Mayoral Mile - Cooks Gardens
11 February 2006

The inaugural Mayoral Mile will be held at Wanganui's Cooks Gardens on February 11, with mass participation events as well as races for elite athletes and celebrities.

New Zealand and international athletes will compete for a cash prize pool of $12,500, donated by Mayor Michael Laws. As well as the premier prize, there will be other major and spot prizes, including a trip for two to Australia, domestic travel, a TV and furniture.

Australian Craig Mottram is the top prospect in the elite men's field. Mottram is ranked fifth fastest mile runner in the world with a personal best of 3.48.98 for the distance. The field will include leading New Zealand athletes Nick Willis and Adrian Blincoe as well as top British runner Mohamed Farah.

In the elite women's race, world mountain running champ and new national steeplechase champion Kate McIlroy will have competition from other top New Zealanders Fiona Crombie and Demelza Murrihy.

The celebrity race will be entertaining with notable nationals such as Dancing with the Stars champion and former All Black 'Twinkletoes' Norm Hewitt, comedian Ewan Gilmore, national aerobics champion Arlene Thomas, Olympic rower Philippa Baker-Hogan and international cricketer Simon Doull participating.

Mayors from Australia and around New Zealand are keen to line up next to Wanganui's Mayor Michael Laws in the mayors' race. Mayoral attendees have so far registered from the Gold Coast, Upper Hutt, Hastings, Rangitikei and Auckland, to name a few.

In the mass participation events, there will be races for all age groups, from under-sevens to over-65s, with many prizes to be won.

Spectators are welcome to attend (gold coin donation).

Visit the Mayoral Mile web site for more information and to register.

Online registrations close at 5pm on Friday, February 10. You can register on the day at Sport and Recreation Wanganui from 8am.

Mayoral Mile programme

The day will kick off at 9am with Mayor Michael Laws running alone to set a time for the mile.

This will be followed by events for age groups and families throughout the day. The action continues into the evening with the celebrity programme for mayors, councillors and celebrities. A schools' relay and the elite races wind up the programme.

(All race details are subject to change).

We are seeking applicants aged 12 to 24 who want to become part of Wanganui's first Youth Committee.

All the info and an application pack are available here (PDF format). Applications close on 28 February 2006.

Vacancy

Roading Manager
Applications close 28 February 2006

The following arrangements will be observed by the Council on Waitangi Day. You can still contact us at any time by phoning 349 0001.

Municipal Office Building and District Library Services
Closed.

Information Centre
Open 9.00am to 3.00pm.

Sarjeant Gallery
Open 10.30pm to 4.30pm.

Whanganui Regional Museum
Open 10.00pm to 4.30pm.

Recycling
The SaveMart Wanganui Recycling Centre in Peat Street, opposite the netball courts, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to take your cardboard, newspapers, plastic bottles, aluminium cans, steel cans and textiles. Free drop-off.

Refuse collection
Normal refuse collection on Monday.

After hours services are listed in the telephone directory under 'Wanganui District Council'.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Community Development - Thursday, 2 February 2006
- Items on the agenda include Temporary road closure - Wanganui Road Rodders; Draft Earthquake-Prone Buildings Policy; Draft Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy; Powerco easement - Nukumaru Domain Recreation Reserve, Mowhanau Beach; Peter Snell statue; Community halls; Miscellaneous Community Contract application; Pensioner housing - pets in units; Older People Forum - outcomes sought for older people; Moutoa Gardens Historic Reserve Board; Iwi liaison.

Infrastructure - Tuesday, 7 February 2006
- Agenda items include Westbourne Terrace - roading upgrade request; 20 Georgetti Road - sewer extension request; Wanganui water supply grading; Land Transport New Zealand - financial assistance rate; Urban roading update; Pedestrian crossings in the Wanganui Central Business District.

Strategy - Thursday, 9 February 2006 (Council Chamber)

Council Meeting - Monday, 20 February 2006 (Council Chamber)
- The Council will consider the reports from all Committee meetings held in January and February.

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at 4.00pm 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.