Wanganui District Council has unanimously adopted a ground breaking policy on antisocial neighbours, which Mayor Michael Laws is hailing as "a seminal piece of policy".

The policy takes a zero tolerance approach to those people displaying continued antisocial and vexatious behaviour to their neighbours and the community.

The policy outlines a range of options that council can take against antisocial neighbours, including legal action and issuing significant fines.

Mayor Laws revealed that "the options were developed by council officers following the discovery of a flaw in current systems, which have allowed people to disturb their neighbours, for literally years, to escape through a loophole".

"This policy will have more influence on Wanganui than the riverfront development or the Port issue in terms of its impact upon individual lives and families here, and upon the family-friendly policy of our council.

"It is as wide ranging as anything this council will do for the community in the next 10 years.

"What it says is if you are destroying the value of life of people around you, to the point where people around you are unable to enjoy their own home, then this council will actively work against you to try and bring you to behave in a reasonable fashion.

"Council will work with the Police, landlords and a range of agencies to ensure this kind of behaviour no longer has the opportunity to destroy people's quality of life."

In addition to identifying a range of new actions, further investigations will take place to establish whether reasonable costs can be charged against the perpetrator/s for ongoing antisocial and vexatious behaviour to their neighbours and community.

A unique collection of political cartoons depicting Mayor Michael Laws will be on display in the Council Chamber from September 2.

The exhibition includes works by newspaper columnist and cartoonist Tom Scott, who has developed a reputation as one of the country's best cartoonists, focussing on the issues and the politicians of the moment, including Mayor Michael Laws.

Visitors to the Council Chambers will also be able to view the development of the Wanganui Story in stained glass. Eighteen windows have been completed and installed so far, with a total of 32 to complete the collection. The windows are designed by local artist Julie Greig and created by glass artist Greg Hall.

Each window celebrates a different aspect of Wanganui's history, including the rural community, sporting legends Billy Webb and Peter Snell, Wanganui icons the Watt Fountain and the PS Waimarie and the development of local industries.

The exhibition and stained glass windows are open for viewing at the following times:
Thursday, September 2 - 10.00am to 4.00pm
Monday, September 6, to Friday, September 10 - 10.00am to 4.00pm

Guided group tours are available but must be booked in advance. To arrange a tour call Diana Doyle, phone (06) 349 0001. Anyone interested in sponsoring a stained glass window should call Malcolm Hunt, Governance Services Manager, phone (06) 349 0001.

Wanganui District Council has adopted a new bylaw which designates a number of parks and reserves as smokefree public places.

The bylaw went out for public consultation and 92 submissions were received, of which 91 supported the introduction of a bylaw.

The following parks will now be designated as smokefree places:

Premier parks: Castlecliff Domain, Kowhai Park, Virginia Lake

Sports grounds: Cooks Gardens, Wembley Park, Springvale Park, Victoria Park, Peat Park, Braves Ballpark, Gonville Domain, Lundon Park, Williams Domain

Initially the bylaw will be enforced through education using health agencies and signage as a first step. The effectiveness of enforcement measures will be reviewed in six months.

From Saturday, September 4, Gonville Café Library in Abbot Street will be open on Saturdays.

At its Annual Plan deliberations in June this year, the council approved additional funding for the Library budget, which will enable Wanganui's newest library to open on Saturdays for a one-year trial period.

The Gonville Café Library is currently open from 9.30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, with more than 4000 people using its services every month. The library will also open between 10.00am to 2.00pm on Saturdays, increasing access for the whole community to this great council facility.

The library offers a wide selection of books including a children's section, café service and free internet. You can also return library books borrowed from the mobile library or Davis Library to Gonville and join up if you're not yet a member.

Gonville Café Library is located at 44 Abbot Street in the new Gonville Centre, just opposite the main Gonville shopping area.

Details about the following vacancies are available on this page:

For Our Kids Co-ordinator
Applications close 6 September 2010

Assistant Economic Development Manager
Applications close 6 September 2010

Visitor Centre Team Leader
Applications close 6 September 2010

Development Engineer
No closing date

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Youth – Monday, September 6 (4.00pm, Civil Defence Headquarters)
- $300ships; Make It. Take It.; Marketing the Youth Committee; Attending the National Youth Forum on Cultural Diversity; Involve 2010 Connect: Together We are Stronger; Emvee – Music Van; Projects, Working Party and General Updates; Youth Services Activity Report; Have Your Say; What's the haps?

Hearings – Monday, September 13 (12.30pm, Committee Room 2)
- Limited Notified Application from GHK Developments Ltd to extend the existing New Vista Rest Home at 127 Harrison Street, Wanganui.
- Limited Notified Application from Devon Homes NZ to retrospectively establish and operate a commercial activity in the Residential Zone at 165A Great North Road, 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.