We support the provision of a Museum
To preserve a record of Wanganui's ongoing history.
To tell Wanganui's story through permanent and changing exhibitions relating to human and natural history.

How this service is provided
The Whanganui Regional Museum building is located in Queens Park and is maintained for the collection, storage and exhibition of the Museum's own collections and borrowed material. The Museum has a comprehensive collection of New Zealand and international material relating to human and natural history. The current collection gives priority to material with Wanganui connections. It cares for a significant collection of Maori taonga, mainly connected with local Iwi.

Services provided

1. Acquiring, documenting and preserving the Museum collection.
2. Responding to individual requests for information based on Museum collections, including archives.
3. Helping and advising individuals, organisations, businesses, community groups and smaller museums on how to care for and protect cultural heritage.
4. Developing long-term exhibitions, and an annual programme of changing exhibitions which presents the story of Wanganui's natural and human history for local, national and international visitors.
5. Developing education and public events programmes based on the Museum's collections, exhibitions and functions, aimed at students at all levels and the general community.
6. Managing the Museum's physical, financial, human resources and administrative services, and promoting the Museum.

Hours
Visitor access to the Museum seven days per week - 10am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday, and 1pm to 4.30pm on Sunday and public holidays. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Archive services available to the public - 10am to 1pm Monday to Friday and on request by appointment.

Cost
The average ratepayer pays $45 per year.
In addition, entrance fees are as follows:

The last Sunday of every month is a free entry day.

Further information is available from Keith Hindson, phone 349 0001, email Keith Hindson.

The Council has prepared a Statement of Proposal under the Local Government Act 2002. The Statement of Proposal incorporates the Council's Long-term Council Community Plan and Service Management Plan for 2003-2013. The requirements of the new Act replace the former Annual Plan process.

The Statement of Proposal is open for public submissions from 24 April 2003 until 30 May 2003.

Copies of the draft plans, and a summary document which outlines the key information in the draft plans, are available:

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

All submissions will be acknowledged and considered by the Council. Copies of each submission will be made publicly available when the Council considers submissions. Submitters will have the opportunity to be heard in relation to their submission if they wish. You can make an online submission on our Have Your Say page.

Key dates

The plan (known as the LTCCP) covers a period of 10 years (2003-2013) and contains the following important aspects:

• 10-year financial projections
• Community outcomes and priorities
• Revenue and financing policy
• Liability management policy
• Investment management policy
• Policy on determining significance
• Policy on public private partnerships
• Policy on rates remissions on Maori freehold land
• Policy on development contributions
• Details of rates proposed for the year commencing on 1 July 2003

The draft plan is currently open for public consultation. Submissions close on 30 May 2003.

Financial information
Key points in the draft plan are:

Council debt is projected to peak at $47.8M.
Rates are proposed to increase by 6.81% to $28.5M in 2003/04. (This is total rates which includes the general rate and all separate rates).
Total expenditure is projected to be $52.1M in 2003/04.
The following facilities renewals projects have a contribution from the Council during the 10-year period:

• Sarjeant Gallery
• Splash Centre upgrade and expansion
• Library expansion
• Regional Museum extension
• Memorial Hall upgrade
• Mainstreet/Central Business District

Financial projections
The draft LTCCP proposes a 6.81% increase in total rates for the 2003/04 financial year.

In previous years the Council has stated that the sustainable level of funding for the general rate is in the order of $17.6M per annum. Our current projection puts this figure closer to $19M (for the equivalent functions. Note that some are proposed to move to targeted rates for 2003/04). It was expected that funding had achieved a sustainable level and that increases at the rate of inflation would be sufficient to take us forward into the future. However, the Council has faced significant increases in insurance, electricity and contracting costs in this financial year which have challenged that assumption if we are to maintain the current service standards.

The Council believes it is important for service levels to be maintained and for this to be achieved more funding is needed for the Roading function. There has been some concern expressed within the rural community about the standard of rural roads and the Council has responded to this concern by increasing the funding for this function from $3.55M in 2002/03 to $4.1M in 2003/04 and up to a sustainable level of $4.4M into the future.

In this plan we have also recognised some of the capital programme that will need to be put in place to continue to maintain the service standards and assets into the future. Funding has been included for the refurbishment and extension of the Sarjeant Gallery, Splash Centre, Library and Regional Museum. Funding has also been included for upgrading the Central Business District and Memorial Hall within the 10-year period.

The wastewater project is continuing to have an impact on the work programme and the debt. The addition of capital works and inflation to the work programme over the next eight years has added $5M to our projected debt peak. The Council is now predicting debt to peak at just under $48M compared with $43M in last year's plan. The Council is aware that this places an increased debt servicing cost on the community and this affects our ability to undertake some future works if the debt cost gets too high. The Council is treading a fine balance between delaying renewals work to allow debt to reduce and progressing the community by enhancing and renewing our current facilities.

New initiatives
The Council is not proposing any new initiatives within this plan; rather, it is a continuation of the concept of gradual improvement. The new capital and renewals works within the budget do not indicate significant increases in service standards but rather maintenance of the current standards within better facilities.

Rates
Rates are proposed to rise by 6.81% overall in 2003/04. There are some important changes to how rates will be set and these are summarised as:

1. The general rate will be reduced and several of the services contained within the general rate last year will now be on separate rates. The general rate will continue to be on a differential basis but the differentials for multi unit properties will be dropped. A uniform annual general charge of $50 will apply to each property.
2. The Council is proposing to introduce a targeted rate to fund community facilities. This rate will be approximately $330 per separately used or inhabited part of a rating unit. It will fund the following services:
   Library, Sarjeant Gallery, Regional Museum, swimming pools, sports grounds, Opera House, War Memorial Hall, parks and reserves, minor transport, community buildings and rural halls, Central Business District services (public good portion). Income from investments is proposed to be applied to this activity for the purpose of setting rates.
3. A targeted rate is proposed for the footpaths and roading activities. This rate will be set on capital value of all properties within the District. It will be set differentially with commercial properties paying a loading of 140% and all other properties paying a base rate. The purpose of the differential is to achieve a revenue allocation in line with the Council's funding policy splits.
4. Water will continue to be a targeted rate on the same basis as last year. For urban consumers that means a uniform annual charge on each separately used or inhabited part of a rating unit, plus a capital value charge to maintain the firefighting capacity within the urban area.
5. Sewage disposal will be on a uniform charge per separately used or inhabited portion of property for all residential properties. A charge per pan will apply to all non-residential properties connected to the system.
6. Stormwater disposal will continue to be a capital value rate.

Next week: More information on the Council's groups of activities and the policies in the draft plan.

May 3: Wanganui Music Festival
Venue: Majestic Square. 11am-12noon. Every Saturday in May. Celebrating New Zealand Music Month.

May 3: Gonville Cottage Craft Industries Market
Venue: Gonville Town Hall, Tawa Street. 10am-3pm.

May 3: Rivercity Markets
Venue: Wanganui Racecourse. 8am-1pm.

May 4: Wanganui Music Festival
Venue: Virginia Lake Punchbowl. 11am-4pm.

May 4: Round the Bridges River Run
9.30am start. 4km, 7km or 11km. Walk, run, skate or bike.

May 4: The Nutcracker - Imperial Russian Ballet
Venue: Royal Wanganui Opera House. 7.30pm.

Throughout May:
A wide range of exhibitions at the Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui Regional Museum and other galleries.

More information about things to do in the Wanganui District is available from the i-Site Wanganui Visitor Centre, 101 Guyton Street.

Are you holding a conference or event that will bring visitors to Wanganui? The Council has a "Welcome to Wanganui" banner available for community use. The banner (pictured) is three metres long and is available free of charge. If you are interested in booking the banner for your event, please contact the Customer Services Desk, phone 349 0001.

Stormwater Compliance Officer, Environmental Services
Applications close: 9 May 2003

Library Collection Developer, Wanganui District Library
Applications close: 9 May 2003

The conservatory and outdoor area at the Winter Gardens will be closed from April 22 for re-roofing and maintenance work.

We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and anticipate that you will enjoy the new displays when we re-open.

We expect that the Winter Gardens will re-open in four to five weeks. We will keep you informed.

Wanganui District Library presents

You Won't Die Laughing

What is stress costing your business:
Mistakes
Sick days
Lost production
Low energy

…with international presenters Patricia Cameron-Hill and Shane Yates

A wonderful opportunity to reward your staff by sending them to this business seminar full of learning, fun and laughter.

Financial Assistance to Arts and Cultural Activities

TE MAHI TAHA TOI ME TE MAHI WHAKANGAHAU MO TENEI WAHI
MO NGA ROPU KEI TE PIRANGI MONI AWHINATIA MO TE MAHI
TAHA TOI ME TE MAHI WHAKANGAHAU

Applications for financial assistance under the Creative New Zealand Local Arts Funding Scheme are now being called for.

Approximately $15,500 is available for distribution to arts and cultural activity groups, organisations and individuals, based in the Wanganui District Council area. (Applications from individuals must indicate community rather than exclusive benefit).

Application Assistance

To assist those wishing to apply, and who may need assistance, please contact either Keith Smith at the District Council, or, Barbara Vine at the Community Arts Centre.

Application forms are available from:

Further detailed information is available from:

Keith Smith
Community Liaison Officer
Wanganui District Council

Applications close at 4.00pm Friday, 30 May 2003

Pursuant to the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 and the District Council By-laws, notice is given that the prohibited fire season, for all the area in the Wanganui Fire District, is hereby lifted as from midnight on Saturday, 5 April 2003.

Fires in all the above areas will require permits until further notice.

Applications for permits should be made to the New Zealand Fire Service during normal business hours on phone 348 0103.

One week's advance notice for small fires and three weeks' advance notice for larger burns (two hectares or more in size), which will require a fire plan, is required for permits in the rural area to allow for an inspection to be made.

Fire permits will be issued on Thursdays and Fridays.

The Department of Conservation issues permits for its areas.

Water Services thanks the people of Wanganui for the conservation effort made to date that has ensured sufficient water supplies for all water users.

Everyone is reminded that sprinklers can only be used on even numbered days for even numbered houses and odd numbered days for odd numbered houses, between the hours of 6pm and 10pm. Hand held hoses can be used at any time.

The best water results for the garden are achieved from watering in the early evening.

Community Services
Wednesday, May 7

Harbour - Special (1.00pm)
Thursday, May 8

Finance and Administration
Thursday, May 8

Council - Ordinary (Council Chamber)
Monday, May 19

Unless otherwise noted, the meetings commence at 2.00pm in Committee Room 2, 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.

The Council welcomes members of the public to attend its meetings.

Meeting Cancellations

As there is no business to transact, the following Committee meetings have been cancelled.

Harbour
Monday, May 5

Emergency Management and Civil Defence
Monday, May 5

Works and Transport
Tuesday, May 6

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