of business.

Unless otherwise noted all meetings are held at 4.00pm 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.