INSIDE: FAMILY ROOM OPENS, SCIENCE FUN DAY ON SOON + MORE
Council News CITY OF WAGGA WAGGA
FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 10 AUGUST 2019
Issue No: 257
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OVERHAUL: Wagga Softball Association Vice President Deanna McNaughton (left) and President Amanda Wenham (right) with Council’s Strategic Recreation Officer Peter Cook at French Fields where a major upgrade is underway.
$1.2M upgrade for Wagga’s home of softball The next stage in Wagga Wagga City Council’s upgrade at the city’s home of softball has started in the leadup to the sport’s new season.
on the same site. The new building is expected to take approximately three months to complete and comes as Wagga Softball Association (WSA) prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary later in the year. “The amenities block was identified as one of those most in need for an upgrade,” Council’s Strategic Recreation Officer Peter Cook said. A $1.2M facelift of the French “So with the assistance of a Fields sporting precinct State Government grant, Council includes new lighting, carpark decided to complete further works improvements, addressing stormwater issues and a brand new at the fields and this brings the precinct to a level where we can amenities block. better attract major softball events. Demolition work on the old amenities block is expected to start “It’s a bigger facility which can cater for greater numbers … we next week before construction on want to help accommodate any the new 200sqm building begins
RIVERINA SCIENCE FESTIVAL
future growth in the sport which is popular in the city.”
HOME RUN FOR SOFTBALL
WSA President Amanda Wenham said an upgraded facility would be a huge benefit to the sport in Wagga at many levels. “All this work helps with the local weekly competition from juniors through to seniors but also allows us to make a bid to host those bigger carnivals such as regional and state events,” Ms Wenham said. “We’ve got excellent junior numbers which are growing and that augurs well for the future of our sport in Wagga.” The new amenities block will include a kiosk, meeting room,
toilets and change rooms, separate umpires’ rooms and four storage rooms. The current carpark will be sealed and stormwater run-off from the top field will be managed through upgraded pits and pipes along the northern boundary of the fields. The lighting upgrade has recently been completed which provides greater training opportunities leading into the season which starts in October, and also night games in the hotter months. Four 21-metre galvanised lighting poles fitted with LED floodlights have replaced six existing 18-metre poles. Upgrading to LED lighting has many advantages such as energy savings, carbon emission
reductions and no flicker. LED lights also have no UV emissions and attract less insects. The new lights have a number of dimmer settings at 15%, 50% and 100%. The two main levels that will be used are: • The 50% levels are 250 lux infield and 150 lux outfield which can be used for training and club matches. • The 100% levels are 500 lux infield and 300 lux outfield which can be used for regional matches. The State Government has allocated $820,000 to the upgrade through the Stronger Country Communities Fund with Council contributing another $380,000 to the project.
11 – 17 AUGUST 2019 Future World Science Festival, NISEP Community Science Day, Quiet Science, Ecological Exploration, Kitchen Science Storytime + more! For booking information and full festival details visit:
wagga.nsw.gov.au/library
This Inspiring Australia initiative is supported by the Australian Government as part of National Science Week and is made possible through the collaboration of the partner organisations that comprise the Riverina Science Hub.