At a meeting on Monday, March 16, Wanganui District Council approved its Draft 10-Year Plan 2009-19. The plan will be made available for public consultation and comment before the council approves a final plan in June 2009.

The Draft 10-Year Plan also incorporates the issues for 'Referendum '09' including the groundbreaking decision to seek a referendum on the desired rates level for the 2009/10 financial year.

Unlike plans by Taupo District Council and Tauranga City Council, the council's plan has been approved by the Office of the Auditor-General.

Financials

Projected rates increases
A draft average rate rise of 4.9% has been promoted for the 2009/10 financial year, with rate rises of 4.5% and 4.6% suggested for the corresponding 2010/11 and 2011/12 financial years.

However, the council is providing alternatives for 2009/10 – a lower rate rise of 2%-3%, and a higher rate rise of 7%-8%, and it is seeking direct public input on this, via 'Referendum '09', asking residents to choose between the three options.

"What council is saying is that the medium rate of a 4.9% increase would keep staffing and service levels around the current configuration. A lesser sum will see some reductions in service or projects, and a higher increase some increase in service or projects," Mayor Michael Laws said.

"There are a range of opinions currently around the council table. In my view – in these economic circumstances and with our community starting to feel the impact of the global credit crisis – an average 4.9% rate increase is way too high. I favour a much lower figure – say, 1-2% for 2009/10 and also for 2010/11. But the council is asking the Wanganui public what they consider to be the best mix."

Debt peaks and then quickly declines
Due to the $120 million wastewater separation project reaching its conclusion – and the major shortfall in investment revenue – the council is projecting a maximum debt of $89.7 million in 2012/13. It will then fall quickly to $59.8 million by 2019/20.

Mayor Laws said that once the wastewater separation project was completed "then the council's debt drops by one-third. It will be a question for future councils if they reduce debt this quickly, or invest their monies in infrastructure and new projects. I think the current draft plan has it about right".

Reviews might cut council spending
The Draft 10-Year Plan also notes a number of reviews currently under way – with the aim of reducing council expenditure or getting better value for ratepayers' money. They are:

• Review of sportsgrounds, parks & reserves
• Review of council contracts
• Review of staffing levels & administrative costs
• An investigation of a anganui/Ruapehu unitary authority
• District Plan review

Most of these reviews are expected to report their conclusions back in time for the 2009/10 10-Year Plan deliberations in May/June. Others will report back in 2010/11.

"Council is looking at every dollar we spend and asking two basic questions. Do we need to be spending it … and, could we spend it better?"

Referendum '09 topics
Council has made the decision to broaden its consultation on the Draft 10-Year Plan by including a number of referendum topics. 'Referendum '09' will be held in conjunction and around 17,000 Wanganui residents are expected to vote.

"In the five years we've held the annual referendum, I doubt whether there have been any that is as important as 2009," Mayor Laws said. "Its conclusions will affect every Wanganui ratepayer and resident."

Pictured is the riverfront walkway, completed after the community voted in Referendum '05 for it to go-ahead. The riverfront area is a potential new location for the Visitor Information Centre. This will be one of the questions in Referendum '09.

The 'Referendum '09' questions are:

• Should the Visitor Information Centre be relocated to Moutoa Quay/Riverfront?
• Should a small levy be imposed on all businesses and households for the purpose of promoting Wanganui nationally – as a residence and a place to visit?
• Should the council sell Energy Direct, the retail trading arm of Wanganui Gas?
• Should council transfer ownership of part or all of its pensioner housing complexes?
• What level of rates increase would you like for 2009/10:
  Should it be low (2%-3%)?
  Should it be medium (4%-5%)?
  Should it be high (7%-8%)?
  Are you happy for council to decide?

"Every one of these issues is a major policy issue. We are looking for a steer from the community – and we will provide as much information as possible to ensure an informed choice."

The Wanganui District Library and the Wanganui Branch of the New Zealand Genealogical Society invite you to our "Spotlight on Scotland".

Research, revive or relive your Scottish heritage. Help with your research enquiries will be available and beginners are very welcome.

When: Saturday, 28 March 2009
Time: 10.00am to 4.00pm
Where: Alexander Heritage & Research Library, Queens Park, Wanganui
Entry: Free

This event is run in collaboration with the Wanganui Caledonian Society and the Wanganui Robert Burns Club.

For further information please contact: heritage@wanganuilibrary.com
Alexander Heritage & Research Library, phone (06) 349 1000.

The ninth Whanganui Artists Open Studios event will take place on March 21/22 and March 28/29, with more than 60 artists and arts collectives taking part.

The annual event provides an opportunity for artists to showcase their work to members of the public in their own studio spaces.

"The artists involved this year cover a wide range of genres, crafts and arts styles ranging from the conventional through to the avant garde and experimental," event co-ordinator Jo Ockey said. "A wide diversity of artists will be represented, a sign of the growing strength of the arts community in Wanganui."

Artists will also be exhibiting in some unusual spaces, such as the Ward Observatory. Jeni Rosenthal is using the dome structure of the observatory to display work which explores the concept of distances, on an intergalactic scale.

As well as visiting studios, visitors will also have the opportunity to take part in a variety of workshops, tours and events. These include glass blowing and candlemaking workshops and an Old Town Architectural Tour on Saturday, March 21. Registrations for workshops can be made at www.whanganuiopenstudios.org.nz.

Wanganui District Council has supported the Open Studios Event through the Impact Fund.

The 2009 Wanganui Festival of Glass will be held from September 19 to October 4.

It will include glass displays on Victoria Avenue, camera club exhibition, heritage windows tour and workshops.

The Wanganui Glass Group would like to thank two of their major sponsors for the 2008 Festival – Powerco Wanganui Trust and Whanganui Community Foundation.

Provision of additional parking near the new UCOL campus in the Old Town area is moving another step forward with the installation of parking meters.

Pay and display meters are being installed in Rutland Street and Drews Avenue and will be active from Monday, March 23. Parking charges will be the same as for other central city side streets - $1 per hour. You can use cash or your credit card or cellphone to pay the parking fee. 101 parking spaces will be controlled by the meters.

Installation of meters should ensure parking becomes available throughout the day, rather than motorists parking all day in the streets around UCOL.

If you have any queries, please ring the Council's Parking Team on 349 0001.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, April 1 (4.00pm, Committee Room 2)

Youth – Monday, April 6 (4.00pm)

Hearing by Independent Commissioner – Tuesday, April 7 (10.30am, Committee Room 2)
- Windsor Park Plan Change

Community Development – Tuesday, April 7 (2.00pm)

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.