Wanganui District Council Youth Councillor Chelsea-Anne Phillips is off on the trip of a lifetime to the United Nations building in New York, but she needs our help.

Sponsored by Operation Peace through Unity, Chelsea-Anne was chosen to attend the 60th Annual Conference for Non-Governmental Organisations associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information in New York. She is one of only three young New Zealand representatives to attend the conference to be held from September 5-7 in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations building.

Participating panellists will include representatives from Princeton, Columbia and Harvard Universities as well as the Secretary-General for OPEC, the President of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Director of the US National Commission on Energy Policy.

Stephanie Rose, Council Policy Analyst closely involved with the Youth Committee, said that "selection for this conference is an incredible honour".

Chelsea-Anne's travel and conference costs will be paid by Operation Peace through Unity but, so that she can extend her time in New York beyond the two days of the conference, a further $4000 is required.

To that end, a fundraising concert will be held at Christ Church in Wicksteed Street at 2pm on Sunday, August 19, featuring The Rivermen, Four By Two, Top Brass and Maids To Measure. Tickets are available from the church office at $10 each. Door sales are also available.

Sales of 'fundraiser' chocolate have already commenced.

You can also make a donation for Chelsea-Anne at Cheapskates in Victoria Avenue. Thanks to the generosity of Cheapskates' Kirsty Simpson, everyone who donates to Chelsea-Anne's cause will go into the draw for a prize pack worth $150!

Donations can also be left at the Customer Services desk at the Council building in Guyton Street.

Northland Flood Relief Appeal raises over $12,000

Wanganui's Northland Flood Relief Appeal has raised a total of $12,480.

Cr Ray Stevens, who initiated and co-ordinated the appeal, said that this is an outstanding result.

"The generosity of Wanganui citizens was overwhelming. If the Crown can match that dollar for dollar, then Northland will benefit to the tune of $25,000."

The total figure is made up of:

• Cake stall (pictured) - $837.70
• 'Pub run' - $904.40
• Donations made at Double S Motordrome - $1149.60
• Street collection - $4588.87
• Mayoral Relief Fund - $5000

Cr Stevens wishes to thank the Wanganui Women's Outdoor Bowling Clubs (who held the cake stall), H&A Print, Harvey Round Motors, Display Associates, Plastic Box, National Bank and the 70 secondary school students from Wanganui Collegiate, Cullinane College, Wanganui High School and Wanganui City College who undertook the street collection last Friday, and the council staff who willingly gave their time.

"Without the generosity and assistance of these groups the appeal could not have taken place and the outstanding result could not have been achieved. Heartfelt thanks to all of Wanganui who contributed. We should all be proud of this result.

"If every other local authority got off their butt and donated half that amount then, with the Crown matching it dollar for dollar, the appeal fund would be in excess of $1 million."

Election 2007: Invitation to prospective candidates

We invite you to learn about the roles of Mayor, Councillor and Community Board member at an information evening for prospective candidates.

All people considering standing in October's local body elections are invited to attend on:

Tuesday, 14 August 2007, at 7.00pm in the Council Chamber, 1st Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

This information evening, free and without obligation, will outline the basic roles and responsibilities of Wanganui District elected members and the Council organisation.

Topics will include the election process (including key dates, nomination, candidate profile statement, expenses); elected members remuneration and expenses; legal responsibilities; Council's powers, structure and functions; workload commitments; budgets; assets; planning; current and future issues.

If you are interested in standing in the local body elections and want to learn more about the Wanganui District Council and the Wanganui Rural Community Board and how they work, please attend.

Draft Parks and Open Spaces Strategy

You are invited to have your say on Council's Draft Parks and Open Spaces Strategy.

The Parks and Open Spaces Strategy intends to meet the Council's goal of providing good quality parks for active recreation and amenities that adequately cater for our population while ensuring the provision of green corridors both through and around the city for ecological benefit and connectivity.

In essence, this Strategy is about the right land, in the right place for the right purpose.

A copy of the Draft Parks and Open Spaces Strategy is available:

• From the Customer Services Desk at the Council building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui
• By phoning Customer Services on (06) 349 0001
• From the Wanganui District Library
• On this page
• By emailing us

The Draft Parks and Open Spaces Strategy is open for public comment until 5.00pm Friday, 17 August 2007.

You can provide comment in the following ways:

• Post - Wanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Wanganui
• Fax - (06) 349 0000
• Deliver - Customer Services Desk, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui
• Email us

Please remember to include your name, address and phone number so that we can contact you.

Vacancies

Details of the following vacancies are available on this page:

Planning Administrator
Applications close 12 August 2007

Building Support Officer - Assessments
Applications close 13 August 2007

Resource Management Planner
Applications close 19 August 2007

Council meetings

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Finance and Administration – Thursday, August 9
- Finance Team Action Plan; Maori land; Pre-election Fiscal Responsibility Policy and fiscal update as at 31 July 2007; Funding Policy Review; Captain Laye Flats, 28 Campbell Street – potential sale of land (part); Continuance of the Regional Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Joint Committee after the Municipal Elections; Financial commitments; Schedule of documents sealed. Confidential items: Matters arising from Minutes; Debtor write-off

Infrastructure – Monday, August 13
- Keith Street School – school crossing point; Urban Wanganui transportation; Temporary road closure – Wanganui Car Club – Transport (Vehicular Traffic Road Closure) Regulations 1965; Proposed parking restrictions; Infrastructure major projects update; Wastewater Project; Upokongaro Jetty rules; Solar water heating; 2007/08 Annual Plan deliberation referrals to Infrastructure Committee.

Sport and Activity – Tuesday, August 14 (1pm)
- International Velodrome Events Centre Working Party update; Sport and Recreation Facilities Strategy update; Peter Snell Statue update. Confidential item: Sports Hall of Fame.

Strategy – Thursday, August 16 (Council Chamber)

Community Development – Friday, August 17

Community Development – Wednesday, August 22 (3.30pm)
- Community Contracts; Submissions to Draft Parks and Open Spaces Strategy.

Council Meeting – Monday, August 27 (Council Chamber)
- The Council will consider the reports from all Committee meetings held in August.

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.

Meeting cancellations