Three world champions, Australian champions and many New Zealand champion motorcyclists will participate in the Legends of Dirt Festival in Wanganui this weekend.

The Wanganui District Council is supporting the event through the Impact Fund.

Motorcycling legend Jeff Smith, MBE for services to motorcycling (Great Britain), is being flown to Wanganui from the United States for the event. He won two British Trials Championships, two British Expert Trials premiers, the Scottish six days, 35 other major trials and seven ISDT gold medals. During his motocross career, he won 29 Grand Prix and was placed second 32 times. He won the Motocross des Nations three times, seven British 500cc motocross and two World 500cc championships.

New Zealand World 500cc Motocross Champion Shayne King (Taranaki) and Hugh Anderson (Hamilton) will join Jeff Smith in a selection of races throughout the Classic TT on Saturday, March 22. Shayne King has won more than 50 NZ junior and senior supercross and motocross titles during his career. Hugh Anderson won four World Road Race titles and more than 30 NZ Championships including motocross, grass hill climb, miniature TT and sporting trials titles.

Saturday's races will be held at the Wanganui Racecourse, with gates opening at 10am and racing from 11am. Admission is adults $20, students $10, under 12 free.

On Sunday, March 23, a Classic & Twinshock Trial will be hosted at Matipo Park. It will feature top riders, including former NZ Champion Chris Harris (Lower Hutt), multiple Franklin Cup winners Kerry Miles (Christchurch) and Ray Charlton (Auckland) plus Australian Champion (twice) and NZ Trials Champion (seven times) Warren Laugesen (Levin). Gates open at 10am. Public admission is $5 with under 12 free.

Other users of Matipo Park are advised that parts of the park will be cordoned off for the event.

The photo shows Warren Laugesen in action.

Work is continuing on the urban footpath renewal programme for 2007/08, with a number of footpaths already completed.

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

Footpaths

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

Kerb and channel renewal programme

Subsoil drains renewals

The Inspiring Windows Tour that accompanied the Festival of Glass in 2007 is being extended this year.

Last year the Wanganui District Council, churches and schools generously opened their doors to the community to view their stained glass windows.

This year we wish to extend an invitation for stunning stained glass in private homes to be photographed for inclusion in a DVD to be shown during the Festival of Glass. This could also form a register for the development of a History of Stained Glass in Wanganui.

The Festival dates are September 19 – October 5 so we invite you to call now. Please contact Raewyn Roberts, Glass Facilitator at Wanganui Inc, phone (06) 349 1863.

Applications are now being accepted for activities occurring between July 2008 and June 2009.

Wanganui Incorporated Impact Fund grant applications will be assessed and allocated to projects, events and initiatives that deliver significant economic benefits to the Wanganui City and Region. Funding availability is conditional upon Wanganui District Council 2008/2009 Annual Plan approval.

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

Applications close at 5.00pm on Friday, 2 May 2008.

The Wanganui District is currently in a Restricted Fire Season and permits are required for all open air fires. Phone the Fire Service on 348 0103 for further details.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, March 25
- Council Controlled Organisations Exemption; Audit NZ Management Letter; Appoint Mayor as Trustee of Wanganui Inc; Summary of Controller and Auditor-General's Letter of 20 December 2007; Finance Team Action Plan; Schools' Road Safety Consultation Update; Infrastructure Projects Update; Cycle Implementation – Dublin Street/Victoria Avenue Intersection; Proposed Parking Restrictions; Proposed Bus Stop; Land Exchange – 180 Ridgway Street; Disposal of Recreation Reserve 9 Birch Place – Re-zoning from Reserves and Open Space to Residential; Disposal of Recreation Reserve 357 Somme Parade – Re-zoning from Reserves and Open Space to Residential; Schedule of Sealed Documents; Financial Commitments. Confidential Items: Receipt of Wanganui Inc's Six-month Report; Receipt of Wanganui District Council Holdings' Six-month Report; Future of Wanganui District Council Holdings' Directors; Rates Remission; Gonville Centre Proposal.

Council – Monday, April 7
- The Council will consider reports from all Committee meetings held in March.

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at 3.00pm in the Council Chamber, 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.