Wagga Wagga arts and culture win State and National awards
The Arts and Cultural sector across the state and nationally are being celebrated this month with winners announced at the 2025 Local Government NSW Awards and the National Performing Arts Connections (PAC) Australia Awards, with Wagga Wagga winning multiple awards.
The winner of the Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Cultural Award was the Museum of the Riverina’s Resettlement Podcast series, Wiradyuri Gawaymbanha-gu Mamalanha (Wiradjuri Welcome to Visitors).
Council’s 2025 Youth Week Program was also a finalist in this category.
Council’s Civic Theatre has also won a national IMPACT Award for their Traineeship Program.
Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout says these Council projects which have won an award or been a finalist, could not have been achieved without strong community support.
“Each of these awards celebrate the lasting and vital impact cultural programs and initiatives have in our community and is evidence that there is a thriving arts and cultural sector here in Wagga Wagga,” Cr Tout said.
“These achievements are the result of collaboration from the entirety of the Wagga Wagga community; from the ideas and feedback our community shares, to the volunteers, participants, along with the education and employment partners who bring these
projects to life. This recognition belongs to everyone who contributes to making Wagga Wagga a culturally vibrant and inclusive place to live.”
The Resettlement Podcast - narrated by proud Wiradyuri man Luke Wighton – tells the powerful stories of Aboriginal families who moved to Wagga Wagga under the Aboriginal Family Resettlement Scheme in the 1970s and 1980s, which urged Aboriginal families to move to larger rural centres to be closer to essential health and education services.
Council’s Museum Manager Tim Kurylowicz said “this award goes out to all the Wiradyuri and First Nations leaders who shared their personal stories along with the Museum team and volunteers who worked to capture the important stories of Wagga Wagga’s history”.
The podcast series was developed as part of Council’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan and was funded by a NSW Government Community Heritage Grant.
This week, Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre was awarded a National IMPACT award from PAC Australia in recognition of their innovative Trainee Program.
PAC Australia is the national peak body for performing arts centres, presenters and producers across Australia.
The Executive Director Katherine Connor said “the outcomes Wagga Wagga has achieved and the meaningful impact their program has on their local community and the broader performing arts sector demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to workplace development and cultural sustainability”.
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School-based Civic Theatre Trainee Lilly Giunco added “working at the Civic Theatre I have met so many new people and made so many new friends. I was even nominated for School-based Trainee of the Year 2025 (NSW Training Awards). It was just so rewarding being told that what I am doing is important and that I am progressing in my career.”
For more information on traineeships and apprenticeships with Council, visit: www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/thecouncil/careers/traineeships-andapprenticeships-at-council
You can listen to the Resettlement Podcast Series here: www. museumriverina.com.au/explore/ podcasts/resettlement
Council has drafted a new Onsite Wastewater Management Strategy to align with updated NSW legislation. It outlines how to keep your system safe for people, animals, and the environment. The draft strategy is open for public feedback until Sunday 31 August 2025 Visit haveyoursay.wagga.nsw.gov.au/owms
Works & Projects
Harris Park Upgrade to help level the playing field for female athletes
An event held this week at Harris Park in Mount Austin has marked the start of construction on a major amenities upgrade for the popular sporting hub.
Led by Independent Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr MP and Wagga Rugby League (WRL) president Warren Barclay, the gathering on 13 August 2025 celebrated both the imminent start of works and the project’s role in boosting women’s and girls’ sporting participation in Wagga Wagga and the wider Riverina.
The $1.6 million redevelopment will feature new female, male and referee changerooms; upgraded canteen, bar and storage areas; a modern meeting space; and new bathrooms – including accessible and ambulant toilets – for community use.
Once completed, the new facilities will also be available to the cricket community during the summer season. WRL President Warren Barclay said the project would play a key role in removing long-standing barriers for female players.
“With the new purpose-built changerooms we’re looking forward to catching the wave in women’s rugby league, which will be a great boost to the sport and the community.”
Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga, Councillor Dallas Tout described the works as a strong, positive example of collaboration between local government, community organisations and the NSW Government.
“Whether you’re a player, official, spectator or community member, these refurbished amenities will offer safer, more inclusive facilities to everyone,” he said.
The project is funded by $985,000 from the NSW Office of Sport, $318,000 from Wagga Wagga City Council, and the remaining amount from WRL.
Construction on the Harris Park Amenities Upgrade is scheduled for completion in April 2026, weather and contractor availability permitting.
For more information, visit haveyoursay.wagga.nsw.gov.au/ harris-park-amenities-upgrade
PROUD COMMUNITY: The Resettlement Podcast Series won a Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Cultural Award for its vital contribution to recording local history. Pictured: LGNSW President and Mayor of Forbes Phyllis Miller OAM and Council’s Museum Manager Tim Kurylowicz. Image courtesy of Local Government NSW.
CONSTRUCTION KICK OFF: (L to R) WRL President Warren Barclay joined Mayor Dallas Tout, WRL Grants Officer Joanne Lloyd, and Dr Joe McGirr MP.
STAR TEAM: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre Trainees (from left): Lachlan, Dimetrie, Lilly, Sharna, and Max.
GUIDING RESOURCE: The newly adopted Lake Albert Plan of Management 20252035 provides a framework for managing this popular precinct for the benefit of residents, the community, and the wider region.
Lake Albert Plan of Management gets the green light
A comprehensive plan of management which will serve as a guiding resource for the future planning, design, and management of the Lake Albert precinct for the next 10 years has been adopted.
At its Ordinary Meeting on Monday 11 August 2025, Council approved the draft Lake Albert Plan of Management 2025-2035 for the precinct.
The plan covers the cultural significance of Lake Albert, current uses and potential uses of the lake and surrounding precinct, and water quality.
Request it. Report it. For easier community
requests.
Wagga Wagga City Council has launched an update that simplifies the process for residents who want to make requests and report issues to Council.
Request it. Report it., located on Council’s website, is a simplified version of our previous online request system, making it quicker and easier for residents to request maintenance or report issues.
The types of items that can be requested and reported are those related to roads, animals, bin replacements, graffiti and vandalism, environmental concerns, footpaths, trees, car parking, and parks and playgrounds.
Council’s Chief Operating Officer Scott
The draft plan was placed on public exhibition from 10 October to 18 November 2024, with the community and stakeholders invited to make submissions.
It was also provided to the Wiradjuri/ Wiradyuri and First Nations Community and Lake Albert user groups for review and comment.
Council’s Manager City Growth & Regional Assets Ben Creighton says a total of 19 submissions were received during the exhibition period.
“Among the key themes identified in this feedback were the importance of ensuring water levels remain consistent, maintaining water quality particularly addressing Blue Green Algae, and the proposed camping ground,” Mr Creighton said.
Gray says Request it. Report it. is an update to the way residents can let Council know about incidents across the local government area.
“We have always encouraged residents to report incidents and maintenance to Council, and the Request it. Report it. feature makes the process much easier,” Mr Gray said.
“Our team have worked hard on the feature to ensure it is simple to use and easier than ever, allowing anyone in the community that has access to a smart phone or computer to make submissions.
“Smart phone users can make submissions when they’re out in public. For example, if you’re at a playground with the kids and see something that requires maintenance you can report it on the spot.”
After you've made a submission, you will be sent an automatic reply email to say your request was received, followed by another email with your Request ID. Record this ID if you wish to follow up the request at a later date.
The request will be logged with the relevant Council department for actioning. A reminder that not all jobs can be attended to immediately; it depends on priority and availability of staff and resources.
Request it. Report it. is monitored between 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. If your request is urgent, please call the 24-hour call centre on 1300 292 442.
“We incorporated minor additions from these submissions into the plan, as well as feedback from internal Council consultations and workshops.
“This includes a future use and development schedule and it’s also been noted that a separate Strategic Masterplan may be required in the future to provide further details and timelines for these projects.”
The Plan of Management is intended to strategically identify future development, use and management of the community land within this popular precinct, without requiring the inclusion of detailed plans.
As part of its future implementation, detailed investigations and project specific business cases will be required to establish accurate scopes and cost estimates for identified projects.
“This is really around setting the framework around what the future uses are for the land around Lake Albert, which is one of our city’s, and the region's, most popular gathering spots,” Mr Creighton said.
“I think the document itself provides a really good balance in terms of the approach to managing the precinct for the benefit of residents, the community, and the wider region.
“We want to be able to maintain and improve the amenity of the Lake Albert precinct, consistent with the established character of the area while meeting the varied needs of the community.”
Lake Albert Plan of Management 20252035 has received final approval and Minister’s consent from Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure –Crown Lands and Public Spaces.
To use Request it, Report it. follow these steps:
1. Visit wagga.nsw.gov.au and click the Request it. Report it. button or visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/request-it or wagga.nsw.gov.au/report-it
2. Select the category your submission relates to from the drop-down list, then select the subcategory
3. Enter the location of the request or drop a pin on the map
4. Upload a photo if you have one (optional)
5. Add a description detailing the request
6. Enter your details (name, contact number, email, preferred contact method)
7. Tick “I’m not a robot”, then click Submit
Public Notices
All notices now online at: wagga.nsw.gov.au/ publicnotices
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