The Council-endorsed 'For our Kids' initiative will be promoted to the Wanganui community on March 7 at the Castlecliff Beach Domain and Springvale Park Children's Day celebrations.

'For our Kids' is an initiative out of the Community Taskforce on Youth Wellbeing. Representatives will be at the events to meet members of the community and explain how they can get involved to make a positive difference to young people's lives through volunteering.

Adults are encouraged to get involved in activities to benefit Wanganui's young people, such as coaching or supporting sports clubs, helping out with homework and providing role models and mentors. All volunteers will undergo an accredited programme to ensure they have the appropriate skills to enable them to interact positively with young people.

Information on the initiative will be provided and people can register their interest as volunteers.

The Children's Day event at Springvale Park runs from 11.00am to 2.00pm and the Castlecliff Beach Domain event from 12noon to 3.00pm. View poster (PDF, 177KB)

A group of Japanese business women were in Wanganui last Friday as part of their week long visit to New Zealand.

The group met with Deputy Mayor Dot McKinnon for morning tea in the Council Chamber. They also took a sightseeing trip around the city and visited Chronicle Glass.

The women are members of the Soroptimists International (SI) club in Shizuoka. They were visiting New Zealand to attend the 45th anniversary of SI of New Plymouth and chose to visit Wanganui because of the city's links with our Sister City Nagaizumi, which is in the same prefecture in Japan. The women had lunch at the Nagaizumi Friendship Centre before leaving Wanganui.

Deputy Mayor Dot McKinnon also met with a delegation of Koreans from the city of Pohang, who were in Wanganui last week to discuss fostering closers ties between the two cities. The delegation was invited by the YMCA and their trip was facilitated by the council. During the visit the delegation expressed an interest in developing a Sister City relationship with Wanganui.

Council's Community Development Committee, chaired by Cr Ray Stevens, met last week to discuss a wide range of issues.

Local surgeon and member of the Whanganui District Health Board Clive Solomon addressed the meeting with his concerns over a merger taking place between the Whanganui health board and Mid Central DHB. His presentation raised serious issues about the provision of health care services across the district and in particular the future of intensive care services at Wanganui Hospital.

Councillors resolved to invite the Chair of Whanganui DHB to address the issues raised by Mr Solomon at the earliest opportunity.

Councillors were updated on the response to the algal bloom that occurred at Virginia Lake this summer and further measures that are being considered to combat the problem.

The Solarbee is proving to be effective at controlling the severity of algal blooms but it is not able to stop them occurring completely. One longer term solution may be to install a second Solarbee. Other solutions include an ultra-sound trial which will begin shortly. The matter was referred to the draft 2010/11 Annual Plan deliberations.

Councillors also debated offering free parking between the hours of 8.30am to 10.00am, Monday to Friday, for Super Gold Card holders. After much discussion councillors voted to offer the free parking for a three month trial. The effects of the trial will be reviewed to assess the impact on parking meter income.

There was also support by some councillors for a proposal to ban smoking in the city's premier parks but this was rejected after a close vote.

Councillors were delighted to accept the generous bequest from the estates of Christian and Belle Alexander. The bequest will enable a project to develop the lake edge at Bason Botanic Gardens to take place. It will make the lake walkway more accessible from the barbeque lawn area by establishing terraces down from the lawn area to the pathway.

The bequest also provides for the construction of a gazebo at the Glen Logie Rose Garden and an on-going contribution to the maintenance costs of the rose garden.

Wanganui District Council is calling for proposals for site specific sculptural works to be permanently sited along the riverside walkway and Somme Parade shared pathway (pictured), for the inaugural Sculpture Wanganui 2010 event.

Sculpture Wanganui 2010 is offering a first prize of $35,000 for the construction and installation of a permanent sculptural work. 'People's choice' and runner-up prizes may also be offered.

The event runs between September 25 and October 11.

Cr Nicki Higgie, spokesperson for arts, is excited about this new event in the Wanganui arts calendar.

"Sculpture Wanganui 2010 offers artists a new and exciting opportunity to exhibit their work in a fantastic location. It has the potential to become the best Australasian sculpture event and will be a major focus for arts in the city.

"The riverfront area is undergoing a redevelopment with a new Visitor Centre opening later this year. This area will become a bustling hub for both visitors and locals alike. Public art, in the form of sculpture, will enhance the area further and underlines council's commitment and support for the city's thriving arts scene.

"We are hoping that the event will attract a large number of entries from across the country and internationally. Over time we will create a significant body of work that will become a visitor attraction in its own right and have international significance."

Call for proposals

Written submissions should describe the conceptual intent of the proposed work, dimensions, proposed materials, engineering requirements and calculations. Scaled concept drawings and a maquette of the proposed work should also be included. An up-to-date portfolio is also desirable.

Proposals should be sent or delivered to Don Hunter, Sculpture Wanganui 2010, Wanganui District Council, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

For further details about the competition contact Don Hunter, Arts Coordinator, email Don Hunter, phone (06) 349 0001 ext 8415, mob 027 289 6479.

Proposals must be received by midday on Friday, 16 April 2010.

Details about the following vacancies are available on this page:

Development Engineer
Applications close 5 March 2010

Water/Wastewater Engineer (fixed term, parental leave cover)
Applications close 5 March 2010

The Wanganui District Council is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council – Monday, March 15 (Council Chamber, 1.00pm)
- Adopt Draft Annual Plan 2010/11.

Council – Monday, March 15 (Council Chamber, 3.00pm)
- The Council will consider the reports from Committee meetings held in February and March along with reports direct to Council.

Youth – Monday, March 22 (Council Chamber, 4.00pm)

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.