Mayor Michael Laws thanks Wanganui residents "for being so understanding about the ongoing issues at the new Splash Centre".

"We have been very disappointed that contract requirements have not been met. Our engineers, and the Splash Centre staff, are working long hours to identify the problems, and correct them."

The Splash Centre pools have not all been operating efficiently these past three months. Some pools have been colder than necessary, and the heating of the Centre has been erratic.

"Council engineers have identified the problem. But I am disappointed with the contractors and we are considering legal action. In the meantime, our job is to get the best recreational water facility in New Zealand, back on track."

Mayor Laws said that Council will consider a "free weekend" as part of the compensation that "we owe the good people of Wanganui. We want our Splash Centre back!"

Wanganui District Council has begun advertising for a new Chief Executive to replace Dr David Warburton.

Dr Warburton left the council on Friday, August 29, following an official farewell in the Council Chambers. Current deputy Kevin Ross has accepted employment as Acting Chief Executive until the new appointment is made.

A subcommittee of Mayor Laws and Crs Dot McKinnon, Sue Westwood and Ray Stevens are responsible for overseeing the recruitment process. Mayor Laws said that there would be a "nationwide advertising campaign and we are not confining ourselves to applicants already working in the local government or public sector. David Warburton exposed Council to some innovative private sector thinking that was of considerable benefit to the Council".

The new Chief Executive must have outstanding communication skills, a good academic record, superior financial attributes, an ability to inspire and lead and the critical ability to problem-solve in a challenging, political environment.

A full job description can be obtained on this page. The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 30 September 2008 at 5.00pm.

More than 300 competitors, aged from seven to 70, will be competing in the North Island Judo Championships at Springvale Stadium this weekend. Hosted by the Wanganui Judo Club, the event has its largest field of competitors in 10 years.

As well as competitors from Wanganui Judo Club, Wanganui City Club, and across the North Island, there will be a group of international competitors from New Caledonia.

Wayne Watson, former judo champion and coach at Wanganui Judo Club, is looking forward to the event.

"For anyone who has not seen judo before, it's a great opportunity to come along and watch for free. We have the youth competition on Saturday and the adult tournament on Sunday. The standard will be very high and we are expecting a great competition."

Wanganui Judo Club received money from the Council's Impact Fund to host the event. The Impact Fund is targeted at organisations and events which deliver a direct economic benefit to the wider Wanganui community.

The championships run for two days - Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7, from 9am at Springvale Stadium. Entry is free.

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.

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.

Details of the following vacancy are available on this page:

Chief Executive
Applications close 30 September 2008

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, September 9
- Finance and Corporate Action Plan; Property Group Activity Report; Cooks Gardens Report; Splash Centre Report; Parking Restrictions – Heads Road; Bus Stops and Bus Shelters; Chas Poynter Drive; Civil Defence Emergency Management Controller; Proposed Water Supply Bylaw; District Plan Changes 11 and 12, Tawa Street Reserves Rezoning; Schedule of Sealed Documents; Financial Commitments. Confidential items: Memorandum of Encumbrance – 54 Putiki Drive; Property Issues; Matters Arising from Minutes – 29 July 2008; Debtor Write-off; Recruitment of New Chief Executive.

Council – Monday, September 22
- The Council will consider the reports from all Committee meetings held in August and September.

Submissions Hearings Subcommittee – Tuesday, September 23 (Committee Room 2)
- The Submissions Hearings Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the Community Development Committee, will hear submissions to the Council's Draft Arts Policy and the Sarjeant Gallery Collections Policy.

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.