Voting has started in Referendum '09 and the response rate has so far topped 22% of eligible voters. If you haven't voted yet there is still time with voting closing on Thursday, May 21, at 5.00pm.

Residents are being asked to vote on six questions in Referendum '09:

Which spelling would you prefer for our city and district -
Wanganui or Whanganui?
The referendum results on this question will be conveyed to the New Zealand Geographic Board and the Minister of Land Information as a direct submission from the people of Wanganui.

Should the Visitor Information Centre be relocated to Moutoa Quay/Riverfront?
The Visitor Information Centre, currently located next to the Council Building, has limited space, is poorly sited for visitors and no longer suitable for its purpose. Council owns land and buildings in the Moutoa Quay/Riverfront area, identified as an ideal site for a new and upgraded Visitor Information Centre. The development of a new Visitor Centre in a riverfront location is planned for in the 2010/11 financial year at a projected cost of $1.03M – to be funded by loan over 25 years. The individual cost to residential ratepayers would be an average of $1.15 per year.

Should a small levy be imposed upon all businesses and households for the purpose of promoting Wanganui nationally – as a residence and a place to visit?
Wanganui residents know that the city is a great place to live and work – but we need to tell the rest of New Zealand. We need to attract more people to live and work here and combat our declining population. Fewer people means less services and higher rates. Council is proposing a promotional levy of $5.00 per household per year and $50.00 per business per year. This would generate approximately $180,000 per year to spend on image-building, promotional and advertising campaigns. It would begin in the 2009/10 financial year.

Should the council see Energy Direct, the retail trading arm of Wanganui Gas?
Energy Direct is the retail arm of Wanganui Gas and sells gas and electricity services to residents and businesses. There is no proposal to sell Wanganui Gas or GasNet, both of which have made profits in recent years. Energy Direct has lost considerable monies over the past two years and this has reduced Wanganui Gas' annual dividend to nil. Proceeds from any sale would be used to reduce Wanganui Gas' debt and would also lead to estimated dividends of $1.5M per year from Wanganui Gas and GasNet.

Should the council transfer ownership of part or all of its pensioner housing complexes?
The council currently provides social housing for elderly people with modest financial means. Council is considering whether it should continue to provide social housing at this level over the next 10 years, or look at opportunities to transfer ownership of part or all of the complexes to charitable organisations.

Which average rates increase for 2009/10 do you consider to be in the best interest of our community?
Council is giving you the opportunity to tell us what average rate increase for 2009/10 you consider to be in the best interest of our community. The options are:

• 3% – this would exclude some items from the Draft 10-Year Plan 2009-2019.
• Approximately 5% – this would include all proposals outlined in the Draft 10-Year Plan 2009-2019.
• 7% – this would include all proposals outlined in the Draft 10-Year Plan 2009-2019 plus the riverfront walkway from Bates Street to Moutoa Quay ($2M between 2009/10 and 2011/12).
• It is council's responsibility to set the level of average rate increase.

All of the questions in Referendum '09 have an impact on everyone in Wanganui. Make sure you have your say and vote in Referendum '09. Further information about Referendum '09 can be found here.

There is also time to make a submission on the Draft 10-Year Plan 2009-2019. See details below.

The Wanganui District Council has prepared its Draft 10-Year Plan 2009-2019 – and now you have the chance to have your say.

The Draft 10-Year Plan is open for public submissions from 14 April 2009 until 21 May 2009.

A Draft 10-Year Plan Summary will be posted to everyone registered on the Wanganui electoral roll. This document outlines the key information in the Draft 10-Year Plan.

Referendum '09 is being held in conjunction with the Draft 10-Year Plan consultation. Voting papers, and a reply-paid envelope, will be included in the pack posted to registered voters in late April.

Issues for Referendum '09 include:

• Spelling of Wanganui
• Relocation of the Visitor Information Centre
• A small levy to promote Wanganui nationally
• Potential sale of Energy Direct, the retail trading arm of Wanganui Gas
• Potential transfer of ownership of part or all of Council's pensioner housing complexes
• Preferred rates increase for 2009/10

If you want more detailed information about the Draft 10-Year Plan 2009-2019, copies of the plan are available:

• From the Customer Services Desk at the Council building, 101 Guyton Street, or by phoning Customer Services on (06) 349 0001.
• From the Wanganui District Library.
• On this page
• By emailing us

Submissions can be made in the following ways:

Post to: Draft 10-Year Plan Submissions, Wanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Wanganui
Fax to: (06) 349 0000
Deliver to: Customer Services Desk, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui
Email us
Online

Please remember to include your name, contact details and whether you want to speak about your submission at the hearings on June 2 and 4.

All submissions will be acknowledged and considered by the Council. Copies of each submission will be made publicly available when the Council considers submissions.

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Thursday, 21 May 2009.

On Saturday, May 9, Wanganui District Library is holding its Annual Storybook Character Hunt to celebrate New Zealand Post Book Awards week.

Meg the Witch has cast a spell which went wrong and 27 of her friends have been scattered all over Queens Park. Meg needs your help to find her friends – all characters from popular storybooks. You might find yourself distracted along the way by blowing huge bubbles with the Wizard of Oz, or sharing your afternoon tea with the Mad Hatter (bring your own to share). Read more (PDF, 1.6MB)

This is the third Storybook Character Hunt run by the Library and last year more than 260 people participated. So come along and join in this free fun-filled event - everyone is welcome. The Hunt starts at 2.00pm in the Library Courtyard (or if it's raining in the sound shell in Victoria Avenue).

The Council has resolved to carry out consultation on the Draft Heads Road Cemetery Management Plan and the Plaques and Memorials discussion paper.

The Council invites the public to provide feedback on the two documents.

The objective of the Draft Heads Road Cemetery Management Plan is:

• To guide the appropriate management of the Heads Road Cemetery, allowing for a variety of functions.

The objective of the Plaques and Memorials Policy discussion paper is:

• To develop appropriate policy to guide the placement of plaques and memorials in public places within the District.

Consultation
Copies of the documents are available for public inspection, during normal working hours (Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm) at the Customer Service Desk, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, the District Library, Queens Park, Wanganui, and on this page.

The consultation period is 30 April 2009 to 30 June 2009.

Submissions are welcomed and should be addressed to:

Clive Aim
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui 4540

Other methods of delivering your submission:

• Deliver to the Customer Service Desk, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street
• Fax to (06) 349 0000
• E-mail us

If you have any queries or require further information, please contact Clive Aim at Wanganui District Council, phone (06) 349 0001 ext. 8102 or email Clive Aim.

Details of the following vacancy are available on this page:

PA to Finance & Corporate Services Manager/Deputy Chief Executive
Applications close 17 May 2009

Fundraising for Hospice and Wanganui Festival of Glass. Read more (PDF, 54KB).

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, May 13 (Committee Room 2, 4.00pm)
- Rural Fire Force Annual Report 2008/09; Wanganui District Bylaw Part 4 – Animal Control Review; Dog Control Fees 2009/10; Rural Road Strategy; Rural Support Trust; Maxwell Water Supply; Whanganui River Road – Separate Works Rate. Confidential Item: Actions Arising from Previous Minutes.

Community Development – Tuesday, May 19

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, May 26

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.