Civil Defence volunteers take part in regular training sessions.

We provide an emergency management service
To enable the community to effectively respond to emergency situations and to protect life and property.

How this service is provided
An Emergency Management and Civil Defence (CD) organisation based in the Council building provides planning skills, information, training and, in the event of an emergency, co-ordination of the response and restoration.
Typical emergencies covered by the service include earthquakes, floods and storms, water shortages, chemical spills, rural fires and service utility failures.
A fully trained rural fire unit is based at the Fire Station in Maria Place Extension.

Services provided

1. Personal preparedness education activities at all levels.
2. Regular training sessions, which involve a wide range of organisations and residents, including an annual training exercise based on a prescribed threat or hazard.
3. Volunteer rescue squad trained to rescue and evacuate people.
4. A hazard warning system (including sirens) from information sources such as river gauges, specific weather forecasts, volcanic and tsunami reports.
5. Public education and advice, including pamphlets and visual aids.
6. Co-ordination of community and service organisations through regular contact and meetings.
7. Civil Defence kits for sale, containing basic domestic survival items.
8. A 24-hour response to rural fires through the 111 emergency telephone system.

Customer service
One Civil Defence Officer is available for after hours response via telepager or cellphone. The Wanganui District Council after hours contact system refers initial calls.
The New Zealand Fire Service is contracted to issue rural fire permits.

Monitoring the service
Internal and external assessment of the exercises.

Cost
The average ratepayer pays $19 per year.
Rural fire costs an average of $153 per rural ratepayer per year, plus charges are made to individual landowners at fault.
CD survival kits cost $29 each.

Further information is available from Max Benseman, phone 349 0001, email Max Benseman.

To January 12: Chess Championships
Venue: Collegiate Hotel and Motor Inn.

January 4: Rivercity Markets
Venue: Wanganui Racecourse. 8am-1pm.

January 4: Whanganui River Flea Market
Venue: Whanganui River Trust Board, 59 Taupo Quay. 8am-2pm.

January 6: "Smash Fest" - World 4 Cylinder Demolition Derby Championship
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Cooks Gardens. 5.30pm.

To January 31: horizons.mw DoC Summer Nature Programme
A wide range of activities and areas of conservation interest to visit. Programmes available from Department of Conservation office, i-Site Wanganui Visitor Centre and horizons.mw office.

Throughout January:
A wide range of exhibitions at the Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui Regional Museum and other galleries.

More information about things to do in the Wanganui District is available from the i-Site Wanganui Visitor Centre, 101 Guyton Street.

Lake Wiritoa will be closed to the public from Sunday, 5 January 2003, until Sunday, 12 January 2003, inclusive to allow for the NZ Tournament Water Ski Association's elite coaching week and the Wanganui Goldstar Tournament.

The beach area of the lake will remain open for passive recreation.

The Council apologises for any inconvenience this may cause the public.

In October the Council sought public comments on whether there should be a policy review on the suitability of shows and events held in Council-owned facilities.

At this week's Council meeting, the Council resolved that the status quo would remain (that means no policy change, with the matter covered by existing legislation). The Council also resolved that it would lobby central government for a review of the Crimes Act Sections 124 and 125.

The Council received 311 comments about the issue and thanks all those who took the time to give their views.

The following are the closures for the New Year holiday period.

District Library

The Heritage Collection will be open from 1.00pm to 5.00pm on the weekdays the Library is open.

Normal opening hours of 9.00am - 8.00pm will resume on Monday, 6 January 2003.

The Mobile Library will operate until Tuesday, 24 December 2002 and resume again on Tuesday, 7 January 2003.

Royal Wanganui Opera House Booking Office

Permanent Liquor Ban - Central Business Area

Public notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 709(F) of the Local Government Act 1974 that the Wanganui District Council at a Special Meeting on Monday, 9 December 2002, resolved:

To implement the proposed Permanent Liquor Ban, under Section 709C of the Local Government Act 1974, stipulating that:

(i) The consumption, bringing and possession of liquor in a public place is prohibited on specified days, and

(ii) The specified days are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of each week, 24 December, 26 December and 31 December, from 7.00pm to 7.00am the following day, the time period starting on each specified day, and

(iii) The Permanent Liquor Ban will be in force on public places as specified under Section 709B of the Local Government Act 1974, including:

• A road, whether or not the road is under the control of a council; and
• One or more parts of a public place

within the area defined on the map and described as all public places including streets, service lanes, lanes and footpaths, car-parks, parks and reserves within the area bounded by and including the Wanganui Town Bridge, Taupo Quay, Wilson Street, Guyton Street, St Hill Street, Ingestre Street, Wilson Street, Bassett Street, Nelson Street, Dublin Street, Castlecliff Branch Railway Line, London Street, Wicksteed Street, Cameron Terrace, Bell Street and Market Place.

Click here to view the map (74 Kbs).

AND THAT in accordance with Section 709(F)(3) of the Local Government Act 1974, the Liquor Ban come into force on 24 December 2002.

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