Council News #428 - 14 January 2023

Major road works program rolls out across Wagga Wagga

are an interim fix to remove the patchwork quilt of repairs to potholes that form following rain and replace it with a new sacrificial seal that will provide a better road surface until the major road upgrade project commences later this year.”

Wagga Wagga City Council is encouraging motorists and other road users to plan their journey and be prepared for delays, as it starts its road rehabilitation program to renew and improve several key distributor roads across our local government area (LGA).

The current program includes Mundowy Lane, Old Narrandera Road, Inglewood Road, Copland Street, Lloyd Road, Nagle Street, Watson Boulevard, Bourke Street, and Macleay Street.

Director Infrastructure Service Warren Faulkner said the rehabilitation works have been planned for some time but could not start due to the significant wet weather and flooding events.

“Now that the rain has stopped and we’ve had some heat to dry out pavements, we’re in the position to get the ball rolling,” Mr Faulkner said. “We started this week at Mundowy Lane, which has been closed since the October and November flooding events.

“That work is expected to be completed by Monday and our crews will then relocate to Old Narrandera Road, between Pine Gully Road and the Olympic Highway.

“The works on Old Narrandera Road

Old Narrandera Road will be closed to traffic between Pine Gully Road and the Olympic Highway during the work, with detours in place via Estella Road and Boorooma Street.

Where possible, contractors will open the road in the evenings when the work is completed for the day. The road will be closed again in the morning when works re-commence.

The Inglewood Road upgrade is also scheduled to start in the week commencing Monday 16 January and will stretch 2.4 kilometres east from Mitchell Road.

The road works will be carried out between 6am and 6pm on weekdays and will be under the direction of traffic control.

“We’re asking road users to allow extra travel time, drive to the conditions and follow the direction of traffic controllers,” Mr Faulkner said.

“We understand the works will be quite disruptive but we thank you for your patience while we complete this important work to deliver improved safety for the people who use these roads.”

The program of works is being funded by Council, the Australian Government through its Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program as well

as its Roads to Recovery Program, and the NSW Government through its REPAIR program.

For information about road closures, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/roadclosures

Rugby fans from across the Riverina will get to experience some of the stars of the game at McDonald’s Park in Wagga Wagga when the ACT Brumbies host a trial game against the Melbourne Rebels next month.

The Brumbies will look to put the finishing touches on their Super Rugby Pacific preparations with clashes against the NSW Waratahs in Griffith on 4 February, and the Melbourne Rebels in both men’s and women’s in Wagga Wagga on 11 February.

The double-header rugby roadshow will also include school and community visits, rugby clinics and more.

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout welcomed the announcement, saying it will be exciting to see the Super Rugby team return to the city for the first time in seven years.

“The crowds packed into McDonald’s Park when the Brumbies played their two previous trail games here, in 2015 and 2016,” Cr Tout said.

“We’re confident we will see a similar strong turnout for the trial game on 11 February, as there are plenty of rugby fans in this area keen to experience some of the stars of the game battling it out in their own backyard.”

ACT Brumbies CEO, Phil Thomson said: “It's been three years since we've been able to bring trial games to regional NSW due to COVID and we're thrilled to be in the position to now do so again with these two top-class double-headers.

“To genuinely connect with our community in Griffith, Wagga Wagga and the surrounding regions with these matches and the associated community engagement activities in the region is something we are really excited about.

“Whilst the trial games will naturally take centre stage, we care deeply about growing the game of rugby in our region so to be able to engage with people in the regions schools, rugby clubs and the broader community is what we're most looking forward to."

Tickets for the Brumbies – Rebels games are on sale through the Brumbies page online.

ROLLING OUT: This week's works on Mundowy Lane mark the start of Council's road rehabilitation program.

Wagga Wagga City Council weekly

Events & Tourism

Council

TOP VENUE: (from left) Council Manager Oasis Aquatic Centre Marc Geppert, NJPW star Bad Luck Fale and event copromoter through GLO Sports Cam Vale.

Oceania

Wagga Wagga will be in the international spotlight when the city hosts the New Japan Pro Wrestling’s first Oceania Cup at the Multi-Purpose Stadium (MPS) at the Equex Centre later this year.

The event’s co-promoter through GLO Sports and one of the headline stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) visited Wagga Wagga this week to view the venue and set about the final planning for the NJPW Oceania Cup.

The professional event will be held over four days and will feature elite professional wrestlers, fan engagement and special events. The event will be an inclusive event for all people to attend.

Wagga Wagga City Council has been in discussion with GLO Sports for several months about staging the event in the city.

“We are incredibly proud that GLO Sports has chosen Wagga Wagga to host the NJPW first major event in

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the facilities at the Equex MPS and to highlight our ability to host large events.

“With the recent funding Council received under Round Five of the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund, we will have additional seating capacity and a better spectator experience to offer.”

Event Co-promoter Cam Vale said the hosting of the Oceania Cup will elevate Wagga Wagga on an international stage.

“NJPW major following is of course out of Japan, where it has run successfully for 51 years, but it is important to note the high following on NJPW in the USA, where in 2019 NJPW sold out Madison Square Garden in New York,” Mr Vale said.

“Wrestling is an amazing product on TV but even better live, this is a major international brand being brought to Wagga through the successful Regional Destination Funding grant program of NSW Government.”

“This event will feature some great out-of-the-ring activities and in particular, engagement with fans and the wrestlers, and one we hope can be turned into an annual event moving forward.”

Bad Luck Fale is a Tongan-New Zealander who is a recognised and long-standing wrestler with NJPW.

“This is an important event for NJPW in 2023,” Bad Luck Fale said. “The calibre of wrestling talent and matches will be at the highest level, with wrestlers from all parts of the NJPW roster.

“The strong style of NJPW pro wrestling means it is appealing to both sports fans and fans of combat and contact sports, and as pro wrestling and NJPW does – expect the unexpected, don’t miss this event.”

GLO Sport is in the final stages of confirming the event dates and ticketing information and should have this information confirmed by the end of January.

Council’s Zoo and Aviary curators have been employing a range of measures, from creating mud baths and putting out fun ice blocks to switching on water misters, to keep the furry and feathered residents cool.

With temperatures hitting the mid to high 30s over much of the week, shady spots, ponds and sprinklers were at a premium.

Zoo curators are encouraging people to visit in the morning when it is still relatively cool and the animals are more active.

It is also when you might get the chance to meet some of the residents close up, with the zoo holding its public interaction sessions at 11am each day with some of the baby animals and reptiles.

2022 RECIPIENT: On behalf of the Rotary Club of South Wagga Wagga, Melina Dunn accepted the Environmental Citizen of the Year Award from the Mayor Cr Dallas Tout.

Nominations for Australia Day Awards recognise local heroes

Twenty-six residents have been recognised for their generous contribution to the community with nominations for the 2023 Wagga Wagga Australia Day Awards.

The official Wagga Wagga Australia Day awards ceremony will be held at the Civic Theatre on Wednesday 25 January from 7pm.

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout said Council is delighted to have received nominations across all five categories: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Environmental Citizen of the Year, Ted Ryder Sports Memorial, and Walk of Honour inductee.

“These nominees have worked tirelessly devoting time and energy into making Wagga Wagga a better place to live for all,” Cr Tout said.

“It is wonderful to see so many citizens being recognised for the outstanding work they do for our community.”

Free general admission tickets to the ceremony are available through the Civic Theatre booking office by calling 6926 9688 or online at civictheatre.com.au

On Australia Day, Thursday 26 January, the city will welcome 80 new Australian citizens from 23 different countries at a community ceremony at the Victory Memorial Gardens.

The ceremony will be held at 9am and is one of the main events on the day.

Residents are invited to attend this free community event starting at 7am which includes a breakfast, sand sculpture demonstration, biscuit decorating workshop, face painting and a thong throwing competition.

For more details about Wagga Wagga’s Australia Day 2023 activities, go to wagga.nsw.gov.au/australiaday

Facilities

$2,211.18

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