After extensive public consultation and considerable council debate, the council has made a decision to proceed with establishing a new Visitor Centre.

It will be sited at 31 Taupo Quay and utilise an existing heritage building. The contract was let to Gemini Pepper for $2.03M and the Visitor Centre will be opened in mid-September of this year.

Last year, in its 10-Year Plan 2009-2019, the council clearly indicated that a much needed visitor centre would be built. It estimated that cost at $1.6M based upon the design chosen.

The Visitor Centre will be the "front door for Wanganui" says Mayor Michael Laws. It will complement the redesign of the southern entranceway (SH3 from Marybank to Putiki) and a national image and promotional campaign.

"All three concepts dovetail with each other. We need to attract new visitors to Wanganui but also new businesses and new residents. We must arrest the population decline that we have experienced since 1991."

At a recent council meeting, council resolved to accept the lowest tender for the new centre. That was priced at $2.03M - $400,000 higher than estimates.

"We are expecting some external funding for the Centre - specifically for the audio-visual displays, the exhibition space and 'The Wanganui Story' history. Our aim is to produce a total experience, as well as an enticing entree to our fabulous city and region."

Mayor Laws says that the new Visitor Centre "will achieve the same iconic status as our revamped Splash Centre and riverfront walkway. It will be the best in the country".

At a Citizenship Ceremony on Monday, April 19, Mayor Michael Laws, local MP Chester Borrows and councillors welcomed 30 new citizens to Wanganui. Click on the photo to see a larger image.

The Mayor presented the new citizens with their certificate of New Zealand Citizenship and gifts to commemorate the occasion. The ceremony was followed by afternoon tea for the new citizens and their guests.

The new citizens and their original nationalities are:

Mr Lemaki Malamala Curulala - Fijian
Ms Adi Litia Monomono Katonivere - Fijian
Mr Allan Ralph Hays - British
Mrs Kathleen Patricia Mary Hays - British
Ms Lihua Huang - Chinese
Mr Zhaoming Huang - Chinese
Mr Tom Jones - British
Mr George McLean - British
Mr Stephen Victor Rayner - British
Mrs Marlene Rubianes Rennie - Filipino
Mr Joel Landazabal Sarrosa - Filipino
Mr Pritam Singh - Fijian
Mrs Feeroza Khatun - Fijian
Mr Colin Edward Styles - British
Miss Jessica Staum Surtees - Zimbabwean
Mrs Alison Ruth Buchan - British
Mr Jonathan Buchan - British
Miss Abigail Ruth Buchan - British
Miss Amelia Hannah Buchan - British
Mrs Michelle Rosemary Buys - South African
Mr Anton Buys - South African
Mr Michael Anthony Buys - South African
Ms Kirsten Leigh Buys - South African
Mr Abraham Campbell - Turkish
Miss Danya Mahni Douglass - Malaysian
Miss Claire Frances Jordan - South African
Mr Suhas Prasad - Indian
Mrs Swati Sudhakar Ingole - Indian
Miss Delia Williams - British
Mr Matthew Jeffery Williams - British

Mayor Michael Laws will attend and officiate at the Dawn Parade Anzac Service at the Cenotaph and Memorial Hall. He will be accompanied by Wanganui District Council Chief Executive Kevin Ross. The service is at 5.30am.

The Maxwell Anzac Day service will be held at the Maxwell Memorial at 9.30am. Community Board member Alan Taylor will represent council at the Maxwell service.

If wet, the service will be held in the Maxwell Hall. An invitation to attend the service is extended to residents and the public.

NZ 28 Maori Battalion Association Whanganui Branch (D Coy) invited councillors to attend the Pakaitore Moutoa Gardens service at 11.00am. Cr Rana Waitai and Cr Rangi Wills will represent council at this service.

On Monday, April 26, at 7.00pm local people are invited to join in the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the War Memorial Hall which took place on Anzac Day 1960.

Organised by the Whanganui Branch of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, the event takes place in the Pioneer Room at the War Memorial Hall.

The Government's review of the Historic Places Act 1993 proposes the disestablishment of local branches of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and this event will also give people an opportunity to discuss the potential for new arrangements for heritage activities in the Wanganui area.

The meeting is open to everyone with an interest in heritage matters.

To assist with catering please let Wendy Pettigrew know if you plan to attend by phoning (06) 347 2575 or email wendykp@xtra.co.nz.

The Wanganui District Council has prepared its draft Annual Plan 2010/11 and now it's time for you to have your say.

The draft Annual Plan is now open for public submissions until 14 May 2010.

A draft Annual Plan Summary will be delivered to all households. This document outlines the key information in the draft Annual Plan. It will also tell you how to make a submission.

If you want more detailed information, copies of the draft plan are available:

• From the Customer Services Counter 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 Annual Plan Submissions, Wanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Wanganui 4540
Fax to: (06) 349 0000
Deliver to: Customer Services Counter, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui
Email us

Please remember to include your name, contact details and whether you want to speak about your submission at the hearing on May 31.

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

Details about the following vacancy are available on this page:

Development Engineer

The Wanganui District Council is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council – Monday, April 26 (Council Chamber, 3.00pm)
- The Council will consider the reports from Committee meetings held in March and April 2010 along with reports direct to Council – Tawhero Driving Range – Golf Balls – Society of St Pius X; Submission to Horizons Regional Council Draft Annual Plan 2010/11; Application to Relocate Pedestrian Crossing, 71 Victoria Avenue. Confidential: PS Waimarie Update, Wanganui District Council Holdings Ltd Report; Chief Executive's Report.

Youth – Tuesday, May 4 (Council Chamber, 4.00pm) - please note change of date

Hearings – Thursday, May 6 (Committee Room 2 – time to be confirmed)

Wanganui Rural Community Board – Wednesday, May 12 (Committee Room 2, 4.00pm)

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.