You’re invited to attend the public launch of the Heart of Wanganui project today.

Heart of Wanganui considers options for the future of Wanganui’s cultural heart – the War Memorial Hall and forecourt, Museum, Library and Sarjeant Gallery. Some of New Zealand’s leading architects have been involved in developing concepts for reinvigorating the Queens Park area.

Today’s public meetings will be held at:

12.30pm and 7.00pm at the Concert Chamber, War Memorial Hall.

Chaired by Mayor Michael Laws, the meetings will include a presentation of the options by lead architects David Mitchell and Pete Bossley, plus an overview on how the project might be afforded and the implications upon the Council’s finances and rates.

What happens next?

It is the beginning of an extensive public information campaign to keep Wanganui people informed about the Heart of Wanganui project – with the community to have the final say on the project.

After the initial meetings, further information will be provided by:

1. Advertising the options in ‘Community Link’.
2. Special pamphlets delivered to every householder.
3. Suburban public meetings and presentations during November.
4. A dedicated website.
5. A shopfront display on Victoria Avenue.
6. Further public meetings in the lead-up to the referendum in mid-2007.

The referendum will include the options developed by the architects, plus the status quo (‘do nothing’ which would still have cost implications to maintain the existing facilities). The referendum would also ask for a clear public indication as to the priority/priorities for Council attention.

The issue of the Queens Park facilities has been addressed by previous councils on a number of occasions. The prevailing view of council officers was that the facilities required upgrading and to be made more publicly accessible.

A Queens Park Management Plan was adopted in 1992 and a further Accommodation Review followed in 1995. However, council decided not to implement the Review’s recommendations.

In 1998 a study was carried out that looked to shift the library from its present site into the War Memorial Hall. In the same year, the regional museum’s future use was considered. Then, in 2002, a landscaping development for Queens Park was brought before council. In general, the political leadership of the time preferred to remain with the status quo.

Then the previous council made a decision in principle to proceed with an extension to the Sarjeant Art Gallery. However, the 2005 Referendum regarded other capital projects (e.g. the Splash extension and the riverfront development) as of greater priority and the Sarjeant project was formally shelved.

However, the general view around the current council table is that to ignore the needs of the various Queens Park facilities is to preside over their decline. And that it is better to consider the needs of all the facilities at the same time, rather than in a piecemeal fashion. There are structural, safety and customer issues with all the current buildings.

As a result, council initiated the ‘Heart of Wanganui’ project and invited some of New Zealand’s leading architects - Ian Athfield, Pete Bossley, David Mitchell and Tony van Raat - to contribute their expertise. That process began in March 2005 with a workshop that considered each of the facilities’ needs and future requirements.

Subsequently Pete Bossley and David Mitchell were commissioned to advance the project. Their task was to present council with realistic but exciting options that would rejuvenate the Queens Park area. Tony van Raat was retained as an independent architectural advisor to council to oversee this process.

The detailed and costed options were presented to the full Council on 15 September 2006. Additional information and costings were sought and the final options will be made public today.

The Heart project looks at the existing facilities and asks the same questions of each...

1. Are they suitable for their purpose?
2. Will they last in their present form?
3. Can they be better integrated?
4. Can they be made more attractive, inviting and user-friendly for members of the public?
5. Will they survive for the next 50-100 years as part of Wanganui’s primary cultural precinct?

The answer as to which is the preferable option will rest with the residents and ratepayers of Wanganui.

Halloween Night
Tuesday, October 31

At the Winter Gardens, Virginia Lake, from 7pm-9pm

Entry is free.

(The event may be cancelled if the weather is bad).

Mayor Michael Laws says that the narrow loss of the Wanganui rep team to Wairarapa-Bush in the Meads Cup final last Saturday "will be gut-wrenching for the team and coaches, but they should know that all of Wanganui is very proud of them".

"This was the only loss of their Heartland season and it was a game that so easily could have been won. It was a game in which Wanganui had no luck. I was shattered for them and I know most of the 5000-plus crowd was too.

"I was also proud of Wanganui – they really turned up to support our boys. My urging to people is to come back next year too. This team can and will win the Meads Cup. Yesterday's game will make them even stronger next year."

Mr Laws said that the Wanganui team "had also proven something else. That rugby remains our national game and that our team deserves and requires community and council support".

"This team gave Wanganui priceless and positive national media coverage.

"And one final message to Wairarapa-Bush: congratulations but that's our Cup. We’re coming to get it back next year."

The Durie Hill Elevator will be closed from Monday, 30 October 2006, through to and including Friday, 3 November 2006.

This will allow work to be carried out on the counter weight and to replace concrete work in the pit. We regret any inconvenience.

The elevator will reopen at 9am on Saturday, 4 November 2006.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council Meeting – Monday, October 30 (Council Chamber)
- The Council will consider the reports from all Committee meetings held in October.

Community Development – Tuesday, November 7

Finance and Administration – Thursday, November 9

Infrastructure – Monday, November 13

Strategy – Tuesday, November 14 (Council Chamber)

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Thursday, November 16

The Council will consider the reports from all Committee meetings held in October.

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.