Council News Issue #499 - 8 June 2024

Wagga Wagga City Council weekly newsletter

Festival of W to make bright return to Wagga Wagga this winter

Wagga Wagga's Festival of W (FoW) will transform the city centre into an immersive space of light, art, food and music this July.

A curated festival program will present immersive light-art experiences, ice skating, live music and winter food offerings across 16 days, from Saturday 6 July to Sunday 21 July.

Council has partnered with leading Australian multi-disciplinary design and production experts, Mandylights, to deliver a free, large-scale, light and sound experience named Lightvision.

Lightvision will feature a floating installation on the Wollundry Lagoon made up of large-scale blooming water lilies, a field of several hundred technicolour pixel pebbles, a stunning 48-metre tunnel of light, and a mesmerising field of LED battens synchronised to music.

The festival will also deliver a special pop-up activation, funded by the NSW

colourful First Nations art projections that will light up the Wollundry Lagoon bridge, plus additional displays inviting playful opportunities.

Council's Events Officer Emma Corbett said the event attracted more than 120,000 attendees in 2023.

“The increased visitation in the CBD area over the festival period activates the city and has strong flow-on economic benefits for many tourism, hospitality and retail businesses,” Ms Corbett said.

“We’re so pleased to be able to bring the festival back in 2024 with the incredible Lightvision display in collaboration with the creative producers from Mandylights.”

CEO and Founder of Mandylights

Richard Neville said they are thrilled to be bringing an all-new light and sound experience to Wagga Wagga, off the back of the success of the 2023 program.

"Our creative crew have been working up new and exciting immersive concepts to light up Wiradjuri Country in Wagga Wagga again for Festival of W 2024," Mr

"Wagga Wagga embraced the experience last year and we're hoping

for an equal, or better, wow-factor this year."

Festival goers can also experiment with playful, immersive art displays, enjoy live music and food offerings, and, of course, the return of the ever-popular Skate Wagga Wagga ice rink.

The festival dining hub House of FoW will also make a return, but this year, it will be located in the Victory Memorial Gardens next to the popular ice skating rink.

Light activations will commence from 5pm to 10pm each evening during the 16-day festival program.

For the full festival lineup and to purchase Skate Wagga Wagga ice skating tickets, head to visitwagga. com/fow

Help keep Wagga Wagga Airport in

Temporary change to Council’s Duty Planner service

Wagga Wagga City Council is advising local residents, and more specifically development applicants and potential applicants, there will be a change to the availability of Council’s Duty Planner at the Civic Centre over the next six weeks.

Under the temporary change, Council Planners will not be available on Wednesdays at the Customer Service desk or by phone, from Wednesday 12 June until Wednesday July 24.

Project Director Regulatory Planning and Reform Rebecca Fox said Council is undertaking a review of its planning processes in order to streamline and improve outcomes for applicants and residents.

“Our Duty Planner service is well regarded in the community, as it provides the opportunity for local residents to ask questions about development applications they’ve submitted or are considering submitting,” Ms Fox said.

“Some of the questions can be relatively simple, such as ‘where can I build my shed?’ or ‘how high can my fence be?’ while others can be about complex developments and planning requirements, which can be quite time consuming for the duty officer.

“We are committed to providing this service to our community, but we just need to temporarily reduce it to four days a week to allow our officers to focus on applications that are with Council for feedback or determination.”

A Duty Planner will still be available for phone enquiries or drop-ins at the Civic Centre on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays over the six-week period.

Council is asking applicants and potential applicants to contact us on of those four weekdays if they have a planning and development related query.

“We still encourage people to ask the questions and use the service but just not on Wednesdays for the next six weeks,” Ms Fox said.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of applicants, and the community in general while we work through a large number of planning applications.”

For any questions in relation to this, or other planning matters, please call 1300 292 442 during business hours, or email us at council@wagga.nsw.gov.au.

Alternatively, you can visit wagga.nsw. gov.au/building-and-development to learn more about building and development in Wagga Wagga.

haveyoursay.wagga.nsw.gov.au

GET READY: Destination and Events Coordinator Kimberly Parker and Events Officer Emma Corbett reveal what’s in store during Festival of W 2024, which will brighten our city over the July school holidays.

Wagga Wagga community

Community asked to name oval at Bolton Park

Wander down to meet Wilson

This one-year-old,

Join the rest of your community by providing feedback on the Wagga Wagga 2050 Community Strategic Plan, or ‘Wagga Wagga 2050’.

The plan will provide a roadmap for the long-term vision, aspirations, and main priorities for our local government area, and Council wants our local community to help identify these.

Last week, Council staff held a session with 150 Mater Dei Catholic College students on Wagga Wagga 2050, which gave students a chance to share ideas about how to improve our local area.

Executive Manager Regional Activation – Projects Christine Priest says it’s wonderful for Council to engage with individuals and groups within the community.

“We want to consult with all sections of our local community so Wagga Wagga 2050 reflects a shared vision spanning the whole local government area,” Ms Priest said.

“The school sessions are a great way to reach local young people in our community. We were so impressed with how engaged the students were and the ideas that they contributed.”

Council also held a ‘Business Breakfast’ this week with Wagga Wagga Business Chamber to discuss the Community Strategic Plan, provide an economic update for Wagga Wagga and also to discuss the Wagga Wagga Airport lease advocacy.

“Through opportunities like this we are reaching different groups in our community and ensuring we include the big issues and opportunities in the plan that are important to our community,” Ms Priest said.

You can also get involved, as well as see a range of contributions from our community about why they love Wagga Wagga and its surrounds by visiting haveyoursay.wagga.nsw.gov.au/ csp2050

Ladysmith Tourist Railway SAT 8 JUN, 10AM – 2PM 15 Kyeamba St, Ladysmith. P. 0458 263 443 Simply the Best –Tina Turner Tribute Dinner Show SAT 8 JUN, 6.30PM START The Gardens Restaurant, 43 Tom Wood Dr. E. smrfoundation@outlook. com

9 JUN, 7AM – 5PM

Wagga Wagga Par 3 & Driving Range, 79 Narrung St. P. 0437 312 124

Wollundry Saturday Markets

SAT 8 JUN, 9AM – 1PM

Wollundry Lagoon Precinct, Tarcutta St. P. 0488 102 835

Open Studio Gallery – Wagga Wagga Art Society

SAT 8 JUN, 10AM – 3PM Art Studio and Gallery, 11 Small St. E. secretary@wwas.net.au

Task Force 72 Carrier and Escort Regatta – Scale Model Ships

SAT 8 JUN, 10AM – 4PM & SUN 9 JUN, 10AM – 2PM

Jumpstart your creativity this winter with Wagga Wagga’s favourite curated program of inclusive and accessible events.

During June 2024, explore and experience this fun, diverse and engaging intergenerational program, presented by Wagga Wagga City Council.

“Wagga Wagga is a diverse community and the concept behind FRESH is to bring people of different ages, backgrounds and cultures together,” Council’s Community Development Officer Victoria Lowe said.

“Whether you’re young or young at heart, this year’s FRESH program has something for everyone, with a series of special events tailor-made for young people, families and old(er) members of our community.

“The program is bursting with highlights ranging from a live music performance and book launch, artist-led creative art workshop and more.

“The intergenerational program brings Gen Alpha, Millennials, Gen Y, Gen X, Baby Boomer and Silent Generation audiences together to exchange ideas and learn new skills in order to gain new perspectives and insights into the way they see the world.”

National Refugee Week (16-22 June 2024) will also be celebrated as part of FRESH this year, with intimate and unplugged performances in the Wagga Wagga City Library by Khairy Darweesh (Yazidi) and Felix Machiridza (Zimbabwean).

Wagga Wagga can also participate at home with a two-hour Global Roots: 2024 Refugee Week playlist curated by Bangladeshi-Australian Sydney-based DJ Munasib Hamid.

“FRESH is a fantastic opportunity for residents to learn something new or discover something out of the ordinary.”

Ms Lowe said.

For the full program of events or more information visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/ fresh or call Council on 1300 292 442.

Oasis Aquatic Centre, Morgan St. P. 0488 537 016

Finding the Fun – Intro to Clown Workshop

SAT 8 JUN, 2PM – 3.30PM Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way. P. 6926 9688

Earring Making Workshop

SAT 8 JUN, 3PM – 4.30PM Little Black Duck Studio, 23 Guttler St. P. 0424 175 241

Camp Culture SAT 8 JUN, 4PM – 5PM CSU Riverina Playhouse Theatre, 8 Cross St. P. 6926 9688

Kings Custom Kick Back SAT 8 – SUN 9 JUN, 4PM – 8PM Bolton Park Stadium, 50 Morgan St. P. 0438 366 327

‘Deep Listening to Nature’ by Andrew Skeoch

SAT 8 JUN, 6PM – 8PM The Curious Rabbit, 44 Johnston St. P. 6921 5391 MUSH SAT 8 JUN, 7.15PM – 8.15PM Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, E3 Art Space, Morrow St. P. 6926 9688

Native Candle Making Workshop

SUN 9 JUN, 11AM – 1PM

Little Black Duck Studio, 23 Guttler St. P. 0424 175 241 Wagga Wagga Veterans and Vintage Motor Club Inc June Rally

SUN 9 JUN, 12PM – 3PM The Range Function Centre, Copland St. P. 0418 673 186 Bogan Bingo SUN 9 JUN,

Wagga Wagga City Council is seeking submissions from the public for a new name for an oval in the Bolton Park sporting precinct.

At its Ordinary Meeting on 27 May, Council endorsed renaming the Michael Slater Oval under its Parks Naming Policy (POL 055).

Council’s Manager City Growth and Regional Assets Ben Creighton said the community can now submit their ideas for a new name for the oval through the Have Your Say Wagga Wagga website. Submissions will be open for 28 days from Friday 7 June to Thursday 4 July.

“We’re encouraging residents and stakeholder to put forward their suggestions for a new name for the oval in keeping with our Parks Naming Policy,” Mr Creighton said.

“This policy gives detailed guidelines on the appropriate naming of open spaces in our local government area.

“It will also help Council decide if a name is suitable if it is supported with documentation such as a newspaper article or government report.

“Once submissions have closed, the list of names will be compiled and then discussed by Council before it considers a final report recommending which name to adopt.”

To make a submission and read the Parks Naming Policy, head to haveyoursay.wagga.nsw.gov.au/ rename-bolton-park-oval Submissions close on 4 July 2024.

6PM – 7.30PM Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way. P. 6926 9688

Dirty Laundry SUN 9 JUN, 8.30PM – 10.10PM Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way. P. 6926 9688 MICF Roadshow MON 10 JUN, 4PM – 5.30PM Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way. P. 6926 9688

Art Classes with Leigh Hewitt MON 10 JUN, 6PM – 8PM The Curious Rabbit, 44 Johnson St. P. 6921 5391

Wheelchair AFL WED 12 JUN, 6.30PM – 8PM Bolton Park Stadium, Morgan St. P. 0407 682 545

RCM Free Lunchtime Concert No. 7: Wicklow Irish Ensemble THU 13 JUN, 1PM – 2PM Uranquinty Community Hall, Baker St. P. 6925 3522

Strawberry Prince Live at The Curious Rabbit THU 13 JUN, 6.30PM – 8.30PM The Curious Rabbit, 44 Johnston St. P. 6921 5391 Wagga Wagga Orchid Society Gathering THU 13 JUN, 7PM – 8PM ARCC Hall, 131 Tarcutta St. P. 0427 219 430

For event organising and promotion support, contact Council’s events team: events@wagga. nsw.gov.au or 1300 292 442. Mon – Fri. /waggaevents visitwagga.com

Wilson

pet already at home.

The adoption cost for Wilson (ImpD24/0169) is $312 and includes microchipping, lifetime registration, vaccination, desexing, heartworm test, flea and worming treatment and ID tag.

Have your say Wagga Wagga

Share your ideas for the future of Wagga Wagga + surrounds

Want to be more involved in decisions that are made about your region?

Visit our website to see what we’re currently working on and share your thoughts and feedback!

haveyoursay.wagga.nsw.gov.au