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Wagga Wagga City Council weekly newsletter
Saturday 16 December 2023 | Issue #476
Works & Projects
Council
POTENTIAL OPTION: A trial of an enzyme treatment which is designed to disrupt the structure of the blue green algae itself and prevents it from growing will be considered by Council early next year.
Council to consider blue-green algae treatment for Lake Albert
Lord Baden Powell Drive upgrade nearing completion LINE MARKING: Asphalt seals and line marking has taken place on Lord Baden Powell Drive in recent weeks.
Works to upgrade the western end of Lord Baden Powell Drive are progressing well, with the road expected to re-open to traffic prior to Christmas with reduced speed limits in place. The works on Lord Baden Powell Drive (near the Museum of the Riverina site) include the reconstruction of this section of road, installation of pedestrian refuge crossings and building of pathways to link the Botanic Gardens and the Museum of the Riverina site. In recent weeks the final asphalt seals have been applied to the road surface and line marking has taken place. However, before the road can be reopened the works must comply with necessary standards for pedestrian and traffic requirements. Council's Director of Strategy & Projects Phil McMurray is pleased with the work done on Lord Baden Powell Drive, but stresses there are still some elements to be completed before it can be re-opened. “Wagga Wagga City Council is making every effort to ensure the contractors complete their work as soon as possible to allow for the reopening of the road,” Mr McMurray said.
“While Monday 18 December remains the target date to re-open the road to traffic, the timing will depend on the completion of some vital road safety compliance work to ensure the road meets Australian standards. “This work includes the installation of guard rails on both sides of Lord Baden Powell Drive along the section of road which goes over the top of the Willans Hill Miniature Railway line tunnel. “In addition, necessary road and pedestrian signage is being installed. “Once the required safety measures are complete the road can be re-opened, however residents are reminded that the site is still a worksite, and a reduced speed limit will be in place until late January when the pedestrian paths are complete.” To read more about the Lord Baden Powell Drive upgrade, visit haveyoursay.wagga.nsw.gov.au/ lord-baden-powell-drive-upgrade For information about road works and road closures in the area visit livetraffic.com The project is funded by the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, NSW Government and Wagga Wagga City Council.
Hey Wagga Wagga residents, your input is needed!
FINAL SEAL: Wagga Wagga City Council has been working with the contractor to complete Lord Baden Powell Drive to allow it to be re-opened prior to Christmas.
NEARING COMPLETION: Contractors have applied line marking to the new surface of the western end of Lord Baden Powell Drive.
Wagga Wagga City Council will consider funding a trial of a possible blue-green algae treatment for Lake Albert at its February 2024 Councillor budget workshop, in conjunction with other budget considerations. At the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 12 December, Councillors endorsed noting a report on blue green algae (BGA) treatment options and the budget implications of constructing the pipeline, operating the pipeline and trialling the BGA treatment in the Lake. Lake Albert has been a significant recreational, economic, and environmental asset to the city for more than a century. The Lake suffers recurring periods of drying out and blue green algae outbreaks limiting its use during times when it contains water. As part of its work on mitigating these issues Council successfully obtained a 1.8 gigalitre specific purpose water licence to support the Lake volume. General Manager Peter Thompson said staff have been reviewing several emerging products aimed at preventing and/or treating BGA. “We have been undertaking trials with a company and the University of Newcastle on an enzyme treatment for the lake, which disrupts the structure of the blue green algae itself and prevents it from growing,” Mr Thompson said. “The company feels that it is a solution for the lake. “They've never done a water body as large as the lake so to some degree, it's still a trial, but everyone is hopeful that this may be a long-term solution to preventing algal blooms in the lake. “The other aspect of that report considered by Council was an acknowledgement that the pipeline will come both at a capital cost to us, which we will need to repay over the years, as well as ongoing operating costs.” It is expected the projects to maintain water volume in the lake and the algae treatment program will cost in excess of $1 million each year.
Council is presenting two potential projects – both resulting from community feedback – that will provide increased access to arts, entertainment, conferencing and cultural experiences for residents while creating jobs and providing significant economic benefits to the community.
haveyoursay.wagga.nsw.gov.au
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