The "three Rs" - rates, rubbish and roads - were amongst the hot topics when the Council recently considered public submissions on its draft plans and budgets.

More than 160 submissions were considered when the Strategy Committee met on June 17-19 and June 24-26 to debate the Draft Long-term Council Community Plan 2003-2013 and supporting Draft Service Management Plan.

Rates

The proposed increase in rates was a major concern to many submitters. During the Strategy Committee meetings, a number of measures were agreed to reduce the proposed increase. The changes to the plan will result in a rates increase of 1.8 percent for the average farming ratepayer, an increase of 2.4 percent for residential ratepayers and a decrease of two percent for commercial ratepayers. Please note that these are averages and individual property rates will vary.

The Council also resolved to proceed with a community facilities charge of $330 per separately used and occupied portion of a property. The community facilities rate includes the following services: Central Business District services, community buildings and rural halls, investments, Library, Memorial Hall, minor transport (Airport and Durie Hill Elevator), Royal Wanganui Opera House, parks and reserves, Regional Museum, Sarjeant Gallery, sports grounds and swimming pools.

Recycling

Last year kerbside recycling was the dominant issue raised in the submissions process and a large number of submissions about recycling were received again this year. However, the Council's announcement (after the publication of the draft plans) of its intention to work toward facilitating a community recycling centre addressed many of the concerns raised. More information about the proposal will be available as the project develops.

Roads

Most of the submissions relating to specific roading projects were referred to the Works and Transport Committee to allow further information to be obtained.

Other issues

A number of other submissions were also referred to the relevant committee where further details will be available for councillors to consider.

The Council confirmed its commitment to fund the Sarjeant Gallery upgrading works and/or extension to a total of $1.7M. The allocation remains in the Long-term Council Community Plan for 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06. The Council resolved to take ownership of the Gallery project and noted that an officer project management team, to be led by the Chief Executive Officer, will report to the Council. It further resolved that the Council, with Gallery Trust Board representatives, would meet the Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage to clarify the Sarjeant Gallery funding proposals and concerns regarding the sale of purchased art works.

The Council has allocated $50,000 for 2003/04 to further investigate the proposal to expand the Splash Centre. No commitment on how to proceed will be made until the results of the investigation have been considered by the Council.

Other amendments were:

• A reduction of $20,000 in the economic development budget for the Regional Information Centre for 2003/04. The proposal for a one-year trial of the centre at Bulls is being finalised and funding from the 2002/03 budget has been carried over for this project.
• Inclusion in the economic development budget of funding for events: Egmont Wanganui Rodeo Association ($6000 for the NZ Rodeo National Finals); Wanganui Showjumping Group ($15,000 for the Wanganui Showjumping Classic); Lightning United Inline Hockey Club ($5000 for the NZ Inline Hockey National Championships).
• An additional $20,000 in the parks and reserves budget for the renewal of playground equipment at Kai Iwi Beach.
• An additional $81,000 ($8000 added to rates required) in the Whanganui River control budget for works at Wharf Street.
• A reduction of $50,000 in insurance costs.
• An increase of $10,000 in parking meter revenue (no effect on rates).
• Funding of $8000 to YAC (no effect on rates).
• The allocation in the roading budget for the Dublin Street Bridge deck renewal was reduced by $350,000 to $150,000 (no effect on rates).

The Council adopted the plans, subject to the amendments made at the meetings. Individual replies to every submitter are currently being prepared.

The Council will meet on July 9 to set the rates for 2003/04.

We've recently updated the information about Civil Defence Emergency Management on this site.

The Civil Defence pages include information about different types of emergency, how to be prepared for an emergency and the history of Civil Defence declarations in the Wanganui District.

July 5: Gonville Cottage Industries Craft Market
Venue: Gonville Town Hall, Tawa Street. 10am-3pm.

July 5: Rivercity Markets
Venue: Wanganui Racecourse. 8am-1pm.

July 5: Funky Family Funday
Venue: Springvale Stadium. 10am-3pm. Clowns, jugglers and bands.

July 6: Combined Choirs - Vox Serbicus and Schola Sacra Choir
Venue: Sacred Heart College Chapel. 2pm.

Throughout July:
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.

The Council is inviting comments on the Kowhai Park Development Plan. The term 'development plan' is a generic term in this instance. This means that the plan identifies specific areas where different activities can occur rather than identifying new features.

A copy of the plan can be collected from the Customer Services Desk, Wanganui District Council Municipal Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

Submissions will close on Tuesday, 15 July 2003, and should be addressed to Eric Sim.

The Building Industry Authority (BIA) has released for public consultation its proposed changes to the approved documents that set out how timber should be treated and the way external moisture should be managed in residential dwellings.

The proposed changes relating to Clause B2 of the New Zealand Building Code address issues around the use of treated timber, and include the proposal that the framing for all new residential buildings be treated timber.

Those relating to Clause E2 address the management of external moisture in residential buildings.

The proposed changes aim to contribute to resolving problems related to weathertightness and have been prepared in response to the recommendations of the Report of the Overview Group on the Weathertightness of Buildings (Hunn Report), the report of the Government Administration Committee and the BIA's own work in these areas.

The BIA invites comment on the proposed changes from all interested parties during the eight-week consultation period (closing date 8 August 2003). Once the consultation period closes the BIA will review and consider all comments received and then make its final decisions.

Copies of the consultation documents can be obtained from the BIA website or by calling the BIA on 0800 242 243 or (04) 471 0794.

The Council is looking for any photographs and or personal recollections that people of Wanganui may have of when the Whanganui River breached the South Spit before it was closed off.

It is believed that the photographs or your stories may be around the year 1947. If you are able to help us please contact Marie Gorinski by telephone on 349 0001, facsimile 349 0523 or email Marie Gorinski.

We look forward to hearing your story or seeing your photographs.

The Council is proposing to restrict heavy traffic on the Dublin Street Bridge which will reduce the need to carry out major repairs to the deck surface.

Numerous pavement defects are visible on the surface of the bridge deck and these have led to a widespread perception that the bridge is structurally unsound. This is incorrect; the bridge foundations and superstructure are sound and only maintenance of the deck is required. Provided this maintenance is carried out periodically the structure will last for many more years.

However, heavy vehicles using the bridge are causing damage to the bridge deck by breaking up the surface.

Therefore, it is proposed to restrict the bridge to vehicles with a maximum axle weight of 4000kg. Currently only about one percent of the traffic on the bridge exceeds this limit and that traffic will be required to find alternative routes.

The principle advantage of this action is to reduce the cost of repairs of the bridge deck from approximately $1 million to about $100,000 and to reduce the time the bridge will be closed for repairs from four or five months to four or five days.

Public comments or submissions on the proposal are invited. These need to be received by 15 July 2003 so they can be considered by the Council at its Works and Transport Committee meeting on 29 July 2003.

A more detailed report is available from the Council's Customer Services Desk.

For further information, contact Ian McGowan or John Jones, phone 349 0001.

Council - Extraordinary (To set 2003/04 rates)
Wednesday, July 9

Harbour - Extraordinary (Blue Water Port Concept) (2.15pm)
Wednesday, July 9

Hearings
Wednesday, July 16

Wanganui Rural Community Board
Thursday, July 17

Economic Development
Tuesday, July 22

Community Development
Wednesday, July 23

Environment
Thursday, July 24

Unless otherwise noted all meetings are held at 2.00pm in Committee Room, 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.

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