Council News CITY OF WAGGA WAGGA
FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2018
Issue No: 210
Weekly information from us to you
The City of Good Sports will host an NRL premiership game in 2019 and 2020 following a partnership with the Canberra Raiders. At the Monday 27 August Council Meeting, it was resolved to enter into a two-year agreement with the Raiders and the NRL, with the option for a third year. “This is an exciting announcement for Wagga Wagga and rugby league supporters right across the Riverina,” Cr Conkey said. “We are delighted to be partnering with the Raiders. They are the local team for rugby league supporters in Wagga Wagga and the Riverina and provide development pathways for our talented young players. “As well as boosting rugby league at a grass roots level, each game is estimated to inject $2M into the local economy and will add to the 1.3 million people who visit Wagga Wagga each year.” Wagga Wagga has hosted many high level sporting matches in recent years, including the sellout Country v City Origin match in 2015, which attracted 9127 fans at McDonald’s Park. Canberra Raiders CEO Don Furner said the club was looking forward to rewarding their many GAME ON: Mayor Greg Conkey with Canberra Raiders Captain Jarrod Croker and CEO Don Furner at McDonald's Park. Riverina supporters with an NRL game in their backyard. play a match in the large support. members and fans who Furner said. region of NSW which we attend games in Canberra “The Raiders are excited “Eleven home games “The Riverina is a great represent. from the Riverina, so to about taking a premiership rugby league region and will remain in Canberra commit one premiership fixture to Wagga for the “We will be encouraging during season 2019 and we are proud to be able to game to Wagga in each of next two seasons as we all of our Canberra-based 2020 to maintain our take an NRL competition the next two seasons is a have always felt we are the members to travel out strong presence and match there next season. small club gesture to show club that represents NSW to Wagga, support the commitment to our home “We have an our appreciation of their Country in the NRL,” Mr Raiders and make a city. In addition, we get to extraordinary number of
G N I G N I R B WE'RE A G G A W O NRL T
weekend of it.” Further details of the 2019 game will be available when the NRL draw is finalised.
Funding flows for freight hub A critical piece of infrastructure funding has secured the next stage of the city’s industrial transport precinct just days after Wagga Wagga City Council announced a key partner for the project.
a private partner in the development of the hub’s freight terminal. The latest funding boost will allow for construction of a 5.8 kilometre rail siding to service the main freight terminal and provide connection to the Main Southern Railway Line. Two significant announcements in quick succession have accelerated the RiFL project, which has the ability to transform the local economy, according to Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM. “The Bomen Enterprise Area will be the The NSW Government this week economic driver for this city for centuries. committed $14.4 million to the Riverina This is a great outcome,” Cr Conkey said. Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub (RiFL) Council General Manager Peter Thompson at Bomen. described the RiFL Hub as a significant and The multi-million dollar injection came only tangible development to add to the existing a week after Council named Visy Logistics as confidence of industry and business to
invest in Wagga. “Many industries will benefit from having rail freight as opposed to road freight directly at their back door,” Mr Thompson said. “A project of this size and significance in Wagga is going to better service the industries we already have on site, in addition to being a major attraction to new businesses. “The flow-on effects the city will see, from bringing more business to Bomen, will be enormous. We are extremely confident this project will put Wagga at the forefront of economic development in regional NSW.” Securing an additional $21 million in funding to develop and service industrial land adjacent to RiFL is Council’s next priority. “We need to be able to develop that land
and get all the infrastructure in place so business and industry can get an immediate start,” Mr Thompson said. “The $35 million Bomen Enabling Roads project completed last year has provided the road network for the area – now we need to get the land developed in line with the next stages of the freight terminal and railway siding. “The years of hard work are starting to pay off. In the past week we have announced significant progress on the project and it’s all good news for Wagga and the wider region.” A strategic master plan for the 1800-hectare Bomen Business Park site was completed in 2009 and featured the proposed RiFL Hub and the roadworks required to make the project possible. wagga.nsw.gov.au/rifl
INSIDE: LIVVI'S PLACE OPENING, BOMEN ROADS PROJECT WINS AWARD