Mayor Michael Laws says that the unbeaten run of the Wanganui rugby team this season, and their hosting of this week's Meads Cup semi-final, "is an enormous fillip to the entire community and is creating great headlines all around the country".

"Wanganui has been the premier side since the Heartland Championship began in 2006. We've reached the final twice, and now are the only unbeaten team. In pool play, Wanganui has convincingly defeated all the other semi-finalists - West Coast, Mid Canterbury and North Otago. But finals rugby is another story - and the team deserves your support.

"Guy Lennox, Denning Tyrell and the boys deserve every Wanganui person to pack Cooks Gardens on Saturday and, hopefully, the week after that. After two years of being the bridesmaid, they stand on the cusp of delivering one of the great days in Wanganui sporting history."

Gates open at 2.45pm, with the semi-final match kick-off at 4.05pm, offering a great afternoon of sport for the whole family. 

AA REWARDS HEARTLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
MEADS CUP - SEMI FINAL

STEELFORM WANGANUI v WEST COAST
Saturday, October 18
Gates open 2.45pm, kick-off 4.05pm

Adult $10, Students $5, Under 5s free, Senior with Gold Card $5 , Family $20 (2 adults and up to 5 kids)

Get your tickets from the Royal Wanganui Opera House and avoid the gate queues on the day.

The Sarjeant Gallery has a new jewellery exhibition by Alan Preston, one of New Zealand's leading makers of contemporary jewellery.

The exhibition takes a 20 year journey through jewellery making. Materials used include paua, oyster and coconut shell, gannet feathers, kowhai and banana seeds, kauri seed scales, greywacke, mother of pearl, gold and silver.

The exhibition runs to November 30.

The photo shows Alan Preston's Breastplate and Pendant.

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

Nominations are being sought for the Wanganui Sports Hall of Fame.

The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognise sporting achievements by athletes and coaches who have made a significant impact on Wanganui's sporting heritage. The first inductees into the Wanganui Sports Hall of Fame were announced in February 2008.

Nomination forms and eligibility criteria are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui. All previous nominations received will be considered.

Nominations close on 31 October 2008.

Wanganui District Council is proposing to introduce a Water Supply Bylaw.

Council has determined that the most appropriate way to address the management of water supplies, owned and operated by the Council, is by way of Bylaw in the proposed form.

Submissions may be made on the proposal.

Copies of the Proposed Water Supply Bylaw Statement of Proposal, the Draft Water Supply Bylaw and also submission forms, are available from the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, and at the District Library, Queens Park, during normal opening hours. The documents are also available by emailing us or by telephoning Customer Services on (06) 349 0001.

Submissions should be addressed to:

The Chief Executive
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
101 Guyton Street
Wanganui

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Friday, 14 November 2008.

Notice is given under Section 28 (1) of the Local Electoral Act 2001 that electors of the Wanganui District Council have the right to demand a poll on the electoral system to be used for the 2010 triennial elections of the Wanganui District Council.

The Wanganui District Council resolved on 2 September 2008 to continue with the First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system for the 2010 election, unless a poll determines otherwise. The Local Electoral Act 2001 provides for the choice between the First Past the Post (FPP) and Single Transferable Vote (STV) electoral systems.

A valid demand for a poll must be:

• Made in writing.
• Signed by at least 5 percent of the number of electors enrolled as eligible to vote at the 2007 triennial election of the Wanganui District Council. This will require 1536 signatures of current electors.
• Delivered to the principal office of the Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui, by Saturday, 28 February 2009, but note that under section 35(6) of the Interpretation Act 1999, the final day on which poll demands can be received is 2 March 2009.

Section 30 (3) of the Local Electoral Act states that every elector who signs a demand must also set out their name and the address for which they are qualified as an elector of the Wanganui District Council.

Details of the following vacancies are available on this page:

Airport Operations Officer
Applications close 27 October 2008

Health & Safety Advisor
Applications close 2 November 2008

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council – Tuesday, October 21 (3.00pm)
- To adopt the Annual Report for year ended 30 June 2008.

Finance and Infrastructure – Tuesday, October 21 (3.15pm)
- 10-Year Plan – Asset Management, a Governance and Operation Tool; Horizons Whanganui River Flood Protection Scheme – Balgownie; Earthquake Prone Buildings Policy Review; Community Outcomes Review; Temporary Road Closure – Wanganui Motorcycle Club Inc Transport (Vehicular Traffic Road Closure) Regulations 1965; Temporary Road Closure Procedures – Construction Sites; Finance and Corporate Action Plan; Property Group Activity Report; Regulatory Update for September 2008; Quarterly Report for the Three Months to 30 September 2008; Infrastructure Projects Update; Schedule of Sealed Documents; Financial Commitments. Confidential Items: Review of Wanganui Airport Landing Fees; Environmental Sustainability, Assumptions and the 10-Year Plan; Disposal of surplus land; Termination of Lease – confirmation of terms.

Council – Monday, November 3
- The Council will receive all reports from Committee meetings held in October 2008 along with reports direct to Council.

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held 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.