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Council News CITY OF WAGGA WAGGA
FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 14 DECEMBER 2019
Issue No: 275
Weekly information from us to you
WAGGA ONE OF TOP 10 AUSSIE BEACHES 2020 B
EA
#9 CH
ES 2020
BEACH ON THE ‘BIDGEE: Beach expert Brad Farmer AM and Wagga Mayor Cr Greg Conkey OAM relax at Wagga Beach this week after the city’s sandy strip on the mighty Murrumbidgee River was ranked #9 on Mr Farmer’s annual Top 20 list of best Australian beaches.
It’s official! Wagga Beach has been named one of the top 10 best beaches in Australia. The city’s sandy strip by the Murrumbidgee River has taken out the number nine position in the Top 20 beaches of 2020 as compiled by Tourism Australia’s beach ambassador Brad Farmer AM. By making the honour roll, Wagga Beach is the first inland beach to ever feature in Mr Farmer’s lists. In Wagga Wagga on Thursday morning to officially launch the top 20 list, Mr Farmer said the Wagga Beach achievement was likely to turn the tide on the nation’s definition of ‘a beach’. “It’s time we extend the meaning of a beach given there are so many aquatic environments across Australia’s interior,” Mr Farmer said. “Wagga Beach ticks all the boxes for inclusion in the top 20 list – golden sand, sunshine, water for a dip, shade to cool off.” Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga, Councillor Greg Conkey OAM said Wagga Beach - almost 400 kilometres from the nearest coastline - making ninth position is certainly worth celebrating. “We have long known that Wagga Beach is an inland paradise, and now we welcome the rest of the country, and the world, to come see our #9 Australian beach," Cr Conkey said. “Our inclusion shows visitors that if you take the road less travelled and head into regional areas you can uncover some of our country’s hidden gems.”
Dunns Road gets seal of approval Work on the complete sealing and upgrade of Dunns Road in Wagga Wagga is scheduled to start next year after a budget of $8.3M was committed to the project this week. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack confirmed Federal Government funding of $5.8M with Wagga
Wagga City Council contributing $2.5M. Mr McCormack said the long-awaited upgrade will be welcomed by the community. “The Government’s funding commitment will assist in sealing the full length of the road to improve safety and community access in the area which is welcome news to the road’s users," Mr McCormack said. Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM said there has been “extensive work behind the scenes” to reach this point. “This includes engaging independent consultants to undertake an in-depth study, reviewing the existing design for Dunns
Road and determining the scope of works required to upgrade it," Cr Conkey said. Cr Conkey said the Dunns Road upgrade will provide a safe and more direct route to the southern portion of the Wagga Wagga residential area, to the airport and to major sporting and recreational facilities from the Olympic Highway. The proposed construction of a roundabout at the Holbrook Road and Dunns Road intersection, along with the reduced speed limit to 60 kilometres per hour on both Dunns Road and Lloyd Road (urban sections only), will increase safety at the intersection. Work is due for completion mid 2021.
DUNNS DEAL: Wagga Mayor Greg Conkey (left) at Dunns Road with Member for Riverina Michael McCormack.
Tuesday 31 December 2019 5pm - 9.30pm | Victory Memorial Gardens Free entry F A M I L I E S // F I R E W O R K S // F O O D T R U C K S
wagga.nsw.gov.au/nye