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Wagga Wagga City Council weekly newsletter
Saturday 22 October 2022 | Issue #418
Council flood clean-up begins.
Council
A number of roads across the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area inundated by water during the recent Murrumbidgee River flooding event remain closed to traffic.
Council assesses the impacts of recent flood and rain events CLEAN-UP TASK: Council crews clear away the debris from the Eunony Bridge Road, which was inundated by flood waters. Environment & Animals
How hot is your suburb? Find out in Council’s Urban Cooling Strategy Council is seeking community feedback on its draft Urban Cooling Strategy, a 30-year plan aiming to help cool our city through sustainable future developments and adapting public spaces. The draft strategy contains a wide range of actions that Council and the community can take to help reduce the impact of increasing temperatures and heat waves.
Manager Environment & Regulatory Services Mark Gardiner said Council undertook thermal imaging of the core urban areas around the city to gain an understanding of how suburbs compare in terms of temperature and canopy cover. “The thermal imaging identified that where we have a lot of infrastructure, you have the urban heat island effect, where it’s absorbing heat and creating warmer temperatures than those you get in treed environments,” Mr Gardiner said. “Also, in newer suburbs that don’t have a lot of tree canopy, there is an increase in the urban heat island effect. “Among many other actions within the Urban Cooling Strategy, Council will look
at developing a detailed tree management strategy which will drive how we approach tree planting through the city. We’ll strategically identify areas that need additional planting.” Of the suburbs included in the imaging, Turvey Park emerged as the suburb with the highest canopy cover, at 16 per cent. Bomen had the lowest recorded canopy cover, with just two per cent. In terms of temperature, Kapooka had the coolest median land surface of 27.3°C; Forest Hill the hottest at 31°C. The strategy includes actions that community members can undertake, such as planting more trees and shrubs in your garden, reducing the number of hard surfaces on your property and, where possible, choosing a lighter coloured roof for your home or shed. “The impacts of extreme heat on human health are well known,” Mr Gardiner said. “We’re trying to get on the front foot and ensure the health and wellbeing of our community. “That’s why we’re encouraging community members to review the strategy and make a submission; let us know if we’ve covered everything you expected in this strategy, and feel free to make suggestions.” The draft Urban Cooling Strategy is now on public exhibition, open for submissions until 15 November. To read the draft Urban Cooling Strategy and submit your feedback, visit connect.wagga.nsw.gov.au/ urban-cooling-strategy
Doing some DIY? Building and construction waste should be taken to Gregadoo Waste Management Centre rather than being placed in your kerbside bins.
To learn more visit: wagga.nsw.gov.au/householdwaste
Earlier this week, Council reopened Eunony Bridge Road after crews completed clean-up works, removing debris left behind by the receding flood water, and resealing damaged sections of the pavement. Director Infrastructure Services Warren Faulkner said staff have been out assessing other roads across the Local Government Area. “The focus is on determining the extent of damage to these roads and whether any repairs will be required before they can be reopened to traffic,” Mr Faulkner said. “We need to be mindful that a natural weather phenomenon is occurring and that if we are sustaining considerable damage as part of that, we may be eligible for natural disaster funding. “As part of the funding requirements, evidence of the damage before we repair the road is required, which does slow the process of being able to open the roads. “More broadly, the consistent and prolonged rainfall this winter and spring has been taking its toll on our road network, so please drive to the conditions.” The community is reminded access also remains restricted to a number of open spaces and reserves adjacent to the river, including the Riverside precinct and Wagga Beach carpark. Strategic Asset Planner (Parks and Recreation) Ben Creighton said Council is asking people to continue to stay clear of these areas, if possible. “While the flood water has been receding, it has left behind a lot of mud and debris and has also resulted in a number of trees coming down due to the saturated ground, so it’s important to be aware of these hazards” Mr Creighton said. “We really appreciate your patience and will let you know when we reopen.” To stay up-to-date about local road closures, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/ flooding
For more emergency information, advice, and access to the latest river heights and rainfall observations and forecasts: NSW SES: ses.nsw.gov.au NSW SES Facebook: facebook.com/ MERRHQ Bureau of Meteorology: bom.gov.au/ places/nsw/wagga-wagga/