Mayor Michael Laws has officially opened the refurbished Wanganui Airport terminal building. Pictured cutting the ribbon are (from left) Matt Edmonds (obscured), Mayor Michael Laws, Matthew Doyle, Michael Eden and Claire Johnstone.

Visitors arriving by air are now getting a much better first impression of our city and district.

First, early this year, the runway was completely resealed. The job was done at night, in stages, came in well below budget, disrupted no regular services, was finished on time and half of the expense was met by the Ministry of Transport.

Then, in July, work started on the refurbishment of the tired old terminal building. Not since it was built in 1961 has the place looked so good. The interior has been totally redesigned and renovated and visitors no longer have to go outside and brave the elements to retrieve their luggage. The all new carpet is of a 'runway' design, the ablutions and toilet facilities are all brand new and the old cafeteria is now a café (pictured) complete with trained baristas and food made fresh on the premises. The original architecture has been retained (the 1961 style is fashionable again) but the terminal now has the look and feel of a brand new modern building.

On Wednesday afternoon, October 31, Mayor Laws flew in to Wanganui on a scheduled flight from Auckland. Accompanying him were the GM of Eagle Air, Grant Kerr, and Claire Johnstone of the Ministry of Transport as well as several journalists and photographers. Everyone on board received a 'Wanganui appropriate' gift to commemorate the flight and they were invited to take part in the celebrations. The Mayor and his fellow travellers disembarked to the sound of bagpipes, were greeted by a karanga performed by representatives of local iwi and walked the red carpet into the terminal building where dignitaries and guests gathered.

After a karakia by Graham Puru, introductions by Economic Development Manager John Quigley and short speeches by Dr David Warburton (Council Chief Executive), Matthew Doyle (Holdings Board chairman), MoT representative Claire Johnstone and Mayor Laws, the ribbon was cut and the building officially declared open.

Mayor Laws has said that among his objectives for the next three years will be the sprucing up and revitalisation of the entrances to Wanganui, "our best daily advertisement as to who we are and to what we aspire". With the airport terminal now completed there remains the Marybank straight, the SH3/Cobham Bridge entrance and the SH4 Parapara entranceway. "All require significant, inviting and attractive plantings, design and welcome features."

Footpath upgrading programme update

Upgrading Wanganui's footpaths is one of the Council's ongoing priorities and work began in September on the urban footpath renewal programme for 2007/08.

The programme is scheduled to continue through until May 2008 and may vary during that time. Regular updates will be published in Community Link.

The photograph shows work in Carlton Avenue.

Footpaths

Work is programmed to be carried out on the following sections of footpath:

Kerb and channel

The kerb and channel renewal programme is:

Subsoil drains renewals

Work is programmed to take place on:

Mayor Michael Laws hosted a reception for visiting members of the Friendship Force on November 6.

Thirteen people from the USA, one from the UK, one from Australia and two members of the Friendship Force of Wanganui attended the gathering in the Council Chamber. Mayor Laws gave an entertaining talk about Wanganui and took questions from his appreciative audience.

Vivienne Walker, President of the Wanganui club, said that the exchange was organised through the Friendship Force headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and consists of people from all over the USA. She said that the visitors are home hosted so it's all about "people meeting people". A visitor from Memphis, Tennessee, said that they arrived in Hamilton as the trees were budding and they've "followed the springtime down the North Island".

The photo shows Dave Austin of Connecticut chatting to Council's Governance Services Manager Malcolm Hunt.

Heritage Conference

National Heritage Conference now a Wanganui showcase. Read more here.

Impact Fund

Applications are now being accepted for activities occurring between July 2007 and June 2008.

Wanganui Incorporated Impact Fund grant applications will be assessed and allocated to projects, events and initiatives that deliver significant economic benefits to Wanganui City and Region.

Enquiries can be made to: Wanganui Inc, phone (06) 349 0380, email info@wanganuiinc.com or application forms are available online at www.wanganuiinc.com.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, 9 November 2007.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council – 4.00pm Monday, November 12 (Council Chamber)
- First full business meeting of this Council.

Wanganui Rural Community Board Triennial Meeting – Thursday, November 15

Finance and Administration – Monday, November 19

Community and Environment – Tuesday, November 20

Hearings – Wednesday, November 21 (2.00pm)

Harbour – Monday, November 26 (3.00pm)

Infrastructure – Monday, November 26 (immediately following Harbour Committee meeting)

Heritage – Tuesday, November 27

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.