Saving electricity is still a priority if New Zealand is to avoid power blackouts in the coming months.

The Council is making power savings where this can be done without compromising safety and security in our services. Every bit counts so we are also conserving energy in our offices and homes.

Remember that conserving water use helps save electricity. Using less water means a reduction in the electricity required to pump water from underground bores and to pump wastewater discharge.

We encourage you to join us in the 'conserve to preserve' campaign so we can avoid power blackouts.

Some of the ways we can save power in our offices are

• Turn off computers (including screens), printers and photocopiers at the end of the day, even if they have a power saving mode.
  
• Turn off lights if they will be out of the room for half an hour or more.
  
• Use the stairs instead of the lift.
  
• Turn off desk lamps when away from desk.
  
• Use heaters sparingly, particularly electric fan heaters.
  
• Turn off tea makers at the end of the day.
  

At home we can

• Turn off televisions, videos, stereos and other appliances at the wall.
  
• Do laundry with cold water and dry on outside clothesline.
  
• Have a shower rather than a bath.
  
• Don't leave lights on if they are not needed.
  
• Only heat the room you are in and eliminate draughts.
  
• Reduce garden watering, car washing and house/window washing.
  
• Fix dripping taps.

Committee & Council Meetings
30 August 2001 - 24 September 2001

• Council - Special
  To receive and consider the Establishment Unit's report regarding the Holding Company
  (Council Chamber)
  2.00pm Tuesday 28 August 2001
  
• Regulatory (Hearing)
  2.00pm Thursday 30 August 2001
  
• Civil Defence
  2.00pm Monday 3 September 2001
  
• Planning
  2.00pm Tuesday 4 September 2001
  
• Community Development
  2.00pm Wednesday 5 September 2001
  
• Regulatory
  2.00pm Thursday 6 September 2001
  
• Wanganui District Councils' Forestry Joint
  2.00pm Friday 7 September 2001
  
• Harbour
  2.00pm Monday 10 September 2001
  
• Works and Transport
  2.00pm Tuesday 11 September 2001
  
• Community Services
  2.00pm Wednesday 12 September 2001
  
• Finance and Administration
  2.00pm Thursday 13 September 2001
  
• Council Meeting
  (Council Chamber) 7.30pm Monday 24 September 2001
  
• Wanganui Rural Community Board
  2.00pm Friday 31 August 2001
  
  

Unless otherwise noted, the meetings will commence at 2.00pm in Committee Room 2, 1st Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

Agendas are available at the Help Desk, 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.

All Westmere water users, or potential users, are urged to attend a meeting on Monday, 3 September 2001, at 7.00pm in the Brunswick Hall.

Lake Wiritoa will be closed to the public on Saturday, 25 August 2001, and Sunday, 26 August 2001, to allow the Wanganui Radio Control Boat Club to host a model yacht regatta. The beach area of the lake will remain open for passive recreation. The Council apologises for any inconvenience this may cause the public.

The section of Whangaehu Valley Road at Rush Flat, approximately four kilometres north of Mangamahu township, is closed to all vehicular traffic due to a dropout.

Temporary repairs to open the road to light traffic are progressing and are expected to take approximately one week (from August 22).

The Wanganui Car Club, for the purpose of a hill climb event, will close Rangitatau East Road from 2km before Junction Road to 4km past Junction Road on Saturday, 1 September 2001, from 9.00am until 6.00pm.

During the closure, provision will be made for ordinary vehicular traffic which would otherwise use Rangitatau East Road.

It will be an offence under the above regulations for any person, other than under authority of an authorised permit, to use the road for ordinary vehicular traffic during the period of closure.

Page 2