Major improvements to Gallery workshop
Art
POSITIVE SIGNS: Mayor Cr Dallas Tout believes the Deed of Variation to extend the Wagga Wagga Airport lease for 12 months is a step in the right direction for the campaign to keep the facility in community hands.
Positive step in campaign to secure Wagga Wagga Airport’s future
Wagga Wagga City Council and the Commonwealth Department of Defence will formalise a Deed of Variation to extend the current Wagga Wagga Airport lease for a period of 12 months.
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At its Ordinary Meeting on Monday night, Council endorsed signing off on the extension to 30 June 2026, executed through a Deed of Variation of the lease.
Wagga Wagga Airport is operated by Council as a community facility serving the Riverina region on a not-for-profit basis.
The current 30-year lease of the facility from the Commonwealth Department of Defence is due to expire in June 2025.
Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Dallas Tout described the variation of the lease as a positive step for Council and the communities and businesses of Wagga Wagga and the surrounding region, who rely on the airport for connection to the rest of Australia.
“We are moving in the right direction with the 12-month extension, which means that we can extend the sub leases for all of the leaseholders at the airport through to the end of June 2026, which is in excess of 40 leases,” Cr Tout said.
“I want to thank the community and stakeholders, who earlier this year actively advocated for Council to retain the lease of the airport.
“We believe that the 12-month extension and the willingness of Defence and the Federal Government to enter
dialogue regarding a lease beyond June 2026 is directly linked to the support that has been demonstrated by the community.”
Council’s General Manager Peter Thompson has communicated that Council’s “preferred position” is still for a long-term renewal of the lease.
“This would provide certainty and security for Council and all the families, individuals, businesses, organisations and services who use this vital facility,”
Mr Thompson said.
“We are putting together a package for Defence focusing on the regional benefit of Council retaining the operation of the airport.
“It will also identify the benefits to the Commonwealth Government from Council as the operator of this facility.
“We expect to have that submission ready for Defence by the end of March next year.”
Separate to the negotiations, Council has submitted an application for a $15 million grant under the Federal Government’s Growing Regions Program to assist in funding the essential upgrade of the security screening at the airport to make it compliant with regulations.
Wagga Wagga Art Gallery has been successful in securing funding support of $51,600 through the NSW Government Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grant: Arts & Culture to undertake significant improvements and upgrades to both the E3 art workshop and E3 art space.
The funds will allow the gallery to make significant improvements to the safety and functionality of these multiuse spaces. It will also unlock opportunities for exciting new printmaking workshops and residency opportunities for local artists and art lovers.
Council’s co-contribution of $60K brings the total of this capital works project to $111,600.
Both E3 spaces will receive expanded storage and the art workshop will get improved environmental and safety equipment.
Gallery Director Lee-Anne Hall said the gallery is grateful for this funding from Liquor and Gaming NSW, along with the support received from Council and the Friends of the Gallery, toward these enhancements in the E3 art workshop and E3 art space.
“This funding opens new possibilities for programming,” Dr Hall said.
“Safer and more functional art spaces mean we can offer exciting workshops for our community, especially young people. We also hope to offer specialist classes and residency opportunities to artists in the City and wider region.
“Printmaking is one of the artistic strengths in this area, with many outstanding printmakers living and producing work here and teaching new generations at local educational facilities.
“The gallery is home to the Margaret Carnegie Print Collection, and we hope the new workshop spaces will reflect the excellence of the collection.”
In a major contribution to the workshop refurbishment project, the Friends of the Gallery have also raised funds to enable the purchase of a new state-of-the-art printing press to allow for advanced print workshops.
“The gallery is very grateful for the ongoing support we receive from the Friends of the Gallery,” said Dr Hall.
Wagga Wagga Art Gallery will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, and the capital upgrade to both the E3 art workshop and E3 art space will serve the Wagga Wagga and surrounding communities well into the future.
UPGRADES: The grant funds will go towards improving the gallery’s E3 workshop and exhibition space, allowing for more opportunities for local artists.
PROUD GALLERY: Wagga Wagga
Gallery Director Lee-Anne Hall
Gallery Officer Astrid Reed said the funding will be a great next step for the gallery spaces.
Review
Wagga Wagga City Council has completed a six-month Service Review of its Development Assessment and Building Certification Division to ensure its long-term efficiency.
The Division is responsible for the provision of quality planning and development initiatives within the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area, including managing Council’s development application (DA) assessment and building and plumbing certification services.
The Service Review involved extensive consultation, benchmarking and analysis of six ‘in-scope’ areas, with the final report presented to Council
SOARING ABOVE THE CROWD:
Museum of the Riverina Manager Luke Grealy holds up Marty Steel’s winning 2023 caricature showing Maude the cockatoo, the Bald Archy’s chief judge, holding aloft the late Peter Batey OAM, the founder of the Bald Archy.
and includes: microchipping, lifetime registration, desexing, first vaccination, FIV test, flea and worming treatment and ID tag. (ImpC24/0435)
at its Ordinary Meeting on Monday 11 November 2024.
It found that the Division’s overall performance was well above average with good legislative compliance and timeframes better than many Councils in NSW.
In the 2023/2024 Financial Year
the Division received a total of 7,369 applications, each equivalent of 28 applications per business day.
Council’s average assessment timeframe for development applications in the last financial year was 78 days, compared to a state average of 115 days for all Councils in NSW.
However, the Review and the Division’s staff acknowledge that there is room for improvement.
Project Director Regulatory Planning and Reform Rebecca Fox – who oversaw the Review – said many improvements are being made to increase customer satisfaction.
“The Development Assessment and Building Certification Division is adopting strategies to streamline its services and make sure it uses its resources effectively within quick timeframes,” Ms Fox said.
Bald Archy Prize returns for 2025
The Bald Archy Prize is back!
Submissions are now open for the very best satirical art for the 2025 Bald Archy Prize, with a $10,000 first prize up for grabs.
Museum of the Riverina Manager Luke Grealy is encouraging artists from all over Australia to enter.
“We’re calling for artworks that demonstrate wit and irreverence, farce and black comedy, and featuring an Australian identity who is distinguished in art, science, letters, politics, sport or the media,” Mr Grealy said.
“The Bald Archy Prize was started by Peter as a send-up of the the Archibald
Examples of the strategies to improve the Division’s services include improved communication with stakeholders, updating of the website’s content, trialling an Artificial Intelligence pilot program to assist in improving the pre-lodgement stage of the DA process, and the use of contractors and consultants to address areas of risk and improve outcomes for all stakeholders.
An evaluation of the outcomes of the Service Review will be undertaken within 12 months and a report presented to Council by December 2025.
REVIEW COMPLETE: Rebecca Fox was employed by Council to complete a 6-month review of the Development Assessment and Building Certification Division.
Prize, and appeals strongly to those who wouldn’t normally visit an art gallery.”
Mr Grealy said the award continues to be judged by Professor Maude the Sulphur Crested cockatoo.
“In an interview before his death, Peter Batey said it took 12 galahs to judge the Archibald but only one cockatoo to judge the Bald Archy.
“The 2024 entries in this year’s competition will be exhibited in Wagga Wagga’s Museum of the RiverinaHistoric Council Chambers from 18 December.”
Entries for the 2025 prize are open until 19 January 2025.
For further information on submissions for the 2025 Bald Archy Prize please visit baldarchy.com.au/entry-details or call the Museum of the Riverina on 6926 9655.
Road closures
REDDOCH DR
Roads: Reddoch Dr
Date: Tuesday 19 November and Monday 25
November 2024
Duration: 7am to 5pm
Reason: Road Stabilisation and Seal
Detour: Access for residents maintained where possible TOPEKA ST
Roads: Topeka St
Date: Tuesday 19 November to Friday 22 November 2024 (weather permitting)
Duration: 7am and 3pm
Reason: Road Rehabilitation
Detour: As per traffic control. Access for residents maintained where possible BERRY ST
Roads: Berry St (between Forsyth St and Morgan St)
Date: Wednesday night 20 November to Wednesday night 27 November 2024 (weather permitting)
Duration: 6pm to 6am
Reason: Road Rehabilitation
Detour: As per traffic control MORGAN ST
Roads: Morgan St (between Blake St and Tarcutta St)
Date: Wednesday night 27 November to Wednesday morning 4 December 2024 (weather permitting)
Duration: 6pm to 6am
Reason: Road Rehabilitation
Detour: Access for residents maintained where possible
Arts & Culture