A step forward in Wagga Wagga’s journey of reconciliation

The 2023 Junior State Cup, which runs from 17–19 February, is the first since the COVID interruption to get back to a level of normality.

NSWTA General Manager Dean Russell said lessons have been taken out of the COVID years to implement a new model of delivery.

"The format we are using this year primarily sees divisions either playing a morning or an afternoon session,” Mr Russell said.

“Parents and participants will be able to decide if they stay at the venue all day watching their club mates or, if they wish, visit some of the region’s attractions; my guess is they’ll be keen to do both.”

Junior State Touch Cup carnival kicks off in Wagga Wagga

Wagga Wagga City Council and the NSW Touch Association (NSWTA) are once again hosting the Junior State Cup Southern Conference carnival at the Jubilee Park precinct, with play getting underway on Friday.

Organisers are also keeping an eye on the weather, with heat safety protocols in place.

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout said the city is looking forward to the return of this major event for the fifth consecutive year.

“We are pleased to be welcoming all participants,” Cr Tout said.

“Our staff have been working alongside NSW Touch to prepare for the carnival, highlighting the strong relationship we’ve forged over the past five years.”

A total of 189 teams representing 28 affiliates will be taking part. There will be close to 760 games played, while a contingent of nearly 225 referees will officiate.

The finals will kick off from 12.30pm on Sunday, with the prestigious Girls 18s and Boys 18s played at 2pm and 2.30pm respectively. There will be changed traffic conditions around Jubilee Park during the carnival.

Traffic changes:

Red Hill Road will be closed to eastbound traffic between the Bourke Street and Glenfield Road roundabouts, with detours via Bruce Street.

Bourke Street between Bourkelands Drive and Red Hill Road roundabout will be closed to non-event traffic, with detours via Berembee Road, Bourkelands Drive and Holbrook Road. Road closures will be in place from 6am to 5pm on Friday and Saturday and 6am to 3pm on Sunday. Detours will be signposted.

The Traffic Management Plan can be accessed at wagga.nsw.gov.au/ roadclosures

Council’s Aboriginal Community Development Officer Bernard Higgins said the RAP’s purpose is to give organisations and businesses a guideline to help them with their reconciliation journey.

“At the Council meeting last Monday, Wiradyuri Elder Aunty Mary Atkinson and Wagga Wagga High School student and Wiradyuri woman Eva Tseros spoke about the importance to First Nations People that Wagga Wagga City Council is on this journey, walking side-by-side with the First Nations community,” Mr Higgins said.

“It’s about giving First Nations people the opportunity to be involved from the very beginning in Council-led projects and other developments in the Wagga Wagga community.

“We’ve already seen the positive outcomes of community engagement with the Wiradyuri and First Nations community in recent years with the development of the Riverside stage 2 project and the Wagga Wagga Multisport Cycling Complex at Pomingalarna.

“If we work closely with the Wiradyuri and First Nations community and include them as part of the discussions, we’re treating them with respect.”

There are four key areas for the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2022 – 2024: relationships, respect, opportunities, and governance.

To find out more about the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2022 – 2024, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/innovate-rap

Roadworks update

Contractors have advised the completion of night works at the northern end of Lake Albert Road have been delayed until next week.

The 380-metre stretch of the road from Warrawong Street to and including the Copland Street intersection is being resurfaced as part of the $4.8-million Lake Albert Road Rehabilitation program. Director Infrastructure Services Warren Faulkner said the contractors have finished milling out the existing pavement and creating a new basecourse.

“It’s expected they will place the asphalt wearing course during night works early in the new week, weather permitting, creating a smoother and stronger surface for road users,” Mr Faulkner said.

“We are asking motorists to drive to the conditions while the project is ongoing.” Lake Albert will be closed to through traffic at the roadworks site between 6pm to 6am from Monday 20 February to Thursday 23 February, with detours via Lord Baden Powell Drive and Railway Street.

Council’s program of road rehabilitation works is also progressing with the rehabilitation of Lloyd Road, from Plumpton Road to Holbrook Road, well underway.

Night works are scheduled for Nagle Street from 22 to 25 February, with the road to be sealed during the daytime on Saturday 25 February, weather permitting. Traffic will be diverted to the Sturt Highway and Copland Street while the road is closed.

Contractors are also expected to start night works in Copland Street in the second half of next week to asphalt overlay the intersections with Blaxland Road, Lawson Street, Hartog Place and Say Street.

Traffic control measures are in place at all of these road work sites. Motorists are asked to plan their journeys and expect delays.

One Book One Wagga: join our biggest book club

Wagga Wagga City Library celebrated Library Lovers’ Day on 14 February with the launch of One Book One Wagga for 2023.

Now in its 10th year One Book One Wagga is the city’s largest book club. Hundreds of locals read the same novel by an Australian author over four months, then spend an evening with the author at a Gala Dinner in May.

Library Services Manager Christine Bolton said this year’s novel is Limberlost by award-winning author Robbie Arnott.

“Robbie had been on our radar for some time after he was chosen as one of the Sydney Morning Herald’s Best Young Australian novelists in 2019,” Ms Bolton said.

This year's Gala Dinner will be held on Friday 19 May at The Garden Function Centre, situated in the Botanic Gardens Precinct. Tickets will be available soon through the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre.

The library team are confident their choice of Limberlost will again prove to be a literary success, with many previous novels going on to win major awards after their selection for One Book One Wagga.

“We like to think of it as ‘the Wagga effect,’” Ms Bolton said.

“Limberlost is going to be hot property, so I’d encourage everyone to drop into the library and borrow their copy as soon as possible. It’s also available in audiobook and ebook format.

“We’ve had 53 book clubs join the library’s Book Club program already this year, which just shows how many book lovers we have in our community. It’s great to see.”

For more information on the One Book One Wagga Gala Dinner, visit waggalibrary.com.au/whats-on

HOMEWARD BOUND: Wagga Wagga

City Council’s Animal Welfare Supervisor

Julie McPhail and Animal Welfare Officer

Courtney Krause with kitten Giblet Moodles.

Reunited: shelter celebrates the power of microchipping

Wagga Wagga City Council’s Animal Welfare Supervisor Julie McPhail said three joyous family reunions in the last month serves as a reminder of the importance of microchipping and lifetime registering your furry family members.

“Coco the cat had been missing for 18 months, but a microchip assisted shelter staff reunite her with family in Queensland,” Ms McPhail said.

“Little Blue, another cat who was also microchipped and registered, is now home safe and sound with her owners, four years after she went missing.”

Microchipping your pets greatly increases the chances of being reunited with them if they become lost.

“Not only is microchipping and lifetime registration a legal requirement for all pet owners, if your cat or dog goes missing, a microchip is its phone call home,” Ms McPhail said.

A pet is a commitment for life. For more information on how you can support your pet's wellbeing, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/ animals

A striking chocolate coat, combined with a sociable nature: meet Sprite! This energetic male Australian Kelpie is ready for a forever home where there is room to run and humans to love. You can adopt Sprite (ImpD23/0057) for $310, which includes de-sexing, vaccination, worming, microchipping, a heartworm test, lifetime registration and an ID tag.

Meet all our available pets at graswagga.com.au or pop in to visit – the shelter is open from Monday to Saturday, 1pm – 4 .15pm.

Vacancies

Senior Vegetation Management Officer

$2,771.44 gpf + super

Closing: Sunday 19 February 2023

Natural Resource Management Officer $2,908.36 gpf + super

Closing: Sunday 19 February 2023

Fleet Operations Officer $2,771.44 gpf + super

Closing: Sunday, 19 February 2023

Civil Works Supervisor $3,363.92 gpf + super

Closing: Sunday, 19 February 2023

Operations Engineer $3,863.62 gpf + super

Be

Closing: Sunday,

6 – 22 Feb Lloyd Road

22 – 25 Feb Nagle Street

27 Feb –10 Mar Bourke Street

13 – 15 Mar Watson Boulevard

OUR CITY’S BOOK FOR 2023: Outreach Services Team Leader Wendy Harper with this year’s One Book One Wagga novel: Limberlost by awardwinning author Robbie Arnott.

Road closure

NAGLE STREET - NIGHT WORKS

Date: Wednesday 22 to Saturday 25 February 2023, weather permitting

Duration: 6pm to 6am weeknights, 7am to 5pm Saturday

Reason: Pavement rehabilitation

Detour: Traffic will be diverted to Sturt Highway and Copland Street gpf = gross salary per fortnight

City Council is an EEO employer