Some plumbing fittings have the potential to allow minute traces of metals to accumulate in water standing in the fittings for several hours.

Although the health risk is small, the Ministry of Health recommends that you flush a mugful of water from your drinking-water tap each morning before use to remove any metals that may have dissolved from the plumbing fittings.

We are recommending this simple precaution for all households, including those on public and private water supplies.

Director-General of Health

The Wanganui District Council has received an application from Good Earth Matters Consulting Limited acting on behalf of the Universal College of Learning (UCOL) for a Resource Consent as described below.

Description of Application:
To demolish the former Maori Land Court and ancillary building in order to establish and maintain a recreational green space within the UCOL campus.

Location of the Proposed Activity:
11 Rutland Street, Wanganui, legally described as Pt Sec 86 DP 5111 located on the corner of Rutland Street and Market Place.

The application includes an assessment of environmental effects.

The application may be inspected at the Wanganui District Council offices during normal office hours. Please contact Kathryn Barnes (06) 349 0001 ext 8400 if you have any questions about the application.

Any person may make a submission on the application. You may do so by sending a written submission to the Chief Executive, Wanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Wanganui. The submission must be in form 13. Copies of this form are available from the Wanganui District Council Administration Building (Customer Services).

Submissions close on Monday, 14 April 2008, at 4.00pm.

You must also serve a copy of your submission on UCOL (the applicant), whose address for service is C/- Good Earth Matters Consulting Limited, PO Box 1268, Palmerston North, as soon as practicable after serving your submission on the Wanganui District Council.

Work is continuing on Carlton Avenue between Heads Road and Koromiko Road but the road is now open to all traffic.

Work will continue in Koromiko Road. The road is open to traffic.

Smithfield Road remains closed from No.23 Smithfield Road to Moore Avenue. Access for residents is still available.

Works continue on Heads Road between Liffiton Street and Sarjeant Street. The road is open to traffic.

Wanganui Wastewater Separation Project
(Contractor B Bullock & Co Ltd)

Smithfield Road between No.23 Smithfield Road and Moore Avenue will continue to be closed until 7.00pm Saturday, 5 April 2008, for the purpose of constructing a new sanitary sewer drain.

This closure does not affect Smithfield Road from Carlton Avenue to No.23 Smithfield Road.

Vehicle access to properties along the closed section will be available at all times.

A signposted detour will not be provided.

Pursuant to Section 22(2) of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 notice is hereby given that the Prohibited Fire Season imposed on 27 January 2008 for the Wanganui District, on 29 January 2008 for the Rangitikei District and on 30 January 2008 for the Ruapehu District is downgraded to a Restricted Fire Season as from midnight Friday, 7 March 2008.

All persons wishing to light fires in the open must obtain a permit.

The issuing of permits will be according to each of the above Councils' previous individual arrangements.

Sufficient time should be allowed for any investigation or inspection to be made prior to the issuing of a permit.

Exemptions:

• Barbecues lit in properly constructed containers and fuelled with gas.

Failure to comply with this order constitutes an offence under Section 61 of the above-mentioned Act.

For all fire emergencies phone 111 and give your name, address, telephone number and rural number (if applicable).

Annie Petersen
Principal Rural Fire Officer
Ruapehu District Council

Kevin Smith
Principal Rural Fire Officer
Wanganui District Council

Stan Dulieu
Principal Rural Fire Officer
Rangitikei District Council

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.