Council News #436 - 11 March 2023

Wagga

The Museum of the Riverina Botanic Gardens site is now open to the public

The redeveloped Museum of the Riverina Botanic Gardens site officially opened to the public this week after an $8.6 million upgrade, creating a new and inclusive cultural experience for the community, and telling our region's story in new ways to wider audiences and visitors alike.

Our city’s new and improved Museum, nestled amongst the Botanic Gardens’ greenery on Willans Hill, is now better equipped to pass on stories to future generations and act as a community connector through a dedicated workshop, learning studio and other community spaces.

The community is invited to view an array of new galleries and spaces, curated for all ages, that explore the people and environment of Wagga Wagga and surrounds.

Museum Manager Luke Grealy said opening the museum to the community this week was a significant moment in Wagga Wagga’s rich history.

“The redeveloped museum provides a cultural facility of national standard for locals and visitors, showcasing the region as an exciting and unique tourism destination,” Mr Grealy said.

“Linking the museum more closely to the adjacent Botanic Gardens, the Museum activates the precinct, creating a major attraction for our city.

“We are particularly excited to welcome back school and touring groups to the museum with an interactive learning space established for young people.

“A dedicated workshop space allows us to share history skills and stories with volunteers and students from near and far, to ensure that our whole community benefits from the work we do.”

The four-year redevelopment involved extensive planning, auditing, community consultation, curation, and carefully packing and relocating more than 25,000 objects.

The site now includes twice as much storage, allowing the museum's 25,000 object collection to be better cared for and preserved in climate-controlled conditions.

Museum staff researched, wrote and curated the seven themed galleries covering local history including Wiradyuri First Nations, the Murrumbidgee river, sport and agriculture among others.

Regional Museum Officer of the Museum of the Riverina, Sam Leah said Wiradyuri objects being returned to country from the Australia Museum are a feature of our new First Nations gallery.

“These wooden tools and weapons are from the Ganmain area and were originally collected by the Devlin family who sold them to the Australia Museum, Ms Leah said.

“Their return to country was significant for the Wiradyuri community and to have facilitated that process is an important role of the regional museum.”

Other notable artefacts on display include the Fife family cooks galley which is on the State heritage register and a section of Wagga Wagga’s original flood

Saturday 11 March 2023 | Issue #436

LOCAL INSPIRATION: Gallery Officer Exhibitions and Programs Mary Egan with artist Tracey Jones, who will create a new collection of oil paintings inspired by regional towns.

Wagga Wagga Art Gallery announces Regional Artist Program for 2023

Wagga Wagga Art Gallery has kicked off this year’s Regional Artist Development Program with six artists and collectives participating in exhibitions and residencies throughout the year.

The list includes artists Tracey Jones, Linzie Nardi, Lyndall Phelps, Elaine Camlin, Brittany Hefren, and Vanessa Keenan and Nat Ord.

Art Gallery Director Dr Lee-Anne Hall said there was a strong interest in the program from the region’s creative community.

gauge which was attached to the old Hampden Bridge.

The redeveloped museum is now open and includes new pathways indoors and out which will give the community better accessibility for wheelchairs and prams while exploring the museum.

The Museum will be open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm, Sundays 10am2pm and closed Mondays.

The $8.6 million project was managed by Wagga Wagga City Council and funded by the Australian Government ($4.3 million), NSW Government’s Create NSW Regional Cultural Fund ($3.18 million) and Restart NSW - Infrastructure NSW ($739,466), and Wagga Wagga City Council ($400,000).

“The program aims to provide a platform for regional artists to develop their skills, connect with new audiences and showcase their works, while also supporting the growth and vibrancy of our local arts community,” Dr Hall said.

Wagga Wagga oil painter Tracey Jones recently commenced her residency, 60 Miles as the Crow Flies. During her residency, Ms Jones will travel to, and paint the landscapes of small towns around Wagga Wagga.

In June, Leeton painter Linzie Nardi will begin her residency, View From My Studio, which will explore the beauty surrounding the E3 studio.

Northern Rivers-based artist Lyndall Phelps will travel to Wagga Wagga in September as the recipient of the first RAD x Earth Canvas residency, a partnership between Earth Canvas and the Art Gallery.

In October, local printmaker Elaine Camlin will spend the residency creating a new body of work exploring her identity as an artist after many years working as an art therapist and community arts facilitator.

In August, the exhibition program will continue with emerging photographer Brittany Hefren’s first solo exhibition Windows of Wonder

The final exhibition of 2023 will start in September, when Snowy Valley photographers Vanessa Keenan and Nat Ord unveil Mid Stories II, exploring the ongoing effects of the devastating Black Summer bushfires on landscapes and communities.

For more information visit waggaartgallery.com.au/programs

WELCOME: (from left) Museum Manager Luke Grealy, Museum Education and Public Programs Officer Angus Cawdell-Smith, Museum Assistants Sophie Magnusson, Sally Nolan, Thomasin Bailey and Regional Museum Officer Sam Leah warmly welcome the community to the redeveloped museum.

ON SHOW: Museum Manager Luke Grealy shows museum visitor Catherine Greenslade a section of Wagga Wagga’s original flood gauge, used by generations of locals who would check the gauge during times of flood.

Works & Projects

LOOKING AHEAD: (from left) Mayor Councillor Dallas Tout and Council’s General Manager Peter Thompson welcome the NSW Government funding.

Council welcomes funding to progress

Riverside Stage 3 plans

Planning for the next stage of Wagga Wagga’s Riverside Precinct revitalisation will commence following the announcement of funding by Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole for the completion of the business case for this project.

The announced funding, totalling $491,875, will allow Council to carry out community consultation, produce concept designs, feasibility studies, and create a full business case for Riverside Stage 3.

Previous consultation undertaken through the Riverside Strategic Master Plan and Cultural Plan 2020-30 identified community support for a major contemporary exhibition and cultural

space in the Riverside precinct, including a cultural centre for the sharing and preserving of Wiradyuri and First Nations culture.

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Dallas Tout thanked Minister Toole and the NSW Government for this funding to progress the project.

“The development of the Riverside Stage 3 project comes on the back of other major projects in the city, such the Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub (RiFL), the NSW Government’s Special Activation Precinct, Inland Rail, and the Kapooka Military Area and RAAF Base Wagga redevelopment projects,” Cr Tout said.

General Manager Peter Thompson also welcomed the funding support, saying it is projects like Riverside Stage 3 that will help Wagga Wagga grow by providing cultural facilities alongside the economic projects that are already underway in the city.

“Wagga Wagga is a growing regional city and our eyes are on the future,” Mr Thompson said.

“Investment in contemporary cultural facilities is an important consideration in meeting growth targets, building on our liveability and creating a key point of differentiation for our region.

“A key issue following from this announcement is for the community to form a view on whether they would prefer either a bigger and better Civic Theatre, or the type of conference and entertainment cultural centre which will be the concept developed by the grant.”

Mayor Tout is looking forward to the continued planning of the Riverside precinct.

Public Art Expressions of Interest Festival of W + Humula + Mount Austin

Council are committed to becoming a thriving, innovative, connected and inclusive community, where culture and creativity engage and involve the whole community.

We are seeking experienced artists to design and install three seperate public art projects for;

• Festival of W

• Humula

• Mount Austin

To view the guidelines and apply, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/publicarteoi

Works & Projects

Maintaining

on rehabilitating our local roads

Night works are set to commence on Sunday evening to rehabilitate and resurface Nagle Street, from the Sturt Highway (Hammond Avenue) heading south for a length of 550m. Nagle Street will be closed to through traffic between 6pm and 6am for the duration of the works.

Road stabilisation and reseal works on Avocet Drive in Estella and on Watson Boulevard at Lloyd are expected to wrap up on Monday, while crews this week completed the rehabilitation of Bourke Street, between Holbrook Road and Bourkelands Drive.

The first stage of the upgrade of a 5.4-kilometre section of unsealed road on Old Narrandera Road is about to reach a milestone with crews finishing the pavement reshaping and formation work on the initial three-kilometre section. Sealing is scheduled for later this coming week.

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our city’s network of shared pathways?

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Take the survey today

Are you looking for a new feline friend?

The Glenfield Road Animal Shelter may have your brand-new bestie, with more than 45 cats and kittens currently needing homes.

The cost for adoption is $222 for a male cat and $262 for a female cat, which includes desexing, vaccination, worming, FIV test, microchipping, lifetime registration and an ID tag.

6971 4651 graswagga.com.au

Vacancies

Sewer / Stormwater Labourer $1,998.18 gpf + super

Closing: Monday, 13 March 2023

Water Reclamation Operator $2,507.80 gpf + super

Closing: Sunday, 19 March 2023

Accounts Payable Officer $2,318.42 gpf + super

Closing: Sunday, 19 March 2023

Senior Town Planner $3,494.78 gpf + super

Closing: Sunday, 19 March 2023

Contracts Officer $2,771.44 gpf + super

Closing: Monday, 20 March 2023

Mechanic $2,640.48 gpf + super

Closing: Monday, 27 March 2023

Civic Theatre Manager $3,681.74 gpf + super

Closing: Wednesday, 12 April 2023

gpf = gross salary per fortnight

R251000208

WED 15 MAR, 11AM - 12.10PM

Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way P. 6926 9688

Wagga Showground Farmers Market

THU 16 MAR, 1PM - 6.30PM

Wagga Wagga Showgrounds, Bourke St. P. 0428 732 140

Embellishment: Wagga Wagga

THU 16 MAR, 6PM – 7PM Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Morrow St. P. 6926 9660

Riverina

(Dis)Ability Expo

FRI 17 MAR, 10AM - 4PM

Kyeamba Smith Hall, Bourke St.

P. 1300 252 257

Festival of Concert Bands

FRI 17 MAR 4PM - 5.30PM & 7PM

Riverina Conservatorium of Music, 1 Simmons St.

P. 6925 3522

Sacred Heart Primary School Fete

FRI 17 MAR, 5PM - 8PM

Sacred Heart Primary School, Lake Albert Rd. P. 6922 6900

Travelling Film Festival Wagga Wagga

FRI 17 MAR, 7PM - 9PM

Forum 6 Cinemas, 77 Trail St. P. 6921 6863

Michael Bird –Intellect

FRI 17 MAR, 7PM St Martins College, Charles Sturt University.

P. 6933 4966

The Alchemist's Jar

FRI 17 MAR, 7PM – 9PM

CSU Riverina Playhouse, 8 Cross St.

P. 6926 9688

For event organising and promotion support, contact Council’s events team: events@wagga.

nsw.gov.au or 1300 292 442. Mon - Fri. /waggaevents visitwagga.com

Enquiries: 1300 292 442

For more details and to apply, visit:

Wagga Wagga City Council is an EEO employer wagga.nsw.gov.au/ jobs

Road closures

NAGLE STREET

Date: 12 March to 17 March 2023

Duration: 6pm to 6am

Reason: Pavement rehabilitation works

Detour: Traffic will be diverted to Sturt Highway and Copland Street

Public Notices

ALL NOTICES NOW ONLINE AT: wagga.nsw.gov.au/ the-council/ news-and-updates/ public-notices

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