Council News #52 - 11 July 2015

Council News WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL

FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 11 JULY 2015

Issue 52

Weekly information from us to you TREE CHANGE: Arborist Andrew Healy (left) and apprentice Vaughan Winnel plant trees on Bourke Street as part of Wagga Wagga City Council’s annual street tree program, which sees about 600 trees planted around the city each year.

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF

600 trees planted across city Six hundred new trees will grace the city’s streets by the end of winter as part of Wagga Wagga City Council’s annual planting program.

From new suburbs to established areas, Council staff have been busy planting for the past few weeks.

Manager Strategic Parks Operations David Walker said along with strategic plantings and replacements, residents can request new trees for

their street.

“We certainly encourage residents in new houses to ring Council and make a request,” he said.

“We’re actually fully booked for this year, but we’re taking requests for next winter. “We can take up to about 500 requests, but also included in that figure is scheduled tree replacements.

“We also plant an additional 100 trees for our main roads in the city.”

Mr Walker said the

$6,000 UP FOR GRABS

strategic plantings played a vital role in combating Australia’s sweltering summers.

“We have what’s called a heat island effect, which cities can create with hot bitumen and hot buildings,” he said.

“These trees are really important to help reduce that temperature in the summer. For those reasons it’s vital that we keep planting these trees for the future of our city.”

Director Environmental

and Community Services Janice Summerhayes said the benefits of trees are threefold.

“Trees improve the liveability of the city through amenity and cooling,” she said. “They also have an economic benefit, with recent research showing street trees can increase house value.

“Thirdly, trees benefit the local habitat by providing a green corridor for birds and wildlife.”

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Visitor hub opening hours to change from August

A change in the Visitor Information Centre’s (VIC) opening hours will come into effect on August 8.

The new hours will align the VIC with other facilities in the Civic Centre Precinct, such as the Museum of the Riverina, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery and Wagga Wagga City Library.

The VIC will continue to be open seven days a week, but will now close at 4pm on Saturdays and will open from 9.30am to 2pm on Sundays.

Along with its regular closure on

Christmas Day, the Tarcutta Street facility will also shut on Good Friday, Boxing Day and for a half day on Anzac Day. “Keeping the hours aligned with the other facilities in the Civic Centre means there is a greater connection for visitors,” Council’s Director Commercial and Economic Development Peter Adams said.

“It also means staff across the Civic Centre precinct can assist each other during peak times.”

Dr Adams said there were a

number of ways for visitors to find information about Wagga and help them discover everything it has to offer.

“If you have friends or family in town, there’s a wealth of handy information at their fingertips at www.visitwagga.com, including our official visitor guide, day trip and travel planners, what’s on guides and accommodation information.

“We’ve seen a sizeable increase in visits to the website in recent years, with the 2014/15 figures more than 320,000, which is a 24 per cent

increase on the prior year.

“The notice board outside of the VIC also contains essential information for visitors and there is also the new smartphone app My AppVenture, which is available for download now.

“Griffith, Temora and Lockhart have joined Wagga, Junee and Coolamon on the app, which allows both visitors and locals to plan their trip and discover the region.”

My AppVenture is available on the App Store now and an Android version is currently in development.

New opening hours Visitor Information Centre opening hours from August 8 Monday to Friday: 9am–5pm Saturday: 9am–4pm Sunday: 9.30am–2pm The VIC is closed on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Boxing Day and for a half day on Anzac Day.

www.visitwagga.com

Strategic plan for plantings Power lines, summer shade, winter sun – there’s a lot to take into consideration before planting a tree.

Manager Strategic Parks Operations David Walker said Council’s street tree strategy and master plan helps inform staff which species are planted and where.

“The strategy talks about things like geographical and ecological features of areas of the city, which helps us decide which species grow best for what suburbs.

“We look at power lines, what’s on the other side of the street.

We look at sun and shade and environmental factors like soil type.

“In a city like Wagga we have hot summers and cold winters so we like our sun in winter with deciduous species, but we love our shade in the summer.

“There’s quite a range of factors we take into account.”

DIGGING IN: Apprentice Vaughan Winnel and arborist Fiona Marmont hard at work as part of Council’s winter street tree planting program.

National Tree Day on 26 July Wagga Wagga City Council and Wagga Wagga Urban Landcare are inviting residents to celebrate National Tree Day. This year’s event will be held on Sunday 26 July, with a community planting event to take place at Clifton Street, Hilltop.

By planting at this location, Council and Urban Landcare are aiming to regenerate the area to increase biodiversity and improve the

connectedness of native vegetation in the city.

Residents are asked to wear sturdy and enclosed footwear, a sun hat, weather appropriate clothing and bring along a pair of gardening gloves.

For further information on National Tree Day, contact Council’s Environmental Education Officer Alice Kent 1300 292 442 or email kent.alice@wagga.nsw.gov.au.

Local appointed to state advisory board

Wagga Wagga resident Frank Jarfoi has been appointed to the State Library of NSW Cultural and Linguistic Advisory Board.

Mr Jarfoi was nominated by Wagga City Library Manager Claire Campbell to be a community member of the inaugural State Library of NSW Cultural and Linguistic Advisory Board, which will meet in Sydney two to three times a year.

The State Library’s cultural diversity strategy is focused on developing a coordinated approach to work with and engage culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

“This is a good thing for the CALD community because they will have a voice on the advisory board,” Mr Jarfoi said.

“I am excited about being able to represent Wagga with the first

GROUP EFFORT: Council’s Environmental Education Officer Alice Kent shows off the four-bin recycling system that has led to a 34 per cent reduction in waste to landfill from the Civic Centre.

Council slashes the trash A green initiative by Wagga Wagga City Council has slashed the amount of waste it sends to landfill by more than a third.

Civic Centre staff were initially hoping for a 20 per cent reduction over the past 12 months and the results have blown away Environmental Education Officer Alice Kent.

“Not only did we meet our target, we beat it,” she said. “There’s been a whopping 34 per cent reduction of waste to landfill from the Civic Centre from June last year.

“Compared to baseline data, that’s a massive 12,000kg of

rubbish that hasn’t ended up in landfill.”

Recycling stations were set up in office areas as part of the initiative, with staff separating their waste into paper, other recyclables, organic waste and general waste.

“There were small changes, like no longer having under-desk bins, and big changes, like expanding the recycling facilities in the basement of the Civic Centre,” Miss Kent said.

“The results have been so encouraging we’re now working to roll out the initiative at the Alan Turner Depot.”

Waste by the numbers Reduction in waste to landfill from the Civic Centre • 34 per cent reduction in landfill = 12,000kg of rubbish = 326 wheelie bins For more information on how you can reduce waste in your workplace, contact Miss Kent on 1300 292 442 or email kent.alice@wagga.nsw.gov.au.

DON’T HAVE KERBSIDE WASTE COLLECTION? Wagga Wagga City Council wants to know if you would like to adopt a Council managed kerbside waste collection service.

CONGRATULATIONS: Wagga Wagga City Library Manager Claire Campbell and resident Frank Jarfoi with his letter of acceptance for the inaugural State Library of NSW Cultural and Linguistic Advisory Board. meeting in Sydney on Monday 19 October.”

In a letter to Mr Jarfoi, the State Librarian and Chief Executive Officer Dr Alex Byrne congratulated him and said he has “the capacity to make a valuable contribution”.

The board will advise Library Council of NSW on the needs of CALD communities for library and information services, which will assist in building stronger relationships with CALD communities across NSW.

Information sessions will be held in the following rural areas to discuss this topic.

Uranquinty 6pm 7 July, Uranquinty Community Centre Galore 6pm 9 July, Galore Hall Currawarna 6pm 14 July, Currawarna Community Centre San Isidore 6pm 15 July, San Isidore Church Hall Collingullie 6pm 21 July, Collingullie Community Hall Humula 6pm 22 July, Humula Sports & Citizens Club Want to know more?

Call 1300 242 442 or email tippingpoint@wagga.nsw.gov.au

wagga.nsw.gov.au/tippingpoint Council News - A Wagga Wagga City Council publication

Councillor Column

The recent (and not so recent) events in Greece have shown us the results of a society that wants to fulfil their unlimited wants via borrowing other people’s money and living beyond their means. It is a great solution until other people’s money runs out.

My first ever lesson in This decision-making economics at school was that process is no different in economics is the study by your own household, your which scarce resources are business, and your various allocated to satisfy unlimited levels of government. wants.

councillor.mclaren@wagga.nsw.gov.au

Sensible decisions have to be made on how we or you can spend scarce dollars, on seemingly unlimited wants and needs.

Local Government faces these challenges and in NSW we are very fortunate to have restrictions on how much rates can be increased (set by the State Government via rate pegging).

It is not an enviable task because almost all projects

are worthy of help. What we have to do as a community is prioritise these needs.

Take for example recent rumblings for Council to fill Lake Albert with water. A worthy cause indeed and in a perfect world I’m sure this problem would have been solved many years ago.

But what are our priorities?

Certainly the Main City Levee bank and protecting North Wagga should take

precedence over the lake.

Many people are also pleading for our roads to be fixed. Others want Council to build a Multi Purpose Stadium to cater for the city’s ever increasing needs for hosting events (sporting and otherwise).

Better lights at sport venues? Yes please. How about duplicating the Gobba bridge? Of course, why not?

Although it would be nice to

exercise a little Greek style financing, this process only brings forward enjoyment to the detriment of the future.

The pain the Greeks are now enduring certainly doesn’t make up for the good memories that are now quickly fading as the reality of bankruptcy looms.

Councillor Julian McLaren

Holy cow! Artwork to beef up Uranquinty

Visitors to Uranquinty will soon be greeted by a new and unusual outdoor public art installation – a herd of 10 steel cows grazing right in the middle of town.

To be situated in Wirraway Park – a popular rest stop and play area right on the Olympic Highway opposite the Uranquinty Hotel and Quinty Bakehouse – the life-sized cow cutouts will be made from hand-forged solid flatbar steel and each stand about 1.7m tall and 2.8m in length.

The new feature is part of Wagga Wagga City Council’s Public Art Plan WaggaWorks, and is being supported

by Origin Energy.

Under the Public Art Plan’s VillageWorks initiative, an open request for design concepts for the Wirraway Park space was issued in March, with the winning concept chosen by Council’s Public Art Advisory Panel with representation from the Uranquinty Progress Association.

The winning idea came from Jane Cavanough, an artist with outdoor works commissioned by a number of NSW councils and private developers. Prior to her public art career, Cavanough trained as a landscape architect, bringing a background of multi-disciplinary skills to the development of her public artworks.

Jane’s concept reflects the pastoral history of Uranquinty and surrounds,

with the cows to be either grazing along the edge of the walking track or running through Wirraway Park. Their design and construction should see them in place for decades.

“The design encourages residents and visitors alike to interact in and around the sculptures and will appeal to people of all ages,” Wagga Wagga Council’s Cultural Officer Tracie Miller said.

“This further embellishment of Wirraway Park will add to the village of Uranquinty from a placemaking perspective, and we hope encourage visitors to stop and spend some time in Uranquinty.”

Council and Origin are contributing $25,000 each to the project.

“This is the first time we have partnered with Council on a public art initiative,” plant manager from Origin’s Uranquinty Power Station Paul Olsen said. “So far Origin’s community investment has concentrated on supporting the local primary school and volunteer community organisations.

“This will provide a unique talking point and hopefully attract visitors to stay, play and maybe spend some money in Uranquinty. It will certainly feature in lots of holiday photographs, “The concept was well-received when it was mentioned at the recent WHERE’S THE BEEF? Wagga Wagga City Council Cultural Officer Tracie Miller (left) and Origin Energy’s Progress Association meeting and Uranquinty Power Station plant manager Paul Olsen (right) moo-ve in for a closer look at the artwork plans with we know Uranquinty is a strongly Uranquinty Progress Association president Belinda McMahon and artist Jane Cavanough. arts-minded community.”

mobile library timetable Uranquinty Monday 13 July, 3.30pm – 5pm Ladysmith Thursday 16 July, 1.30pm – 2.15pm www.rrl.nsw.gov.au

Ph: (02) 6926 9771

Wagga Wagga

Helping your organisation succeed online Join us for a series of FREE training sessions for business, and get the information and tools you need for your business to succeed online!

The Department of Communications, Wagga Wagga City Council and TAFE NSW Riverina Institute are working together to provide quality training sessions for small-to-medium enterprises, not-for-profit organisations and local cultural institutions on how to make greater use of online opportunities to better achieve organisational goals. Improve your online confidence within the local business community!

Sessions 6 & 7 commence 14 July 2015, 2pm & 6pm ENROL TODAY! CALL 1300 823 374 EMAIL digitalenterprise@wagga.nsw.gov.au

www.waggadigitalenterprise.com.au

JANET SEIDEL TRIO AND BEN JONES

THIS WEEK:

UNLIMITED BOWLING & KARAOKE NIGHT

During school holidays, 7pm - 10pm For just $15 per person you get unlimited bowling and live entertainment from your friends, family and people alike. Enjoy Fiesta Fridays with your favourite Mexican meals accompanied with sweet cocktails from the bar. Wagga Bowling and Entertainment Centre.

Ph: 6971 9410

LITTLE YOGI’S

During school holidays, 9am and 10am Bounce Yoga take the kids on an adventure letting their imagination run wild. They are fun & energetic classes! Classes run for 40 minutes & start from the age of three years old.

The Learning Tree Wagga, 1/64 Urana Street. Ph: 0481 160 915

MARY POPPINS

Sat 11 July Bidgee Theatre Productions. This production features only the best local talent the Riverina has to offer, bringing their own flair to this magical, heart-warming tale that will be sure to charm and delight audiences of all ages. Civic Theatre.

Ph: 6926 9688

VEGE SWAP OR BUY

Every Saturday 9am - 12pm Demonstration Gardens, cnr Albury and Shaw Streets. Ph: 0411 417 956

FARMERS’ MARKET

Sat 11 July 8am - 1pm Wollundry Lagoon, Civic Centre Precinct. Ph: 1300 100 122

FORGET ME NOT: KRISTIN MCFARLANE AND BRENDA PAGE

Sat 11 July - Sun 11 Oct Brenda Page specialises in kiln formed glass, and is primarily interested in exploring the sculptural potential of glass using the lost wax method. Kristin McFarlane’s work incorporates graphic elements into a three dimensional construct. On at the Wagga Wagga Art Glass Gallery.

Ph: 6926 9660

ART ON THE LEVEE

Sat 11 July 9am - 2pm Artworks by local artists. 131 Tarcutta Street, on the levee bank.

Ph: 6931 2096

SOS - A TRIBUTE TO ABBA

Sat 10 July 6.30pm SOS will perform the greatest hits from the Swedish super-group.

Commercial Club, Gurwood Street.

Ph: 69213012

LITTLE AUSSIE CINEMA

Sat 11 July 6.30pm This month’s movie is “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”. Tarcutta Soldiers Memorial Hall.

Ph: 6928 7202

SNOW QUEEN’S AUSSIE FREEZING SHOW

Sat 11 July Snow Queen’s Aussie Freezing Show is a highly interactive show with lots of singing, dancing and special characters that will enchant children as they help their favourite snow queen recover her lost magic wand so that they can all play in real, falling snow! Wagga Commercial Club, Gurwood Street. Ph: 6921 3012

Sun 12 July 3pm Here is an opportunity not to be missed if you like soft jazz/cabaret music, as presented in England, China and in many cities, by the Janet Seidel Trio. Bannister Room, Riverina Conservatorium, College Ave Ph: 1800 007 880

FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL

Tues 14 to Mon 20 July The Alliance Française de Wagga Wagga is holding the 8th French Film Festival at the Forum 6 Cinema in Wagga this July. Opening night is on Bastille Day, Tuesday July 14, with drinks, French cheese and pâté at 7pm followed by the film ‘Gemma Bovery’ Over the next week we will be showing a total of 8 films.

Ph: 6933 1136

EAT LOCAL THURSDAY

Thurs 16 July 2.30pm - 6.30pm Free entry. Murrumbidgee Turf Club, Travers Street. Ph: 0427 441 107

ADFAS LECTURE: DR ALEXEY MAKHROV Fri 17 July 6:15pm Cost: $25. Council Meeting Room, Civic Centre, cnr Baylis and Morrow Streets. Ph: 6928 5552

facebook.com/waggaevents

For support in organising your event, contact Council’s Events Unit at events@wagga.nsw.gov.au or 1300 292 442 Mon to Fri. To promote your event or for a full list of events go to: visitwagga.com or call 1300 100 122.

Council News - A Wagga Wagga City Council publication

Villages host sell-out school holiday performances

ROARING SUCCESS: Actors Michael Mitchell and Melissa Hume (pictured left performing in Uranqunity) have been busy entertaining scores of kids and parents around the region this week as part of Hall-A-Day Adventures.

Pictures: Michael Frogley

Village halls came to life during the school holidays with Aslan and the White Witch doing battle in front of packed crowds of enchanted children.

This year’s Hall-A-Day Adventures has seen The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe travel across not just the fictional land of Narnia, but the Riverina countryside with shows in Uranquinty, Oura, Collingullie and Ladysmith.

The unique adaption by le Clanche du Rand tells the tale of the C.S. Lewis classic in a 45-minute two-actor show starring Michael Mitchell and Melissa Hume. The shows proved so popular the entire week was a sell-out. Hall-A-Day Adventures is a joint venture across several Council sections including the Civic Theatre, Museum of the Riverina, Social Planning and Cultural Services.

Not only were the crowds treated to the short theatrical performance, after the show local kids made origami as part of the Writtenworlds exhibition at the museum and enjoyed a fundraising barbecue.

This is the third year Hall-A-Day Adventures has taken place in the July school holidays, with Gran’s Bag and The Magic Story Coat enthralling children in previous years.

Meet Rollo

Take Tipping Point survey and win

This week’s pet of the week is Rollo, a three-year-old male staffy-cross.

He is a strong, solid dog who is always keen to go walkies. He is loving and affectionate and although he may look tough, he is really a bit of a sook.

Rollo is looking for a family to love that has a backyard with good fences.

Rollo can be adopted for $299.40, which would include vaccinations, desexing, worming, microchipping, lifetime registration and a vet check.

You can meet Rollo and his mates at the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter from Monday to Saturday between 1pm to 4.15pm. For further information, contact the friendly Animal Management Rangers on 6971 4651 or visit www.rescuerex.webs.com.

You have the chance to take home one of five iPad minis, just by completing the Tipping Point survey at www.wagga.nsw.gov. au/tippingpoint.

A new contract for the three bin kerbside waste collection service is set to begin in April 2017, presenting a prime opportunity to enhance the vast range of waste services provided by Wagga

Public Notices

RFT 2015/024 PROVISION OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO MANAGE APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES

WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL VACANCY

careers at council

Remuneration: Min $1,251.63 gpw + super Enquiries: Reece Hamblin - 6926 9243 Closing Date: Friday 17 July 2015

To view this opportunity and apply, visit www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/jobs Wagga Wagga City Council is an EEO employer

Values - Part of everything we do Trust • Respect • Innovation • Teamwork

p 1300 292 442 e council@wagga.nsw.gov.au w www.wagga.nsw.gov.au a Civic Centre Cnr Baylis & Morrow Sts PO Box 20 Wagga Wagga NSW 2650

PUBLIC MEETING FOR SENIORS WEEK COMMITTEE 2016

Every year the Seniors Week Committee develops a program of activities and events to celebrate valuable contributions older citizens make to our community. NSW Seniors Week 2016 will be celebrated from Friday 1 April to Sunday 10 April.

It is now time to establish the 2016 Seniors Week Committee and start planning next year’s events. Persons interested in becoming part of the committee are required to RSVP to Edyta Wrobel, Wagga Wagga City Council’s Youth and Community Development Officer by Friday, 24 July on 1300292442 or via email

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Contact us

Suitably endorsed Tenders marked “RFT 2015/024 Provision of Professional Services to Manage Apprentices and Trainees are invited and will be received by the undersigned until 2pm Wednesday 5 August 2015. Contact: Tanya Jackson 1300 292 442. Email jackson.tanya@ wagga.nsw.gov.au Specifications at nil cost can be accessed from www. tenderlink.com/wagga

Follow us @waggacouncil Share your #waggaview

Wagga City Council.

Tipping Point is your chance to have a say on the future of waste services in the local government area.

To ensure everyone has their say, the Tipping Point team will also be setting up shop around Wagga Wagga to talk trash and help you fill out the survey. wrobel.edyta@wagga.nsw.gov.au.

Date and time: Monday 27 July 2015, 10am Venue: Wollundry Meeting Room, Seniors Community Centre in Tarcutta Street, Wagga Wagga.

NOTICE OF DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

Wagga Wagga City Council has received the following application to carry out “Development” under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979.

DA15/0332, 178 Lot Residential Subdivision & Associated Infrastructure, Demolition of Rural Buildings, Tree Removal & Infill of Dam (Staged Development), 177 Pine Gully Rd GOBBAGOMBALIN NSW 2650, Part Lot 50 DP 751422, Applicant: MJM Consulting Engineers Name of Consent Authority: Wagga Wagga City Council The subject application and accompanying documentation, may be inspected at the following address until the closure of exhibition.

Submission Period: 13/07/2015 to 27/07/2015 Where: Wagga Wagga City Council, cnr Baylis and Morrow Streets, Wagga Wagga (Customer Service Counter).

When: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (except Public Holidays).

Any person seeking to make a submission in relation to the

You can find the Tipping Point pop-up stall at Farmers’ Markets on 11 July from 7.30am to 2pm, at Southcity Shopping Centre on 16 July from 9.30am to 6.30pm and at the Marketplace on 23 July from 9.30am to 6.30pm.

Tipping Point has also been hitting the road and will be in Currawarna on 14 July and San Isidore on 15 July. abovementioned development should address all correspondence to the Consent Authority to be received prior to 5pm on the final day of the exhibition period. If any submission is made by way of objection, the grounds of objection must be specified in the submission.

Persons lodging submissions are required to declare political donations (including donations of more than $1,000) made in the previous two years. For more details, including disclosure form, go to www.planning. nsw.gov.au/donations.

Persons making written submissions regarding the above development are advised that any submission received within the submission period will be subject to the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 and the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPPA) and may be attached to the final report, in its entirety or in part, to Council unless explicitly requested by the person making the submission that they do not wish this to occur.

Enquiries: Further details relating to the matter can be obtained by contacting the Council’s Development Services. If you have any enquiries regarding the application, or about making submission, please telephone Development Services on 1300 292 442.

Phil Pinyon GENERAL MANAGER

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wagga.nsw.gov.au/councilnews Council News - A Wagga Wagga City Council publication