Referendum '08 is your opportunity to have a real influence upon the Council and your community, by choosing which projects you would like to be the Council's priority over the next few years.

A referendum newsletter has been sent out, and voting papers will arrive in letterboxes from November 14. Voting closes on Saturday, 6 December 2008. This week, we look in more detail at the Kowhai Park project.

Kowhai Park Development

The aim is to build upon our existing and iconic playground, and create the best play facility in New Zealand, for the benefit of local residents and to attract visitors from outside Wanganui. The project supports the Council's family-friendly vision and will rebrand Kowhai Park as an iconic and fun feature of the city.

The development will create different 'worlds', highlighting play facilities for kids of different ages – from toddlers to teenagers. The redevelopment will include a new family picnic, barbecue and refreshment area, a café, upgraded toilet facilities, an extended Tot Town railway, an undercover and all-weather toddlers' area plus enhanced adventure areas and a first-class BMX track.

Wanganui is suffering from a declining population and attracting new families to settle in the city is essential to the region's long-term health and survival. The project to develop Kowhai Park is a key initiative which will contribute to stopping this downward trend as well as provide a high quality, free and safe facility for the whole community.

If you would like to see this iconic playground developed, make sure you have your say and vote in Referendum '08.

What will it cost?
Total capital costs: $4.9m
Capital cost to Council: $2.25m
(assumes $2.6m in donations, community funding and sponsorship)
Operational (on-going) costs to Council $131,000
Total additional cost to ratepayer per year $18.28
The cost-per-ratepayer calculations are based upon Council borrowing the funding required and paying back both capital and interest over a 25 year period.

Leonie Brookhammer is an advocate of the Kowhai Park development.

"Everyone agrees that Kowhai Park is an iconic part of Wanganui. Generations of children have enjoyed a playground that was the pride of the city, and the result of hard work and forward thinking by those who designed and built it. Perhaps in the 1960s, not everyone agreed a themed children's playground was a worthwhile project. But it went ahead and the resulting park was ahead of its time and attracted children from all over the lower North Island.

"There can be nothing better for our youngsters than the ability to get outside, get active and have fun, whether they are toddlers or teens. We have the chance to show Wanganui's smallest residents that the community cares about them too. With a focus on our city being Family Friendly, and fit, this referendum project is worthy of your support.

"Now, we have the opportunity to develop the park and see it fulfils the needs of tomorrow's children and teenagers too. We can improve the facilities and attractions to appeal to even more people. Kowhai Park was truly the work of visionaries at the time. They saw a need as we see one now. Let's continue their efforts and make them, and all of our city, every bit as proud of our park as they were when they built it."

You're invited to attend a community meeting to hear about Referendum '08.

Polling day for the referendum is 6 December 2008. You will be asked to vote on four possible projects:

• Events Centre/Velodrome
• Kowhai Park development
• Library – a new building or upgrade
• Mosston Road upgrade/Fitzherbert Avenue extension

The community meetings, where you'll hear more about each of the projects, will be held:

More information is available on this page.

Voting papers will be posted on November 14-19. Wanganui District residents who are on the electoral roll will be eligible to vote in the referendum.

Steelform Wanganui, New Zealand's Heartland Rugby Champions for 2008, will be awarded Freedom of the City this Friday.

The event kicks off with a street parade at 4.00pm, travelling along Victoria Avenue from Ridgway Street to Guyton Street, then turning into Guyton Street and finishing at the Council building on the Guyton/St Hill Street corner at 4.30pm.

Steelform Wanganui team members, junior rugby players, schoolchildren, the Air Force Band, vintage cars and a double-decker bus will parade to the Council Building, where Mayor Laws will welcome the team on their arrival. There will be an opportunity for autographs before the invitation-only civic reception to award the team Freedom of the City. So head along to Victoria Avenue on Friday afternoon and show your support for our boys – they are legends! Let's celebrate together.

Please be aware that if you park in Victoria Avenue or are driving through the CBD between 3.30pm to 4.30pm on Friday afternoon, there may be some traffic delays during the parade. If at all possible, please use other parking areas or routes.

A reminder to all ratepayers that the due date for payment of Instalment 2 is Wednesday, 19 November 2008. Please ensure payments reach our office by close of business on this day.

Council offers direct debit as a method of payment. Frequency of payments can be weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or yearly. Please contact the rates department for further information, phone (06) 349 0519.

Maintenance work on the Sarjeant Gallery, as outlined in the 10-Year Plan, is due to commence in November 2008. Repairs to the parapets will involve erecting scaffolding around the building. Scaffolding will also be used to repair the Oamaru stone on the front wall. Work will include the restoration of roof skylights, upgrading fire alarms and toilets, and upgrading the workshop exterior wall.

The Sarjeant Gallery will remain open during this work, which will be carried out with minimal disruption to the public. The Gallery apologises for any inconvenience during this period.

On 3 November 2008, the Wanganui District Council approved the Draft Wanganui District Council Cemetery Monument Policy for public consultation. The Council invites the public to provide feedback on the draft policy. The objective of the Wanganui District Council Cemetery Monument Policy is:

• To provide standards and certainty for all in relation to monuments and adornments at Council owned cemeteries.

Consultation
Copies of the Wanganui District Council Cemetery Monument Policy and submission forms are available for public inspection, during normal working hours, at the Customer Services Counter at Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, the District Library, Queens Park, Wanganui, and on this page.

The consultation period is from 4 November 2008 to 18 December 2008.

Submissions are welcomed and should be addressed to:
Cemetery Monument Policy
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui 4540

Other methods of delivering your submission:

• Deliver to the Customer Services Counter at 101 Guyton Street
• Fax to the Council on (06) 349 0000
• Email us

If you have any queries or require further information, please contact Marie Gorinski at Wanganui District Council, phone (06) 349 0001 extn 8066 or email Marie Gorinski.

Submissions close on Thursday, 18 December 2008, at 5.00pm.

Wanganui District Council is proposing to introduce a Neighbour Responsibility Bylaw.

The proposed Wanganui District Council Neighbour Responsibility Bylaw 2008 ("the Bylaw") seeks to regulate and manage activity on private property that may interfere with a person's right to the beneficial use and ordinary enjoyment of their land.

The Bylaw specifically seeks to provide protection to the community from nuisances caused by noise including intruder alarm systems, graffiti, litter, public health matters and offensive materials.

Submissions may be made on the proposal.

Copies of the Summary of Information, Statement of Proposal, the Neighbour Responsibility Bylaw 2008 and also submission forms, are available from the Customer Services Counter at the Wanganui District Council Municipal Building, 101 Guyton Street and at the District Library, Queens Park during normal opening hours. The documents are also available on this page, by emailing us or by telephoning Customer Services on (06) 349 0001.

Submissions should be addressed to:
The Chief Executive
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Monday, 1 December 2008.

Wanganui District Council is proposing to introduce a Water Supply Bylaw.

Council has determined that the most appropriate way to address the management of water supplies, owned and operated by the Council, is by way of Bylaw in the proposed form.

Submissions may be made on the proposal.

Copies of the Proposed Water Supply Bylaw Statement of Proposal, the Draft Water Supply Bylaw and also submission forms, are available from the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, and at the District Library, Queens Park, during normal opening hours. The documents are also available by emailing us or by telephoning Customer Services on (06) 349 0001.

Submissions should be addressed to:

The Chief Executive
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
101 Guyton Street
Wanganui

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Friday, 14 November 2008.

Details of the following vacancy are available on this page:

Information Services Manager
Applications close 17 November 2008

Mowhanau residents are invited to attend a meeting with Wanganui Rural Community Board representatives to discuss a range of matters.

When: 7.00pm Thursday, 20 November 2008
Where: Mowhanau-Rapanui Community Hall

The Board looks forward to meeting the community and hearing its views.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council – Monday, November 17 (2.00pm)
- The purpose of the meeting is to select the new Wanganui District Council Chief Executive. The meeting will be held with the public excluded.

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, November 19 (Committee Room 2, 4.00pm)

Community Development Committee – Tuesday, November 25

Council – Friday, November 28 (4.00pm)
- Consideration of 10-Year Plan policy issues. The meeting is expected to be held with the public excluded.

Youth Committee – Monday, December 1 (4.00pm)

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, December 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.