The Wanganui District Council has prepared its Draft Annual Plan 2008/09 – and now it's time for you to have your say.

Mayor Michael Laws has this message for residents about the draft plan and the coming financial year:

These are difficult times for both the local economy and for your council.

High interest rates, the summer drought, poor commodity prices and the high Kiwi dollar will all make for a tough next 12 months.

In addition, the council has suffered severe reverses in its revenue base. Wanganui Gas has reported that it is unlikely to provide a dividend for three years due to severe trading conditions. In addition, council's forestry dividends are expected to be nil, as prices make milling uneconomic. The combined effect is to remove around $2.7 million from the council's revenue in 2008/09. Those gas/forestry dividends directly subsidise rates.

The simple solution would have been to raise rates to balance the lost dividends. That would have meant average rates increases of well above 12%-13%. Council has unanimously rejected that option. We have instead decided to cut council spending, delay major capital expenditure items and generally look for increased internal efficiencies.

This draft Annual Plan reflects those policy decisions. The average rate increase is just above 3% - the second lowest in the country. This means that over the past four years, the total average rate increase is just above 8% total – or 2% per annum. This is a considerable achievement.

As well, we will still be undertaking significant projects that benefit the wider community - including establishing and maintaining a Graffiti/Litter Taskforce, and inaugurating the Gateway Project. This project will aim to boost the functionality and beauty of all the entranceways to Wanganui – our daily chance to market ourselves to the rest of New Zealand.

Now is your chance to have your say. We look forward to hearing your ideas, comments or alternative options.

The Draft Annual Plan is open for public submissions from 28 March 2008 until 2 May 2008.

Contact the Council's Customer Service Team or visit the District Library or this page for copies of our draft plan and submission forms. A summary of the draft plan will be delivered to households in the coming weeks.

The by-election for a new Wanganui District Councillor will be held in June.

A by-election is required following the resignation of Cr Marty Lindsay who is taking up a career opportunity in Australia.

Wanganui District Council Electoral Officer Noeline Moosman has set the by-election date for Saturday, June 21.

Nominations for candidates will open on Friday, April 4, and close at 12 noon on Friday, May 2. Nomination forms are available from the Electoral Officer.

Voting will be by postal voting. The voting period will be from Friday, 30 May 2008, to 12 noon Saturday, 21 June 2008.

More information is available on this page.

Wanganui artists are once again opening their studios, giving the public the opportunity to see them at work this weekend (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.

The Wanganui Community Patrol is still looking for new recruits who want to help make Wanganui a safer place.

Community patrols act as 'eyes and ears' for the Police. Working in pairs, the patrol notes anything that could be suspicious. There are teams patrolling Wanganui's streets four nights a week and there are also daytime patrols.

Applicants are vetted by the Police before becoming patrol members and must complete a period of training where they work with those who are already trained.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please phone 349 0495, 345 3528 or 349 0600.

The Wanganui Community Patrol AGM will be held at 7.30pm on Monday, April 14, at the Police Station.

All are welcome to the AGM of the Mowhanau Community Society on Wednesday, April 9. The main topic for discussion this year will be the replacement of Archers Bridge.

A decision has to be made whether:
1. a bridge is built across Kai Iwi stream
2. a ford is laid across Kai Iwi stream
3. nothing is done at all.

This topic affects all those in Wanganui who go north over Kai Iwi stream.

Come along and have your say.

Irving Mckechnie
President
Mowhanau Community Society

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.

Vacancy

Details of the following vacancy are available on this page:

Senior Property Officer
Applications close 21 April 2008

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)
- Appointment of Youth Councillors; Wanganui Restorative Justice Trust; Youth Access to Alcohol; Aspiring Leaders Forum; Youth Committee Brainstorming Session; Youth Week 26 May to 1 June 2008; Youth Project Co-ordinator's Report.

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

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, April 23 (4.00pm, Committee Room 2)

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.