The Wanganui District Council has received an application from Alex Garrett for a resource consent as described below.

Description of application:
Mr Garrett proposes a new frontage facing Moutoa Quay and internal alterations to change the use of 45 Taupo Quay. The internal alterations will allow for an office, a café, a restaurant and three other retail tenancies at 45 Taupo Quay, Wanganui.

The breaches to the District Plan are as follows:

1. Rule 19.4(a) states that the exterior alteration of an existing structure in the Old Town Conservation Overlay Zone which will alter the design and appearance of the building is a restricted discretionary activity and requires resource consent.
2. Rule 14.7.2(b) states that any activity that is not listed is an unrestricted discretionary activity. The establishment of five retail tenancies with an integrated gross floor area of less than 500m² is not a listed activity.
3. Rule 14.5.8(b) states that a loading bay is required for each commercial activity. No loading bays are available on-site for the commercial activities.
4. Rule 25.10.2.1 of the District Plan requires parking to be provided at different levels for different activities. The different tenancies would require 28 car parks total. The applicant has provided no on-site car parking spaces, therefore the shortfall of the District Plan requirements is 28 car parks.

The activity is deemed to be an Unrestricted Discretionary Activity in accordance with the Wanganui District Plan.

Location of the proposed activity:
45 Taupo Quay, Wanganui, being legally described as Lots 21 & 22 DP 205.

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 Rachael Pull on (06) 349 0001 ext 8131 if you have any questions about the application.

Any person may make a submission on the application 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 Customer Services Desk at Wanganui District Council Municipal Building.

Submissions close on Friday, 13 February 2009, at 4.00pm.

You must also serve a copy of your submission on Alex Garrett (the applicant), whose address for service is Alex Garrett, PO Box 5071, Wanganui, as soon as practicable after serving your submission on the Wanganui District Council.

Wanganui District Council is reviewing its 2006 Earthquake-Prone Buildings Policy and in doing so is following the special consultative procedure set out in Section 83 of the Local Government Act 2002.

Submissions are now invited on the policy review.

Copies of a Draft 2009 Earthquake-Prone Buildings Policy, Statement of Proposal and 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. These 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
Wanganui

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Monday, 16 February 2009.

Section 158 of the Local Government Act 2002 requires Wanganui District Council to review its Bylaws. In accordance with this requirement Council proposes to revoke Part 8 - Streets - Wanganui District Council Consolidated Bylaw 1995 and replace it with a new Bylaw, the Wanganui District Council Street Infrastructure Bylaw 2008.

Submissions are now invited on the Proposed Street Infrastructure Bylaw 2008.

Copies of the Proposed Bylaw, Statement of Proposal, Summary of Information and 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. These 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
Wanganui

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Monday, 16 February 2009.

Section 158 of the Local Government Act 2002 requires Wanganui District Council to review its Bylaws. A review of Part 7 – Cemeteries and Crematoria – Wanganui Consolidated Bylaw 1996 has shown that while there are no major amendments required, due to the age of the bylaw, the structure and language used, the bylaw has been revised to ensure certainty and to make the bylaw easier to read and understand.

Submissions are now invited on the Proposed Wanganui District Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw 2008.

Copies of the Proposed Bylaw, Summary of Information, Statement of Proposal and 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. These 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
Wanganui

Submissions close at 5.00pm on Monday, 16 February 2009.

From 1 February 2009 the Building Control Officers will actively enforce anchor pile requirements.

NZS 3605 requires anchor piles to be specifically branded with the letter A.

Compliant piles are now available at some merchants so there is no excuse.

Pursuant to the Transport (Vehicular Traffic Road Closure) Regulation 1965, notice is hereby given that the Wanganui District Council, for the purpose of hydroplane racing on the Whanganui River by the New Zealand Grand Prix Hydroplane Drivers Club, proposes to close the following road to ordinary vehicular traffic for the period(s) indicated hereunder.

Road proposed to be closed to ordinary vehicular traffic:
Whanganui City Bridge from Anzac Parade to Taupo Quay.

Period or periods of proposed closure:
Sunday, 22 February 2009, from 7.00am to 5.00pm.

During the proposed period of closure, the following provision will be made for ordinary vehicular traffic which would otherwise use the Whanganui City Bridge: Direction signs will be in place to show the alternative route.

Any person objecting to the proposal is called upon to lodge notice of their objection and grounds thereof in writing before 25 January 2009 at the office of the Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

Pursuant to the Transport (Vehicular Traffic Road Closure) Regulation 1965, notice is hereby given that the Wanganui District Council, for the purpose of the 28th Maori Battalion Reunion by the Pakaitore/Moutoa Board, proposes to close the following road(s)/street(s) to ordinary vehicular traffic for the period indicated hereunder.

Road proposed to be closed to ordinary vehicular traffic:
Taupo Quay from Bates Street to 1E Taupo Quay.

Period or periods of proposed closure:
Sunday, 22 February 2009, from 8.00am to 3.00pm.

During the proposed period(s) of closure, the following provision will be made for ordinary vehicular traffic which would otherwise use Taupo Quay: The alternative route is Market Place and Bates Street.

Any person objecting to the proposal(s) is called upon to lodge notice of their objection and grounds thereof in writing before 25 January 2009 at the office of the Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

Due to maintenance work on the Sarjeant Gallery (which is open as usual), the road behind the Gallery will be reduced to one-way traffic from 7.00am Monday, January 12, for four weeks.

Road users are requested to follow the signposted detour while the closure is in operation.

The Council apologises for any inconvenience.

Wanganui Wastewater Separation Project
(Contractor Wanganui Drainage Contractors Ltd)

Kings Avenue between Tawa Street and Cambridge Street will be closed until 5.00pm Friday, 6 March 2009, for the purpose of constructing new stormwater drains.

The work will involve closing access from Tawa Street and Bignell Street to Kings Avenue during the period of closure.

Tawa Street and Bignell Street will be opened up to Kings Avenue as work progresses past these streets.

Vehicle access to residential properties on the closed section will be available at all times unless advised by the contractor.

A signposted detour will not be provided.

Wanganui Wastewater Separation Project
(Contractor I D Loader Ltd)

Gorran Avenue between Alma Road and Kawatiri Avenue will be closed until 6.00pm Friday, 23 January 2009, for the purpose of installing a stormwater drain.

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

Road users are requested to follow the signposted detour whilst the closure is in operation.

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.

The income threshold for rates rebate is $21,180 and the maximum allowable rebate is $530.

Eligibility for a rates rebate is determined by:

• the ratepayer's income for the previous tax year (year ended 31 March 2008)
• 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 2008 (this includes income from interest)
• your Wanganui District Council rates assessment for 2008/09
• your Horizons Regional Council rates assessment for 2008/09

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.