Have your say – Draft Housing Strategy now on public exhibition
READ THE DRAFT NOW: Council’s Strategic Planner Chloe Boyd and Executive Director Housing & Strategic Planning Fiona Hamilton are encouraging our Wagga Wagga community to read the two documents on public exhibition and let us know if we got it right.
Wagga Wagga City Council’s draft Local Housing Strategy (LHS) and draft Interim Affordable Housing Paper (IAHP) are now on public exhibition, and Council is encouraging residents to provide feedback in person at one of our community engagement sessions or online through our Have Your Say Wagga page.
The two documents explore ways to improve housing outcomes in the Wagga Wagga community over the next 15 years, from 2026 to 2041. Together, these documents set out a future vision for housing in Wagga Wagga.
Council’s Strategic Planner, Chloe Boyd, explained the draft Local Housing Strategy focuses on how much housing we need, where that housing should be located, and what type of housing we want to see built.
“The draft LHS explores our current and future demographics. We will need approximately 5000 additional dwellings between 2026 and 2041 to accommodate our population growth,” Ms Boyd said.
“Those dwellings should include a mix of typologies, such as detached, attached, and shop-top housing, across identified greenfield, infill, CBD and village growth areas.”
The draft Interim Affordable Housing
Paper recognises the importance of social and affordable housing, identifies the existing programs at Federal, State and Local Government levels, and the options that Council might explore to encourage more housing in this space.
Council’s Executive Director Housing & Strategic Planning Fiona Hamilton says both documents are essential for our local community moving forward.
“We’re really excited to bring these documents to the community, as both are critical to creating a liveable, amenable and thriving Wagga Wagga,” Ms Hamilton said.
“The Local Housing Strategy will provide a strategic approach to managing future housing growth in appropriate locations, ensuring access to services and open space, providing for the next 15 years of population growth and beyond.
“The documents have been developed through engagement with key industry and agency stakeholders. Now it’s our community’s turn to provide feedback on local housing needs and priorities so we can work together to fill the gaps.
“There are multiple ways to get involved. We will be holding community dropin sessions, forums and stakeholder workshops focussed on the themes identified in the draft documents.
“We encourage you to visit our Have Your Say webpage to read the
documents, find locations and times for feedback sessions, or to make a submission online.”
You can make a submission until Friday 1 August 2025 either online at haveyoursay.wagga.nsw.gov.au/ housingstrategy, or in-person at one of our community engagement sessions, or by calling 1300 292 442.
The draft LHS and draft IAHP are proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Wagga Wagga City Council, through the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund (Round 1).
RESPONDERS:
Resilient Response Project to provide free training for volunteers
Local volunteers are invited to take part in free disaster response training and upskilling through Wagga Wagga City Council’s Resilient Response Project.
The project is providing flood response equipment and volunteer training for local organisations to ensure our community is better prepared and skilled to respond to disaster events.
Community Development Coordinator Alex Osgood said this initiative will assist communities to respond to disasters.
“During times of crisis everyone is keen to lend a hand but often lack the skills, creating a barrier to volunteering and also making a situations more unsafe,” Alex Osgood said.
“Local volunteers, regardless of their experience, can take advantage of free training through the Resilient Response Project, such as Mental Health First Aid, Provide First Aid and CPR training.
“Coordinators and service managers also have access to workshops based on Lateral Violence and Asset-Based Community Development.”
The Resilient Response Project is possible due to Council obtaining $96,160 through the NSW Government’s Supporting Spontaneous Volunteers Program which is part of a recommendation from the 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry to support better coordination of community efforts to save life and property during a disaster.
“The grant has supported the purchase of a range of equipment including highpressure hoses, trash pumps and a generator for areas prone to flooding,” Alex Osgood said.
“Community action groups and the State Emergency Service (SES) have been instrumental in ensuring we are delivering the training and resources required to make a positive impact.”
The training will take place from August to November 2025 and is free for volunteers. Local employers can send their staff for a nominal fee.
Book your spot via wagga.nsw.gov. au/communitytraining or contact community@wagga.nsw.gov.au or 1300 292 442.
Uranquinty Community Safety Group Deb Bewick and Brian Mahony, Council Community Development Coordinator Alex Osgood, and SES Deputy Zone CommanderWestern Riverina Brett Koschel.
PICNIC TIME: Library Programs Officer Beth Harrison is getting ready to host the popular Teddy Bear Picnic in the Library’s Children’s Area on Thursday 10 July, as part of the library’s Winter School Holidays program.
Fun for everyone with a packed program of winter activities!
Council has lots on to keep your kids busy and entertained these winter school holidays in Wagga Wagga and our surrounding villages. Indoors, outdoors, or in the pool, there is something for everyone and, even better, many of the activities on offer are free!
Put a trip to the Zoo & Aviary on your list of holiday activities; explore this wonderful facility and meet all the animals that call it home.
You can even have an up-close and hands-on adventure at the meet and
FIVE STARS FOR OASIS: ManagerWagga Leisure Marc Geppert with Oasis Swim School Team Leader Breanna Wendt and Casual Lifeguard Natalia Horsley at the Oasis Aquatic Centre, which has received its highest ever safety score.
Oasis
Aquatic Centre achieves its best safety audit score
Oasis Aquatic Centre received its highest combined score during its recent Royal Life Saving Aquatic Facility Safety Assessment since joining the program.
As part of Council’s commitment to water safety, the Oasis Aquatic Centre takes part in the comprehensive auditing
greet sessions, held at 11am every day of the school holidays.
The Zoo & Aviary will be open from 9am to 4pm each day until the new school term starts on 21 July.
The Library’s holiday program will see regular and new events presented, from craft, colouring-in, board games, a reading challenge and a teddy bear picnic, to Storytime at the Botanic Gardens and Riverside Playground.
Our Civic Theatre will be a place of magic, adventure, lights and laughter with its kids and family shows over
process undertaken Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA) each year.
In the most recent audit, the facility achieved an Overall Safety rating of 99 per cent, along with a 99 per cent 5 Star Water Safety Partner Accreditation rating that requires aquatic facilities to pass a rigorous 40-point aquatic safety checklist pertaining to best practice standards and legislative requirements.
Manager - Wagga Leisure Marc Geppert is thrilled with the result, saying the Oasis team should be proud of its achievement.
“This is the highest combined result the Oasis Aquatic Centre has achieved since joining this program, and it reflects the professional approach to risk management and service provision at the Oasis,” Mr Geppert said.
“Last year, we received a 99 per cent 5 Star Water Safety and Overall Safety rating of 96 per cent. The Oasis team has put a lot of work in over the past 12 months to improve that rating.
“We are particularly proud of the high scores associated with the Oasis Swim School which demonstrate that we consistently meet the required benchmarks from a curriculum and safety perspective.
“There is a mountain of work that goes into planning for our programs, ensuring that all of our program facilitators are equipped with the skills and knowledge to not only deliver a fun and engaging
the holidays.
Be thrilled and awed by the amazing prehistoric creatures at Erth's Dinosaur Zoo, or book tickets to see your favourite picture book by Alison Lester come to life on stage with IMAGINE LIVE
For kids and teens, we also have our school holidays Winter Art Camp at our Art Gallery, where you can stay warm and be creative with a range of art workshops inspired by the Gallery’s 50 Years celebratory exhibitions.
There will also be the Creation Station in the main gallery, and other activities for families to do together.
At the Museum of the Riverina –Botanic Gardens site, there’s free Aussie animal origami to make, the return of the LEGO® Minifigure Hunt, and more.
At the Museum’s Historic Council Chambers site, you can join in the retro fun with Mario Kart: Old School Meets New School or take a snapshot in the Photobooth Time Machine, just relax in the Chill Out Chamber.
Wagga Leisure has an action-packed range of programs, from tennis sessions for youngsters and teens at the Jim Elphick Tennis Centre, or the Youth Power training sessions at Workout Gym, to intensive swimming lessons at the Oasis Aquatic Centre.
Details about these various activities can be found by heading to each facility’s website: waggalibrary.com. au/whats-on | civictheatre.com.au | waggaartgallery.com.au/whats-on | museumriverina.com.au/whatson | waggaleisure.com.au
program, but to ensure high standards regarding water safety.”
The Oasis Aquatic Centre ensures all lifeguard and swim school instructors are up to date with the necessary qualifications.
It also conducts a hugely successful in-house proficiency program which ensures staff are equipped with real-life problem-solving skills and site-specific knowledge.
A spokesperson from the RLSSA stated “The Oasis Aquatic Centre scores in the 5-star system are definitely on the higher end compared with other centres.
“You have consistently performed well across the key areas required and that level of consistency is something other centres struggle to maintain.”
The Aquatic Facility Safety Assessment is driven from Royal Live Saving’s Guidelines for Safe Pool Operation and includes general operations, first aid, emergency procedures, record keeping, facility design, supervision, health and safety systems, plant room operations and chemicals, programming and specific aquatic areas such as diving towers.
“We will continue working hard to maintain this high standard in providing a safe environment for our patrons,” Mr Geppert said.
For more information about the Oasis Aquatic Centre’s facilities and programs, visit waggaleisure.com.au
Do you have a
Burns Way. The Bidgee Blues and Roots Club Open Mic Afternoon SUN 6 JUL, 2.30PM William Farrer Hotel, 1 Peter St.
NAIDOC March and Flag Raising MON 7 JUL, 10AM – 11.30AM Baylis St. PCYC – School Holiday Activities MON 7 – MON 21 JUL PCYC, 11 Fitzhardinge St. Sunshine Storytime – Agile Library Van MON 7 JUL, 10AM – 11AM Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens, MacLeay St. Meet and Greet Encounters at Zoo & Aviary MON 7 JUL – 20 JUL, 10.30AM – 12.30PM Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens, MacLeay St. Aussie Animal Origami TUE 8 - SUN 20 JUL
Museum of the Riverina - Botanic Garden site. Galactic Stars: Watercolour WED 9 JUL, 11AM – 1PM
Unique State Art Space, 8 Little Best St. Teddy Bears Picnic THU 10 JUL, 10.30AM – 11.30AM Wagga Wagga City Library, 243 Baylis St. Riverina Producers Market THU 10 JUL, 1PM – 6.30PM Hammond Hall, Wagga Wagga Showground, 27 Bourke St. The Queen’s Nanny THU 10 JUL,
7.30PM – 9PM Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way. One Book One Wagga FRI 11 JUL, 7.30PM – 9.30PM Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way.
Scan or head to visitwagga.com for more events in Wagga Wagga + Surrounds.
her manners and would benefit most from a home with older kids or adults only. The adoption fee for Harper (ImpD25/0256) is $409 and includes microchipping, desexing and ID tag, along with all relevant vaccinations and testing.
Vacancies
Livestock Marketing Centre (LMC) - Saleyards Assistant (Two Permanent Positions)
Remuneration: $2,116.86 gross per fortnight + super
Closing: Sunday, 6 July 2025
Truck Driver (Water Cart) (Two Permanent Positions)
Remuneration: $2,255.74 gross per fortnight + super Closing: Sunday, 6 July 2025
Labourer
Remuneration: $2,116.86 gross per fortnight + super Closing: Sunday, 13 July 2025
Civil Works Project Coordinator
Remuneration: $3,638.14 gross per fortnight + super
Closing: Sunday, 13 July 2025
Patching Plant & Truck Operator (Two Permanent Positions)
Remuneration: $2,391.68 gross per fortnight + super Closing: Monday, 14 July 2025
Ranger
Remuneration: $2,507.68 gross per fortnight + super Closing: Sunday, 20 July 2025
wagga.nsw.gov.au/ jobs
Road closures
BAYLIS STREET
Roads: Baylis St between Morgan St & the Wollundry Lagoon Bridge
Date: Monday 7 July 2025
Duration: 9am – 12pm
Reason: NAIDOC Week March & Flag Raising
Detour: Detours will be signposted
THE ROCK-COLLINGULLIE RD
Roads: The Rock-Collingullie Road
Date: Sunday 13 July 2025
Duration: 8am to 2pm
Reason: Butch Menz Memorial Road Cycling Race
Detour: As sign posted – under traffic control ALL NOTICES NOW ONLINE AT: wagga.nsw.gov.au/ publicnotices
Parks & Recreation