One of Wanganui's busiest intersections is to be upgraded to enhance safety for cyclists.

Work will begin soon on improving the Dublin Street/Victoria Avenue intersection which has a high level of use by cyclists, particularly Wanganui Intermediate School students. View map (PDF, 117KB).

"It is a really busy intersection and, with so many schoolchildren on bikes in the area, we need to increase awareness of cyclists and improve safety," Finance and Infrastructure Committee Chair Dot McKinnon said.

"This will be the beginning of a series of improvements around Wanganui to better cater for cyclists in the long-term. We are looking at a 10-year programme of work to help promote cycling as a safe and sustainable form of transport."

The changes to the Dublin Street/Victoria Avenue intersection will be visual, rather than physical, and will have minimal impact on vehicles. They will link the existing cycling lanes across the junction, create space for cyclists and increase driver awareness of cyclists.

The new layout will allow cyclists to manoeuvre around vehicles to the front of each lane at the intersection and give them a 'head start' at the traffic signals. It is intended to introduce this system at the most hazardous city intersections on established cycle routes.

The work will cost $6000-8000, with a Land Transport New Zealand subsidy of 72% available.

Wanganui artists are once again opening their studios, giving the public the opportunity to see them at work over the next two weekends (March 29-30 and April 5-6) during the Whanganui Artists Open Studios event.

From internationally feted artists to enthusiastic amateurs, there will be a wide range of work to view including glass, sculpture, print making, jewellery, multimedia, painting and more. The studios will be open from 10.00am to 4.00pm each day.

There will also be a number of workshops and guided tours. Details of these are available in the programme and guide.

Programmes and location maps are available from the Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui Regional Museum, artists, cafes and i-SITE Visitor Information Centre. Or check the website www.whanganuiopenstudios.org.nz.

More jetsprint action is coming to Wanganui, with the North Island V8 Jetsprint Championship on Sunday, March 30.

The championship will be held at the Shelter View Jetsprint Track, 2km north of Upokongaro on State Highway 4. The venue will be signposted from Wanganui.

Gates open at 11am. Entry is $15.00 for adults; children under 12 free (must be accompanied by an adult). No pets allowed at the track.

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

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

Youth – Monday, April 14 (4.00pm)

Hearings – Thursday, April 17 (4.00pm, Committee Room 2) - to be confirmed.

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.