In keeping with a zero tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour, Wanganui District Council has extended the liquor ban bylaw to include the Parsons Street lookout.

The area has become a meeting place for 'boy racers', resulting in damage and anti-social behaviour, affecting neighbouring residents. The liquor ban will allow Police to stop or apprehend anyone drinking in this location and applies 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

The liquor ban is just one of a series of measures introduced at the lookout area. The Parsons Street lookout has been identified as a prime site for a mobile CCTV camera. The camera will be used at the lookout on a regular basis, as well as other 'hot spot' areas across the district which attract anti-social activity and damage.

The Council has also approved closing the lookout area to vehicles at night. A chain linked fence has been constructed along the grassed reserve area. Retractable bollards will be installed shortly which will ensure that vehicles are not able to access the lookout after dark.

"Anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in Wanganui," said Mayor Michael Laws. "Combining measures such as these take a comprehensive approach to combating anti-social activity, and will assist the Council in our aim to make Wanganui the most family-friendly city in New Zealand."

View liquor ban area (PDF, 679KB)

Virginia Lake has been undergoing a substantial programme of activity over the last 12 months, with more planned in the future.

Lighting features
The Virginia Lake Trust funded the lighting of the gazebo which sits at the southern entrance to the lake. The gazebo has long been a feature of the reserve, used to disguise the pump station when the lake was the main water supply for Wanganui.

Tree planting
To support the ongoing tree planting programme, work continues to remove unstable trees. To date, approximately 60 trees have been planted on the northwestern side of the lake, which will attract birds, provide colour in the autumn and flower in the spring. Some hazardous trees, which were closest to pedestrian areas and may have come down over walking tracks, were also removed.

Retaining wall
A retaining wall has been built along the middle track, with sections of shellrock which are a feature throughout the reserve.

Pathways
There are now sealed pathways from the main carpark area up to the café, Winter Gardens and toilet. There will be further work done on the lower paths during spring/summer 2008.

Planting
The gardens at the front of the reserve are undergoing staged planting, which will be completed next season.

Winter Gardens
Work begins soon to create a ramp for access to a viewing platform in the foyer of the Winter Gardens. There will also be an access point to enable wheelchairs into the outdoor garden area of the Winter Gardens.

Brunswick residents are invited to attend a meeting with Wanganui Rural Community Board representatives to discuss a range of matters.

When: 7.30pm Thursday, 4 September 2008
Where: Brunswick Hall

Items for discussion include:

• New roading maintenance contract
• Rural security
• Bus shelters on school routes
• Rural rubbish bins
• Rural water schemes
• Digital strategy (broadband provision)
• Stock grazing on roadsides

The Board looks forward to meeting the community and hearing its views.

The Wanganui District Council is working with the Wanganui Resene PaintWise Programme. Wanganui residents can return unwanted paint (no solvents accepted) and paint packaging to the Resene Colour Shop. It is then mixed into varying shades of grey paint. Resene donates the resulting good quality waterborne Resene paint to community groups in Wanganui.

Residents can return up to 10 packs of any brand of paint free of charge.

Where: Resene Colour Shop, 17 Wilson Street, Wanganui; phone 348 0048
When: Deliver it on the last Friday of every month
Time: Between 2.00pm and 4.00pm

Diary these dates
Friday, 29 August 2008
Friday, 26 September 2008
Friday, 31 October 2008

You can also help by reporting graffiti as and when it happens. Telephone the Graffiti Hotline 349 0500 for removal of graffiti in highly visible areas of Wanganui.

Wanganui's eDay 2008 will be held on Saturday, October 4. Volunteers are needed to work three-hour shifts during the day, unloading computer equipment from cars, directing traffic and conducting surveys of the people using the drop-off.

This is a great chance to contribute to an important event for Wanganui and make a difference by keeping Wanganui free from eWaste.

• Visit the website for more information about eDay and eWaste www.eday.org.nz.
• Call the Wanganui eDay 2008 co-coordinator Alistair Fraser on (06) 348 9504 to learn more and become involved.

The Wanganui District Council is proposing to amend the Wanganui District Council Bylaw 2005/1 to include a variable 40kph speed limit on Mosston Road between Tayforth Road and Buxton Road to operate during student arrival and departure times to provide a safer environment for schoolchildren.

We welcome your comments on the proposed amendment to the Speed Limit Bylaw. A Statement of Proposal and a submission form are available at the Council's Customer Services Desk.

You can make a submission by completing a submission form or you can make a verbal submission by phoning us on (06) 349 0001 (8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday).

If you have any queries, you can contact the Council on (06) 349 0001 or email us.

Submissions must reach the Wanganui District Council no later than 5.00pm on Friday, 29 August 2008.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Community Development – Tuesday, September 2
- Community and Cultural Portfolio Activity Report; Strategy and Development Activity Report; Property Group Activity Report; Iwi Liaison; Voting System – 2010 Triennial Elections; Mowhanau Liquor Ban; District Plan Change 14 – Reserve Rezoning for Sale; Urban Design Action Plan; Enforcement Officer Authorisation – Wanganui Community Patrols; Youth Committee

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, September 9

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at 3.00pm in the Council Chamber, 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.