Wanganui glass artists will be celebrated this month from September 18-24.

Wanganui Inc marketing manager Claire Cilliers says Glass Week will give people the opportunity to discover who Wanganui glass artists are and the works being created in our city.

Throughout the week a range of venues including businesses on Victoria Avenue, galleries and studios will provide opportunities for people to view glass work by local artists.

The week will also give people the opportunity to see demonstrations and a glass documentary at the War Memorial Hall on Saturday, September 23.

Glass Week maps of exhibitions and activities happening during the week will be available late next week from 25 Victoria Avenue and i-SITE Wanganui, 101 Guyton Street.

The photo shows glass artwork by Sue James whose work will be on display at Jolt Coffee, 19 Victoria Avenue, during Glass Week.

The New Zealand Masters Games’ tented village may be on the move – but it will still be located within Wanganui’s Springvale Park.

This week the Wanganui District Council’s Sport and Activity Committee will consider a proposal to relocate the tented village. The temporary village is erected every two years for the duration of the New Zealand Masters Games held in Wanganui.

In the past, the village has been located adjacent to the Splash Centre. However, work will start soon on the Splash Centre extension which will occupy that site so it is proposed that, from 2007, the Masters Games’ village is relocated to the north of the Jubilee Stadium. The Masters Games’ administration buildings are being relocated to the eastern side of the Jubilee Stadium.

Sport and Activity Committee chair Cr Philippa Baker-Hogan said the new locations would enable the Masters Games’ buildings and village to be used together during future events.

“This appears to be the ideal site for the relocation, given the other developments taking place at Springvale Park,” Cr Baker-Hogan said.

“Because the new location will be much closer to houses on Parsons Street and Carlton Avenue, we are looking at ways to control noise levels and any visual offence to minimise disturbance to residents in the area.

“The committee will receive a report from acoustic experts on possible noise levels and ways of mitigating them. If the proposal to relocate the village is approved, the Council will contact residents near Springvale Park to advise them of the change in location and what will be done to minimise noise problems.”

The Sport and Activity Committee meets at 1pm on Thursday, September 7.

A selected mixed media award exhibition showing the strength and diversity of art making in the Whanganui region is currently on display at the Sarjeant Gallery. The exhibition, which runs until October 8, features 161 artworks by first-time artists, secondary and art school students plus well established arts practitioners.

Pictured is Christine Fowler’s Self Portrait with Cat (acrylic on canvas).

Having received submissions on the Representation Review, and hearing those submitters who wished to be heard and considering all submissions including the results of Referendum ’06, the Council resolved on 24 August 2006 to confirm its resolutions to:

• Abolish the urban and rural wards and have all councillors elected at large.
• Retain the Wanganui Rural Community Board with its geographical boundaries unchanged, with 6 (six) elected members, elected at large.
• Reduce the number of councillors to 10 (ten).

After considering all submissions, Council believes the reduced number of councillors will provide fair and effective representation, lead to stream-lined decision making, reflect community wishes and may lead to administration and representation savings.

Submissions to retain the rural and urban wards were rejected because Council believes enabling rural voters to vote for all councillors will provide fairer and more effective representation than a rural ward with only one councillor likely allowed under legislation.

Appeals
Copies of the representation review resolutions may be inspected at the Council Chambers, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui, during normal business hours. As the original advertised representation proposals have not been amended, appeals may only be lodged by those people or organisations who made submissions to the Council on the original proposals. The period for making appeals closes at 5pm on Tuesday, 3 October 2006.

People making appeals must state the matter being appealed and may raise only matters from their original submission. Please include your name and address. Appeals can be made in the following ways:

Post to: Representation Review Appeals, Wanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Wanganui
Fax to: (06) 349 0000
Deliver to: Customer Services Desk, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui
Email us (put Representation Appeal in the subject line)
Online

The Council will forward appeals to the Local Government Commission which may hold hearings, and then must make and publish a final determination by 11 April 2007 at the latest.

Are you interested in the arts in Wanganui?
Have your say!
We welcome your comments

Review of 1993 Wanganui Arts Policy

The Wanganui District Council is undertaking a review of the 1993 Wanganui Arts Policy. The Council is seeking Wanganui arts practitioners, representatives of groups or committees and any other people who have an interest in the arts in Wanganui to provide comments on this review.

The objectives of the Wanganui Arts Policy review are:

1. To build on the existing level of arts activities within the District
2. To provide a framework for the future by identifying priorities
3. To provide information on the presence of arts in the community

There are many ways in which you can participate and make comment.

1. Download the Arts Questionnaire and return by mail.
2. Collect a copy from the Customer Services Centre, Wanganui District Council Chambers, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.
3. Telephone the Council’s Customer Service Centre for a copy to be mailed to you. Telephone (06) 349 0001.
4. Send completed questionnaire to the Council facsimile (06) 349 0000.
5. Mail the completed questionnaire to PO Box 637, Wanganui.
6. Request a copy by emailing us. A copy will be forwarded to you to download, then please complete and return by mail.
7. Copies of the questionnaire are also available at the Wanganui District Library, Sarjeant Gallery and Whanganui Regional Museum.

If you have any questions regarding this questionnaire, please contact Marie Gorinski, Wanganui District Council, phone (06) 349 0001, email Marie Gorinski; or the Arts Developer, Whanganui Arts Culture Heritage Development Trust, email Arts Developer, phone (06) 345 4250.

All comments must be received by 9 October 2006.

Ratepayers are reminded that the Wanganui District Council cannot process rates rebate applications until you have received your Horizons Regional Council rates notice.

Horizons sent out its rates notices at the end of August.

Before we can process your application, we need to see:

• Your Community Services Card.
• Evidence of all income (before tax) for last tax year (this includes income from interest, pensions etc).
• Your Wanganui District Council rates notice for 2006/07 and your Horizons Regional Council rates notice for 2006/07.

Eligibility for a rates rebate is determined by:

• The ratepayer’s income for the tax year preceding the start of the rating year and
• The amount of rates and
• The number of dependents.

The income threshold is now $20,000 and the maximum allowable rebate has increased to $500. The rebate can be claimed at any time during the 2006/07 rating year.

The first instalment of your Wanganui District Council rates was due on August 23. However, you will still be able to apply for a rebate when you receive your Regional Council rates.

Please contact our rates department on 349 0519 if you require further information.

Vacancy

Executive Assistant
Applications close 10 September 2006

Bad Horse Video Awards

Entries close 30 September 2006. Read more (PDF format, 408KB)

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Sport and Activity – Thursday, September 7 (1pm)
- Splash Centre Challenge Grant Matching Funding; Rugby World Cup 2011; Parks Strategy; International Velodrome Events Centre; NZ Masters Games tented village; Wanganui Boys and Girls Gym Club at Springvale Park; Recognition of sporting achievement; Peter Snell statue update; Revised meeting schedule.

Community Development – Thursday, September 7
- Community and Cultural Action Plan; 2007 Waitangi Day celebrations; Community orchard; Iwi liaison; Temporary road closure – Wanganui Motorcycle Club Transport, (Vehicular Traffic Road Closure) Regulations 1965; Liquor ban bylaw infringement recommendation.

Youth – Monday, September 11 (Council Chamber)
- Subcommittees; Working parties and workshops; Youth Strategy actions; Youth Committee selection process; New Zealand Diversity Forum; ‘Make It. Take It.’ update; ‘Snow Day Out’ update; Basketball court update; Outdoor cinema update.

Infrastructure – Tuesday, September 12

Community Development – Thursday, 14 September (3.30pm)
- To assess 2006/07 Community Contracts applications.

Strategy – Thursday, September 14 (Council Chamber)

Council Meeting – Monday, September 25 (Council Chamber)
- The Council will consider the reports from all Committee meetings in August and September.

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.