Wagga Wagga City Council weekly newsletter
Discover ‘What’s On’ in our region this spring
Community survey open for draft Regional Drought Resilience Plan
Members of the community are invited to share their views and experiences of drought through a short survey which will assist in the development of a draft Regional Drought Resilience Plan.
Wagga Wagga City Council, in partnership with Lockhart Shire Council, is creating the plan, which is part of the NSW Government’s Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program.
The two Councils commenced stakeholder consultation in August, with community workshops held in Tarcutta, The Rock, Lockhart and Wagga Wagga.
Those who weren’t able to attend the workshops can still provide their input through an online survey which is open until mid-October.
Wagga Wagga City Council’s Manager City Growth & Regional Assets Ben Creighton says input from the community helps to ensure all factors relating to drought are considered.
“The aim of the Regional Drought Resilience Plan will be to outline strategies that will support the communities living in the two local government areas during times of drought,” Mr Creighton said.
“Therefore, we want to hear about how drought affects all members of the community, including those who work in the agriculture industry, business owners and members of the general public.
“Most people would have experienced the effects of drought in some way; it might be as simple as adhering to water restrictions around the home.”
Information gathered from the community and stakeholders will be used to identify key concerns and areas of improvement for drought resilience that need to be addressed in the plan.
The Regional Drought Resilience Plan will align with the following pillars:
• Community – ensuring residents have access to support systems;
• Environment – water security and encouraging the use of sustainable practices;
• Economy – ensuring economic stability during drought.
A draft plan is expected to be exhibited to the public in late-October 2024.
For more information and to complete the survey, visit haveyoursay.wagga. nsw.gov.au
Shake off the winter blues and burst into spring in our Wagga Wagga + Surrounds region, with the newly released Spring What’s On Guide highlighting the abundance of things to see, do and enjoy in our Wagga Wagga + Surrounds region.
The guide is now available and showcases more than 130 events taking place across the city and wider region over the months of spring, including an array of regular markets and workshops. Wagga Wagga City Council’s Destination & Events Coordinator Kimberly Parker said there is a great variety of community, creative and cultural activities, as well as major events and festivals on offer.
“Spring continues to be our busiest season as we welcome more events and visitors to our region, and amongst the highlights on this season's calendar are Spring Jam Children's Festival on 28 September, Gears and Beers Festival on the October long weekend, and FUSION BOTANICAL on 19 October, just to name a few,” Ms Parker said.
“As the weather starts to warm up, we see more visitors coming to the Wagga Wagga + Surrounds region to enjoy the vibrant calendar of events which will have a flow on economic benefit to the community.
“The What’s On Guide is a handy resource to have at-hand for tips and information about what’s on offer, from lively events and family-friendly school holiday ideas to markets and open gardens.
“So now is the perfect time to grab your copy of the guide and start planning your social calendar for the season.”
You can pick up your copy of the Wagga Wagga + Surrounds What's On guide for Spring 2024 at the Wagga Wagga Visitor Information Centre, local businesses, or download your copy at visitwagga.com/plan-your-trip/ download-guides
LAGOON FRIENDS: It’s important to protect our animal friends living in the Flowerdale Lagoon, such as the perfectly playful platypus! Disposing of your rubbish correctly means their home stays safe and clean.
Local volunteers and students work to protect native platypus
If you take a peek underneath the surface of Wagga Wagga’s Flowerdale Lagoon, you will find lots of important and interesting plant and animal species thriving there, including the popular platypus.
Local volunteer run organisation
Wagga Wagga Urban Landcare Group, supported by Wagga Wagga City Council, is working to emphasise the importance of local conservation areas, such as the Flowerdale Lagoon, and how we can protect animals like the platypus by changing the way we interact with these spaces.
Wagga Wagga Urban Landcare Group
Arts & Culture
Museum of the Riverina launches new digital exhibition The Incredible Feminist of Wagga Wagga
The Incredible Feminist of Wagga Wagga was officially launched online on Thursday 5 September.
This digital exhibition tells the story of the founding and early years of the Wagga Wagga Women’s Health Centre (WWWHC) and explores a key moment in the push for women’s rights in Wagga Wagga.
Museum Assistant Collections and Program Officer Sophie Magnusson, who curated the exhibition, said by using a mix of creative storytelling in a comic book style alongside more traditional exhibition curation, The Incredible Feminist of Wagga Wagga is designed to be both engaging and informative.
“I wanted to tell this story in a creative
said the project has received heartfelt support from groups and volunteers in the area with a passion for the platypus.
Funding provided by Council through the 2023/24 Annual Grants Program enabled the group to work with local schools and run community workshops.
“The workshops focused on how rubbish can end up down drains, which lead into natural waterways and cause serious harm to the animals living there,” the Wagga Wagga Urban Landcare spokesperson said.
Local educator and volunteer Jenny Hill worked with school students to show how our stormwater flows through the catchment in the Glenfield Park area and into the Flowerdale Lagoon.
“We worked with students at Ashmont Primary School and Red Hill Primary school, and they loved it,” Ms Hill said. “They were really engaged.”
“We chose the Flowerdale Lagoon because that’s where the platypus is found. The kids created designs for stencils to be put on drains around the area, and they came up with slogans to be included in the stencil.
“We talked about the trouble that rubbish causes for lots of wildlife, especially the platypus, and they did lots of cleaning up around the area to see what kind of stuff ends up in the lagoon.”
Council's Environmental Education Officer Christina Reid says initiatives like this one go a long way towards making a safe and happy environment for our platypus friends.
“It’s important to understand how the consequences of our actions can affect the environment,” Ms Reid said.
“We often don’t think about things like where our rubbish ends up, or we just assume that someone else will pick it up, but there are some things that can’t be fixed, such as plastic litter down the drain.
“The only way to get it out is to flush it out and that means flushing out into the lagoon where an animal like a platypus might eat it thinking it’s food.
“This project has provided an engaging and practical learning experience for our young people to see the dangers of rubbish pollution.
“Council supported the project through grant funding and providing maps of the catchment area.”
All the amazing artwork that the students created for the design of the drain stencil is currently displayed in the Civic Centre arcade near the Customer Service desk.
Stop by and check it out.
and empowering way that captured the feelings of frustration and the struggles of the women fighting for their rights,” Ms Magnusson said.
A founding member of the WWWHC Jan Roberts said, “Unless we record our history or story we don’t know where we come from and where we’re going.
“I think it represents quite a remarkable journey in our community that we have the women’s health centre. It’s not just support, it’s empowerment.”
7 SEP, 6.30PM
9.30PM
Curious Rabbit, 44 Johnston St.
Pauly Fenech –Outback Outlaw Comedy Tilly’s Wagga, 109 Baylis St. Downside Bush Dance SAT 7 SEP, 7.30PM – 12AM Downside Hall, Downside-Shepherds Siding Rd. Ashes to Ashes –David Bowie SAT 7 SEP, 8PM – 10.20PM
Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way. Native Candle Making Workshop SUN 8 SEP, 11AM – 1PM Little Black Duck Studio, 23 Guttler St, Uranquinty.
Lazy Sundays at The Wild Vine – Jacinta Counihan
SUN 8 SEP, 12PM – 3PM The Wild Vine, 1313 Oura Rd. An Evening of Ballet – Celebration of Strauss and Cats
SUN 8 SEP, 5PM – 7PM Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way. The Peasant Prince MON 9 SEP, 6PM – 7PM Wagga Wagga Civic Theare, Burns Way.
Meet gregarious George!
This three-year-old male tabby, Domestic Short Hair has a very laid-back nature and would provide you with great company and lots of cuddles.
George is FIV positive, but that shouldn’t stop him from becoming a part of your family.
The adoption cost for George (ImpC24/0308) is $256, which includes microchipping, lifetime, registration, vaccination, desexing, FIV test, flea and worming treatment and ID tag.
The exhibition also represents efforts by the Museum of the Riverina to increase the reach and diversity of exhibitions it produces.
Museum Education and Public Programs Officer Angus Cawdell-Smith said digital exhibitions allow the museum to tell stories that can be accessed globally.
To experience this amazing exhibition, visit: museumriverina.com.au/whatson/ digital-exhibitions
Art Classes with Leigh Hewitt MON 9 SEP, 6PM – 8PM The Curious Rabbit, 44 Johnson St. Wheelchair AFL WED 11 SEP, 6.30PM - 8PM Bolton Park Stadium, Morgan St. Riverina Producers Market THU 12 SEP, 1PM – 6.30PM Hammond Hall, Wagga Wagga Showground, Bourke St. Wagga Wagga Orchid Society Gathering THU 12 SEP, 7PM – 8PM ARCC Hall, 131 Tarcutta St.
Infusion Games Trivia and Karaoke THU 12 SEP, 8.30PM The Victoria Hotel, 55 Baylis St. Pottery and Pints FRI 13 SEP, 6PM – 8PM North Shore Studios, 57 William St. Wagga Wagga Show FRI 13 & SAT 14 SEP, 9AM TO 10PM Wagga Wagga Showground,
