Energy Direct NZ, the gas and electricity retailer 100% owned by Wanganui District Council ratepayers, continues to provide support for the Wanganui community.

In addition to any profits being returned to ratepayers, in the form of a rates subsidy, Energy Direct provides sponsorship to many key organisations and events in the city. It also contributes to the economy through wages and payment for local services.

Energy Direct General Manager, Michael Ram, is delighted that the organisation is able to contribute in this way. He sees it as a way of thanking the thousands of customers who receive their gas supply, and increasingly electricity, from the company.

"Our current sponsorships include Wanganui Opera Week, the Virginia Lake lights, Wanganui Glass School, the Life Education Trust, and most recently the upcoming Masters Games. Sponsorship works for us as both a way of attracting new customers and supporting the community in which we are based and work. As a large Wanganui employer, we recognise our responsibilities to the wider community," he explains.

"As our customer base increases, we hope to be able to continue to develop our support of local and regional activities and events."

Next week, two students from UCOL's catering school will find out if they are the lucky recipients of an Energy Direct Swiss Exchange Scholarship. The scholarships contribute to the costs for students to travel to Switzerland for five weeks to study and gain restaurant experience. The scholarship is invaluable for the students and also attracts students to the Wanganui course, knowing that they may be able to benefit from this experience.

Energy Direct is also in its third year of sponsoring the Wanganui Coastguard unit. Coastguard units receive no government funding and sponsorship and donations are essential to their survival. Ty Cullagh, Unit President, appreciates how essential the funding they receive from Energy Direct is. "It goes a long way to running the unit – providing fuel, rescue equipment and anything else we need."

In addition to gas and electricity supply, Energy Direct also provides a one-stop shop for gas appliances and advice at its showroom in St Hill Street. It offers heating plans and advice for new builds or renovations, as well as a free visit to homes to make recommendations on efficient use of gas heating and appliances.

Wanganui has the highest gas connections per kilometre than anywhere else in the country, highlighting just how easy it is for anyone to get connected with Energy Direct.

Energy Direct NZ would like to thank all new customers who have switched their gas and electricity provision to us.

Switching to Energy Direct NZ is simple. Gas and electricity is still received through the same pipelines, power lines and meters. You will simply buy them from a local company. Energy Direct also offers a Dual Energy discount for customers who receive both gas and electricity, making fuel bills even less. If you are a gas only customer and would like us to provide your electricity as well, contact us and receive a $25.00 credit to your account when you switch.

If you would like to talk about switching your gas and electricity needs to Energy Direct NZ, phone (06) 349 0909 or call in to the showroom on St Hill Street.

Remember, Energy Direct is 100% Wanganui owned – who better to buy your energy from than yourself?

Wanganui's eDay 2008 will be held on Saturday, October 4. Volunteers are needed to work three-hour shifts during the day, unloading computer equipment from cars, directing traffic and conducting surveys of the people using the drop-off.

This is a great chance to contribute to an important event for Wanganui and make a difference by keeping Wanganui free from eWaste.

• Visit the website for more information about eDay and eWaste www.eday.org.nz.
• Call the Wanganui eDay 2008 co-coordinator Alistair Fraser on (06) 348 9504 to learn more and become involved.

In line with the Council's tree policy, 10 trees in Grey Street, between Liverpool and College streets, will be removed.

Over a long period of time, many of the silver birch trees in this section of Grey Street have decayed.

However, further planting will be undertaken in the 2009-10 season.

The replacement trees will provide a splash of colour in spring time, cooling hard surfaces and soften the landscape of the area.

Examples of the old trees and new plantings are pictured.

The Wanganui District Council recently proposed a new policy for leases of Council land and buildings to community organisations, presented at a workshop on 28 July 2008.

The Council now invites community organisations affected to provide feedback on the draft policy.

Consultation
Copies of the draft Community Organisation Leases Policy and the workshop presentation are available on this page.

The consultation period has been extended until Thursday, 28 August 2008.

Submissions are welcomed and should be addressed to:
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui 4540
Attn: Sarah Stuart

or delivered to our Customer Services Desk at 101 Guyton Street, faxed to (06) 349 0000, or emailed to Sarah Stuart.

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Thursday, 28 August 2008.

If you have any queries or require further information, please contact Sarah Stuart, Property Officer, at the District Council, telephone (06) 349 0001 or email Sarah Stuart.

The Wanganui District Council is proposing to amend the Wanganui District Council Bylaw 2005/1 to include a variable 40kph speed limit on Mosston Road between Tayforth Road and Buxton Road to operate during student arrival and departure times to provide a safer environment for schoolchildren.

We welcome your comments on the proposed amendment to the Speed Limit Bylaw. A Statement of Proposal and a submission form are available at the Council's Customer Services Desk.

You can make a submission by completing a submission form or you can make a verbal submission by phoning us on (06) 349 0001 (8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday).

If you have any queries, you can contact the Council on (06) 349 0001 or email us.

Submissions must reach the Wanganui District Council no later than 5.00pm on Friday, 29 August 2008.

The proposal is that Wanganui District Council becomes a shareholder in a Manawatu-Wanganui region Local Authority Shared Services CCO and that the form of the CCO is a limited liability company.

There will be seven shareholders, with a director from each local authority and up to three professional directors to supplement the expertise of the chief executives and the local authority directors. The councils involved are Horowhenua District Council, Manawatu District Council, Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council (Horizons), Rangitikei District Council, Ruapehu District Council, Tararua District Council and Wanganui District Council.

A Statement of Proposal, a Summary of the information and the proposal are available from the Customer Services Desk at the Wanganui District Council Municipal Building, 101 Guyton Street, and also at the District Library, Queens Park, during normal opening hours; and on this page.

Submissions are invited on the proposal.

Submissions may be made on the submission form available from the Customer Services Desk at the Wanganui District Council or the District Library, Queens Park.

Post submissions to:
Proposal to establish a Council Controlled Organisation
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui

Or deliver to:
Customer Service Desk
Wanganui District Council
101 Guyton Street
Wanganui

Fax to: (06) 349 0000
Or email us

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Friday, 22 August 2008.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Community Development – Thursday, August 21 (4.00pm, Committee Room 2)
- Community Contract Approvals.

Youth – Monday, August 25 (4.00pm)
- Appointment of New Youth Councillor; Boy Racers: Boredom or Bravado?; Recycling in Wanganui; Community Youth Development Initiative Funding Update; Action Group Updates; Youth Project Co-ordinator's Report; stepUP Conference; YMCA Wanganui; Wotz da haps?

Hearings – Tuesday, August 26 (9.00am, Committee Room 2)
- Resource Consent Application – demolition and site development at 11 Rutland Street, Wanganui.

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, August 27 (4.00pm, Committee Room 2)

Community Development – Tuesday, September 2

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, September 9

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.