Wagga Wagga City Council weekly newsletter
Still time left for local businesses to provide feedback
& Projects
Council pushes ahead with crucial road rehabilitation and maintenance projects
Wagga Wagga City Council has embarked on an ambitious construction project to repair flood damage across 123 different unsealed and sealed road sections in the local government area.
The project will encompass sealed road rehabilitation at 26 locations, impacted by the multiple flooding events along the Murrumbidgee River in 2022.
Director Infrastructure Services
Henry Pavitt says due to an increase in construction costs since the flood event, Council had to seek additional funds from the State Government under the Natural Disaster Fund.
“Thankfully, the NSW Government swiftly approved the variation of more than $2 million, ensuring that the original scope of works will not face a shortfall and burden ratepayer funds,” Mr Pavitt said.
“This much-needed injection of funds and the commitment of Council to address community feedback bode well for the region's infrastructure and safety.
Wagga Wagga City Council is calling on local businesses and stakeholders to have their say on the future of our community and assist in identifying economic development priorities.
Council recently launched the Business Stakeholder Survey, which also forms part of the community engagement for the development of the Wagga Wagga 2050 – Community Strategic Plan, which has been occurring during 2023 and 2024.
This main round of community engagement will be wrapping up in August, with the business survey closing for submissions on Friday 16 August.
Council’s Executive Manager, Regional Activation – Projects Christine Priest said responses from this survey will help guide economic development priorities for our community.
“We want to hear from all types and sizes of businesses who operate locally, from sole traders through to major employers,” Ms Priest said.
“The needs of business vary depending on the size, scale and sector so we are keen to understand these needs and hear from business from various sectors.
“This includes retail, hospitality, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, transport and warehousing, human services, health related services, financial services, legal services, recruitment, education, recreation, entertainment and the list goes on and on.”
All feedback gathered from the survey will help inform the development of the Wagga Wagga 2050 – Community Strategic Plan and our Economic Development Strategy.
The survey questions cover a wide range of local business contexts from future opportunities, priority areas and local selling points, to current challenges and barriers for owners and operators.
“It’s important that when you are answering this survey to think of the local context in terms of businesses operating within the Wagga Wagga local government area,” Ms Priest said.
“The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and if you don't have a response for every question that's fine, just move to the next one.”
After the survey and main round of engagement, it is anticipated that Council will share a draft of the Wagga Wagga 2050 – Community Strategic Plan with the community in November 2024.
Council will host several pop-up stalls within the community, along with targeted conversations to check in and make sure we have heard you properly.
Council’s Have Your Say Wagga Wagga webpage presents a range of ways you can get involved in the current engagement.
You can fill out the survey, share what you love about Wagga Wagga and surrounds, as well as see a range of contributions from other community members: haveyoursay.wagga. nsw.gov.au/csp2050/businessstakeholder-survey
LET’S CHAT BUSINESS: Council held a Business Breakfast alongside Wagga Wagga Business Chamber earlier this year to chat and engage with local businesses about Wagga Wagga 2050.
Been doing a yard clean up? DON’T put large pieces
“We understand the significance of these works and appreciate the community's patience and support.”
In addition to this crucial work, Council will be spending more than $8.4 million in an unsealed road maintenance program.
“The unsealed road undertaking presents a logistical challenge, as it involves coordinating gravel sources from nine different quarry operations” Mr Pavitt said.
“The work will involve placing a staggering 68,000 tonnes of gravel, resulting in around 2060 truck and trailer movements across the local road network, and will take around 404 working days to complete.”
With project costs varying from $1500 to $425,000 per road, three dedicated Council construction crews will be working tirelessly over the next six months to ensure the completion of the projects.
As Council pushes ahead with these vital projects, it hopes to complete approximately 450 kilometres of road grading, and re-sheet around 70 to 80 kilometres of our unsealed road network. Council will keep the community updated on details about when and where these works will be carried out, as they are finalised.
ECONOMIC FUTURE: The Business Stakeholder Survey will allow businesses to influence the direction and focus of future plans that will impact their operations within the area. Pictured: Council’s Economist Andrew Stockman and Executive Manager, Regional Activation – Projects Christine Priest.
Works
much more than just
Wagga Wagga City Library’s role as a cultural, information and learning hub for the whole community has been in the spotlight this week as part of Library & Information Week 2024, from 29 July to 4 August.
Celebrated across the nation, Library & Information Week gives libraries and information services the chance to showcase their resources and services to their communities.
Library Services Manager Christine Bolton encourages residents to explore and appreciate the full range of services and programs available at the library.
“We like to think of the Wagga Wagga City Library as having three main access points: our main Library located in the Civic Centre, our Agile Library service, and our digital front door which includes our e-library services and databases,” Ms. Bolton explained.
“We’ve had more than 40,000 unique visitors to our eLibrary in the past 12 months and access is free with your library membership.
“Our Agile Library service currently reaches 21 locations, bringing library services and programs directly to various suburban neighbourhoods and rural villages within the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area.
“I think at the heart of our contemporary library service is a commitment to access and equity, which includes providing services and programs free of charge.”
As well as offering its regular range of programs and services, Wagga Wagga City Library marked Library &
Information Week with several special activities, including visiting several pre-schools and hosting a pop-up information stall at a local shopping centre.
Outreach Services Team Leader
Wendy Harper said the visit to the Wagga Wagga Marketplace on Wednesday and Thursday was a new way to engage a broader audience.
“We had two library officers on hand at our pop-up information site to answer any questions people had about our library service and to talk about the library, what we do and all that we have to offer,” Ms Harper said.
“The team had a fantastic time, encouraging people to join up to the free membership, then teaching them how to access digital data and encouraging them to come to our programs and visit our services when they're near them in their neighbourhoods.
“While the library is still the place where you can drop in and choose some books to take home and read, it is so much more than just books, from the Language Café and Storytime to our Learn English and Play program, and author talks; and most of them are available to everyone and free to attend.”
You can find out what our library services mean to community members by visiting waggalibrary.com.au/visit/ library-connections-exhibition
pop-up information stall at a local shopping centre as part of Library & Information Week 2024.
Parks & Recreation
IN THE FAST LANE: Oasis Program Manager Brad Ingram and lifeguard Chelsea Girdler: courses for pool lifeguard and swimming teacher are great paths to a career in the aquatics industry.
Dive in to a new career at Oasis!
If you’ve ever thought about working as a lifeguard or swimming instructor, then the Oasis Aquatic Centre has what you need to kickstart your new career.
Oasis facilitates Royal Life Saving and AUSTSWIM courses that will give you the qualifications you need to work in the aquatics industry.
Two Teacher of Swimming courses will be held at Oasis in September, one run by Royal Life Saving and the other by AUSTSWIM.
Oasis Programs Supervisor Brad Ingram said Oasis facilitate lifeguard courses once every two months or so, and Teacher of Swimming courses up to four times a year.
“Lifeguard and swimming teacher courses are a great starting point for employment at a leisure centre like Oasis,” Mr Ingram said.
“There is always a demand for swimming teachers. We’re now in third term of the year, and even though it’s freezing outside we’re still seeing huge enrolment numbers in our Oasis Swim School lessons.”
For more information on the Teacher of Swimming courses, please phone 6926 9390 or email oasis@wagga.nsw.gov.au
For more information visit oasiswagga. com.au
Dates to remember
Royal Life Saving Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety Course
Saturday 14 September
Become a swimming instructor and teach a skill for life! Facilitated by Royal Life Saving. Accreditation is valid for three years.
AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety Course
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September
Become a swimming instructor and teach a skill for life! Facilitated by AUSTSWIM. Accreditation is valid for three years.
Radiant Ruby
Just like her namesake, this beautiful girl is a rare gem. Ruby is a five-yearold, black, female large mixed breed who is looking for her human/s to love.
Ruby is a large, strong dog that will suit a person who is experienced with large breeds.
The adoption cost for Ruby (ImpD24/0329) is $353 and includes: lifetime registration, vaccination, desexing, flea and worming treatment, heartworm test and ID tag
Morrow St. P. 6921 2594
Art Classes with Leigh Hewitt MON 5 AUG, 6PM – 8PM The Curious Rabbit, 44 Johnson St. P. 6921 5391
La Boheme Opera TUE 6 AUG, 7.30PM – 9.50PM Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way. P. 6926 9688 Wheelchair AFL WED 7 AUG, 6.30PM – 8PM Bolton Park Stadium, Morgan St. P. 0407 682 545 Pottery and Pints THU 8 & FRI 9 AUG, 7PM – 9PM
IT’S YOUR LIBRARY: Outreach Services Team Leader Wendy Harper and Library Programs Officer Peter Casey are hosting a