The Heart of Wanganui project includes concepts for new cultural buildings, developed by some of New Zealand’s leading architects.

In mid-2007 Wanganui people will be asked to vote whether or not the Heart project should go ahead. They will also be asked which concepts they prefer. Please note that these are only concepts, not final plans.

This week we continue looking at the various options, including comparative costs for individual options and for retaining the status quo. Cost comparisons are based on standardised industry building costs, not on detailed plans. We will not have an estimate of actual costs until detailed plans are prepared.

Option 7 – Sarjeant/Alexander Art Gallery

Option 7 physically links the existing Sarjeant Gallery with the Alexander Library via a new building or accessway. The Alexander building is refurbished to create an additional gallery space.

Comparative cost

(Note: All of the Library options include the costs for the seismic upgrade of the War Memorial Hall as this work must be undertaken whether or not any of the Heart of Wanganui options go ahead).

Please contact us if you want more information or want to give us your feedback:

Heart of Wanganui website
Email us
Phone: 349 0501

Once again Wanganui hosts the world famous Cemetery Circuit motorcycle races on Boxing Day.

The action features 19 street races with the first race at 11am. Up to 10 international riders will be here competing against this country’s best road racers. Classes include Formulas One, Two and Three, plus Super Motard, BEARS, Post Classic and Sidecars. Practice starts at 8am.

Tickets are still available for this year’s incredible Boxing Day concert at Cooks Gardens! Iconic Kiwi band Th’ Dudes is sharing top billing with The Feelers.

These two incredible bands will be supported by House of Shem from Wanganui and Wellington duo Pearl.

The gates open at 5pm, the concert starts at 6.30pm. Tickets are $69.90 or a Bikes and Concert Combo ticket for $87.90.

Tickets can be purchased from i-SITE Wanganui, Sounds in Victoria Avenue and Ticketek, and will be available at the gates.

Exhibition celebrates motorcycle racing heritage

On display right now, in Wanganui’s Alexander Heritage and Research Library, is an exhibition celebrating the city’s motorcycle racing heritage.

In 1951 Wanganui hosted New Zealand’s very first round-the-streets motorcycling race on what is now the world famous Cemetery Circuit, and this exhibition features some of the bikes that have taken on this challenging track.

Norton, NSU, AJS, BSA, Triumph; there they all are on the polished wooden floor, drip trays beneath, along with the Suzukis and Yamahas that followed them... then lapped them.

There’s an ancient sidecar combination that looks as if the rider and swinger have just left it for a few moments; their jackets and helmets on the machine waiting for their return and the next race.

Grand Prix ace of the seventies, American Pat Hennen, called the Cemetery Circuit his ‘favourite track’ and his Suzuki RG 500 has been kindly loaned to the exhibition by current owner, Alan DeLatour.

Percy Coleman organised the first Cemetery Circuit meeting and, in a special tribute to him, a 1915 1000cc Indian is on display. Percy ‘Cannonball’ Coleman rode similar machines in the United States in the 1920s before he became a New Zealand grass track champion on a Harley-Davidson.

Around the walls is a series of story boards with text and photos, telling the story of the Cemetery Circuit from its inception through to 1976. Divided into ‘eras’, it features the characters, the machines and the moments that have made history on Wanganui streets. To see it all will cost the princely sum of one gold coin, and that will go to charity. So this year see the bikes, see the exhibition and enjoy the concert at Cooks Gardens.

There is a number of people we have to thank for this display, including Rod Trott, motorcycling enthusiast and Cemetery Circuit Heritage Exhibition organiser, and Lloyd McKenzie, Cemetery Circuit Organising Committee chairman. Plus, all the people who had the vision to recognise that the motorcycles are an integral part of Wanganui’s heritage and culture.

The current display is a beginning. The project will grow over the next two years with the aim of making Wanganui the ‘motorcycle heritage city of New Zealand’.

Thanks to the efforts and foresight of Wanganui District Council, Wanganui District Library, Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui Regional Museum, Wanganui Motorcycle Club, Cemetery Circuit Organising Group and local community and business organisations.

The exhibition is on display until January 15.

Rates rebates

Remember that you can apply for a rates rebate at any time during the 2006/07 rating year. The income threshold is $20,000. A rebate of up to $500 can be claimed.

Before we can process your application, we need to see:

• Your Community Services Card.
• Evidence of all income (before tax) for last tax year (this includes income from interest, pensions etc).
• Your Wanganui District Council rates notice for 2006/07 and your Horizons Regional Council rates notice for 2006/07.

Eligibility for a rates rebate is determined by:

• The ratepayer’s income for the tax year preceding the start of the rating year and
• The amount of rates and
• The number of dependents.

Roading Engineer
Applications close 22 December 2006

Property Officer
Applications close 23 January 2007

Parks Officer
Applications close 23 January 2007

Holiday services

The following are the closures for the Wanganui District Council for the 2006/07 Christmas and New Year holiday period. However, you can still contact us at any time on phone 349 0001.

The Council will be operating with a minimal number of staff over the Christmas-New Year period. Please be aware that for services such as building applications, we will only be able to do routine processing during this time.

Municipal Office Building
The Municipal Office Building will close at 3.00pm on Friday, December 22, and will re-open on Wednesday, December 27, through to, and including, Friday, December 29. The opening hours will be 8.00am to 5.00pm.

The building will then close from 5.00pm on Friday, December 29, to Tuesday, January 2 inclusive. Normal opening hours of 8.00am to 5.00pm will resume on Wednesday, January 3.

Information Centre Phone 349 0508, Fax 349 0509

Davis Central City Library
Library services over the period December 23 to January 4 will be as follows:

Mobile Branch Library

Alexander Heritage and Research Library, Queens Park

Cemetery Circuit Exhibition: The First 25 Years
The Cemetery Circuit Exhibition celebrates the early years of Wanganui’s annual Boxing Day Motorcycle Road Races.

Heritage Research Services

Sarjeant Gallery

Royal Wanganui Opera House Booking Office

Normal hours of Monday-Friday, 9.30am-5.30pm, resume from Tuesday, January 23.

War Memorial Hall

For all booking enquiries contact Wanganui Inc, phone (06) 349 0380, fax (06) 348 8210

Whanganui Regional Museum

Whanganui Regional Museum Archives hours of operation are 10.00am-1.00pm, Monday to Friday. Archives are closed on weekends and public holidays.

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, plastic bags and textiles. Free drop-off.

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