The Council this week agreed on a number of strategies to combat the algae problem at Virginia Lake.

Infrastructure Manager Julian Reweti told the Council at its meeting on Monday that there is no single solution to the Virginia Lake algae problem, rather a series of measures which, when linked, will put the lake's ecosystem back in balance.

The Virginia Lake Working Party met on November 5 to evaluate information provided from a science workshop held in October, plus information collated since then. The Working Party concluded that the following strategies should be pursued:

1. Circulation/aeration using Solarbee technology. This solar powered water circulation system provides aeration through the surface of the lake. It operates quietly and is effective over wide areas.
2. Planting controls and clearance of stagnant areas to prevent algal hotspots. Some particularly invasive plants also need to be removed and replaced with more suitable species such as Taxodium (swamp cypress) and Kahikitea.
3. In ground nutrient capture. Virginia Lake is fed by below surface water seepage, a natural carrier of unwanted nutrients. A possible solution is to build an underground filtration wall in problem areas.
4. Direct Rotokawau stormwater into the lake and install inlet and outlet controls. Uninformed argument has suggested that stormwater runoff from the Rotokawau residential subdivision is part of the problem. It has, in fact, been scientifically proven that it is part of the solution and that the lake would benefit from more stormwater.
5. Investigate filter feed fish/shellfish stock as algal control. Species such as silver carp and freshwater mussels feed on problem algae. Stocks would need to be carefully managed and present stocks of perch would have to be reduced.

The Council approved these measures and added that appropriate signage and a public communication programme be implemented to keep people informed of the strategies, reasons and progress. All of this will start immediately and the cost of all the strategies, estimated to be $637,000, will be loan funded.

Two extraordinary vacancies currently exist in the Wanganui District. When Councillor Don McGregor resigned for health reasons, a vacancy was created at the Council table. Due to only one nomination being received for the Kaitoke subdivision, there is a space in the Wanganui Rural Community Board.

It is necessary, therefore, to hold a by-election to fill these vacancies. This will be held on Saturday, 16 February 2008.

Separate from the election, Council intends to hold a referendum in 2008 as part of its ongoing public consultation process. This referendum will give Council guidance on capital expenditure items such as the library relocation, International Events Centre, riverfront walkway extension, upper Victoria Avenue upgrade, Castlecliff Beach development and Sarjeant Gallery extension.

Initially, consideration was given to combining the referendum with the by-election but Council has opted for a separate process with Referendum '08 to be held mid to late April with the information obtained being fed into the Draft Annual Plan. This would also allow Council officers time to prepare information on the referendum items.

A reminder to all ratepayers that the due date for payment of Instalment 2 is Wednesday, 21 November 2007. Please ensure payments reach our office by close of business on this day.

Council offers direct debit as a method of payment. Frequency of payments can be weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or yearly. Please contact the rates department for further information, phone 349 0519.

The income threshold for rates rebate is now $20,000 and the maximum allowable rebate is $500.

Eligibility for a rates rebate is determined by:

• the ratepayer's income for the previous tax year (year ended 31 March 2007)
• the amount of rates (both Wanganui District Council & Horizons Regional Council)
• the number of dependents.

To assist you with your application, please bring in the following:

• evidence of all gross income for the tax year ended 31 March 2007 (this includes income from interest)
• your Wanganui District Council rates assessment for 2007/08
• your Horizons Regional Council rates assessment for 2007/08

Ratepayers need to apply to the Wanganui District Council for a rates rebate. Those who are eligible will then either have their rates reduced by the amount of the rebate, or receive a refund if the rates have been paid in full for the year. The Department of Internal Affairs reimburses the Council from Crown funds.

Vacancy

Details about the following vacancy are available on this page:

Customer Services Advocate
Applications close 5 December 2007

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Wanganui Rural Community Board Triennial Meeting – Thursday, November 15
- Appointment of Chairman; Appointment of Deputy Chairman; Wanganui Rural Community Board's role; Elected Members' remuneration; Confirmation of Minutes – 19 July 2007; Matters arising from Minutes.

Finance and Administration – Monday, November 19
- Terms of Reference; Finance Team Action Plan; Quarterly Report for the three months to 30 September 2007; Parking meters; Funding Policy Review; Sale of Endowment property – 20 Liffiton Street; Economic development update; Financial commitments; Schedule of documents sealed. Confidential items: Matters arising from Minutes; Debtor write-off.

Community and Environment – Tuesday, November 20

Hearings – Wednesday, November 21 (2.00pm)
- Objection against Dangerous Dog classification – Scott Burns; Objection against Notice of Disqualification from Dog Ownership – Scott Burns.

Community and Environment – Thursday, November 22
- Wanganui District Council's Tree Policy

Harbour – Monday, November 26 (3.00pm)

Infrastructure – Monday, November 26 (immediately following Harbour Committee meeting)

Heritage – Tuesday, November 27

Maori – Thursday, November 29

Youth – Friday, November 30

Strategy – Tuesday, December 4 (Council Chamber)

Sport and Recreation – Thursday, December 6 (1.00pm)

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.