From PNCC Press Release:

A decision has been reached by a panel of three independent commissioners appointed by Palmerston North City Council, Horowhenua District Council and Horizons Regional Council to hear submissions on applications from Motorimu Wind Farm Limited to develop, construct, install, operate, maintain and decommission 127 wind turbines in the Tararua Ranges adjacent to Linton and Tokomaru. Commissioners Dinah Williams, Richard Heerdegen and David McMahon have granted consent for 75 of the proposed turbines to be constructed and have declined consent for the remaining 52 turbines. The grant of consent for the 75 turbines is subject to a number of detailed conditions imposed by the commissioners in appendices to their decision.
The applications were submitted to the three local authorities towards the end of last year and were followed by ten and a half days of public hearings held in Palmerston North in March this year.

City Councillors have approved a preferred option for the siting of the second city bridge across the Manawatu River.

The preferred bridge location is situated between the end of Riverside Drive and Staces Road.

The option was presented to last Wednesday’s full Council meeting which unanimously approved the option in principle and has released the preference for public consultation.

The Council’s consultant, OPUS, explains that, until such time as the route of the rural ring road is finalised and built, the bridge will be linked to Napier Road along Te Matai Road and Riverside Drive and to Aokautere Drive following the general alignment of Staces Road.

From PNCC Press Release:

Champion athlete and Olympic gold medallist, Peter Snell, is returning to where it all began in Palmerston North this afternoon.

In March 1959 a relatively unknown Peter Snell won his first New Zealand track titles at the national championships at Memorial Park. The following year he was a gold medallist at the Rome Olympics.

The double that Peter achieved in Palmerston North (880 yards and the mile) was repeated twice more in his illustrious career – at the Commonwealth Games in Perth (1962) and the Olympic Games in Tokyo (1964).

Investigation of an upstream crossing of the Manawatu River is reaching an important milestone which should see confirmation of a preferred site by September 2007.

Opus International Consultants were engaged by Council in 2006 to complete the investigation of a suitable site for a second bridge. The study includes consideration of the economic, social and environmental effects and benefits of a bridge.

The bridge site forms part of Council’s Eastern Growth Corridor, which it adopted in 2003 and now forms part of its 10 Year Plan.

People who dump rubbish on the rural roads that divide the city and the Manawatu District Council are coming under the close scrutiny of both Councils.

The Head of the City Council’s Environmental Protection Services, Wayne Jameson, says the problem of dumping rubbish is gradually getting worse and both Councils are determined to identify who is littering the rural roads.

In the last few weeks the Councils have erected signs warning people that camera surveillance has been introduced. A mobile camera has been installed on one of the roads where rubbish is being dumped and will be moved regularly to other targets.

People who dump rubbish on the rural roads that divide the city and the Manawatu District Council are coming under the close scrutiny of both Councils.

The Head of the City Council’s Environmental Protection Services, Wayne Jameson, says the problem of dumping rubbish is gradually getting worse and both Councils are determined to identify who is littering the rural roads.

In the last few weeks the Councils have erected signs warning people that camera surveillance has been introduced. A mobile camera has been installed on one of the roads where rubbish is being dumped and will be moved regularly to other targets.

I’m in a Harry S. Truman mood…

Quote:

You can never get all the facts from just one newspaper, and unless you have all the facts, you cannot make proper judgements about what is going on. Harry S. Truman

I had previously posted my opinion on The Standard editorial that attacked the council CEO but recent events illustrate why our CEO got fed up with this council and resigned. Working with 16 “bosses” is a difficult enough task for anyone. Working with 16 employers when a very small number of them are continually critical, not of the work you do but of who you are, is a situation I hope to never find myself in.

Two distinctive playgrounds will be installed in Palmerston North from early April following valuable feedback from surrounding neighbours.

The junior playgrounds for children up to eight years of age will be erected in Hokowhitu Domain and Farnham Reserve, Takaro and will be completed by the end of the financial year (June 30).

When the Council approved their installation to replace existing playgrounds, staff consulted residents in the immediate vicinity through personal visits and a leaflet drop.

In all 190 leaflets were distributed around Farnham Reserve and 110 around Hokowhitu Domain and recommendations from people were incorporated into the final design.

Organizers for the Student City Day Concert featuring the Black Seeds and Hollie Smith are expecting a huge crowd to the Square this Saturday evening. With good weather forecasted and the Hurricanes in town on the same day last years total of 5000 attendants looks sure to be topped. The concert which is sponsored by PNCC, Massey, UCOL, AS@U, MUSA, ZM and @ the Hub is the highlight of O week and brings Orientation to a close with a huge bang this Saturday evening.