Wanganui Referendum '05 makes a splash!

Wanganui people have signalled that extending the Splash Centre is their number one priority for optional Council funding.

The Splash Centre came out in first position in the results of Wanganui Referendum '05. The results were announced at an official function, hosted by Mayor Michael Laws and Mayoress Leonie Brookhammer, on Friday, June 3.

The referendum was to decide the priority for optional projects to receive Council funding over the next 12 months. Mayor Laws said that is likely that the three most popular projects will "proceed immediately".

Each person listed on the Wanganui electoral roll was given the opportunity to prioritise three choices out of 14 optional projects for Council funding.

Mayor Laws thanked all those who had assisted in organising the new Council's first attempt at 'direct democracy' and hailed the 54.2 percent turn-out as "a stunning success and a clear indication that Wanganui people want to have a say in how their ratepayer dollars are spent".

The results below indicate the first choice percentages for each project, and then the total percentage of choices (first, second and third) that each project received.

16,158 people voted (54.2 percent of the current electoral roll), of which 1217 votes have been treated as 'specials' and will be collated in the official results to be published in next week's Community Link.

You're invited to attend a rural forum with Mayor Michael Laws on Monday evening, June 13.

Take this opportunity to discuss the 2005/06 Annual Plan and the rating issues associated with the plan. Be informed about the Council's financial position and Wanganui Referendum '05. These issues impact on you, your family and your community.

Where: Bushy Park Homestead, 796 Rangitatau East Road
When: 7.00pm on Monday, 13 June 2005

The programme for the evening is:

A survey of Aramoho residents starts on Monday, June 13, to get their views on a range of community issues.

The survey is being done on behalf of the Wanganui District Council, Police, Police Volunteers, Fire Service, Civil Defence and Whanganui District Health Board. Similar surveys have previously been done in Castlecliff, College Estate, Laird Park area and Wembley Park area.

The survey will involve face-to-face interviews with residents in the area north of the Railway Bridge to McNeil Street. It starts on Monday and is likely to finish at the end of the week. The Police Booze Bus will be out and about in conjunction with the survey.

The purpose of the survey is to collect information for the various agencies. For example, if there are no neighbourhood support groups in a resident's area and they want to start one, this will be followed up. People will be asked how safe they feel in the area, what they think of the trees in the streets, how prepared they are for an emergency, what fire safety messages they have seen, how they rate the health services and a range of other questions.

Residents are asked to please help the agencies to collect information so the agencies can help them.

Frontline-Circulation Services Team Member - Library
Applications close 17 June 2005

Notice is hereby given that the Audit and Administration Committee's meeting that commenced on 31 March 2005 will reconvene, with the meeting open to the public.

Time: 1.00pm
Date: Monday, 13 June 2005

Venue: Council Chamber, 1st Floor, Wanganui District Council, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui

Purpose

To hear Mayor Michael Laws' response to complaints made that he has breached the Council's Code of Conduct.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Economic - Tuesday, June 14
Items for discussion include the Quarterly Report for quarter ended 31 March 2005; Economic Development Strategy - post-Summit workshops; 'River Queen' premiere; six-weekly statistics.

Works and Transport - Wednesday, June 15
Items include two presentations on fluoridation; a presentation on Regional 'R' Funding for transport projects; Assessment of Water and Sanitary Services; stop controls on Pitt Street and Dublin Street; rural bin and solid waste rural bag collections; an update on urban and rural roads; Waitahinga Dam - proposed mini hydro power scheme.

Strategy - Thursday, June 16
The agenda includes an update on the Heart of Wanganui project; the location and form of the John Ballance statue; the appointment of Sinking Fund Commissioners and use of excess funds in the Sinking Fund.

Strategy - Tuesday, June 21, Thursday, June 23, and Friday, June 24 (9am each day)
Hearing of submissions on the 2005/06 Draft Annual Plan.

Council - Monday, June 27 (Pioneer Room, Memorial Hall)
The Council will consider the reports from all Committee meetings held in June.

Strategy - Tuesday, June 28, Wednesday, June 29, and Thursday, June 30 (9am each day)
Deliberations on the 2005/06 Draft Annual Plan.

Council - Thursday, June 30 (immediately following Strategy Committee meeting)
To adopt the 2005/06 Annual Plan.

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.