Council News Issue No: 103
WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL
FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 16 JULY 2016
Weekly information from us to you
BALLOON MAN: Questacon’s Excited Particle Lachy Agett wowed kids in the Wagga area this week with the science spectacular Balloonatic.
KIDS BLOWN AWAY BY BALLOONATIC FUN Kids from across the Wagga area were in their element this week learning about earth’s chemical elements. A school holidays treat, Australia’s leading science centre Questacon brought their Excited Particles show Balloonatic to rural halls in the Wagga region. Balloonatic is a hands-on, fun-filled science show complete with fire, loud explosions with helium and hydrogen and a mind-boggling liquid nitrogen trick. “The show is a really engaging demonstration about all we can do with the science of aerodynamics and balloons,” Excited Particle and star of the show Lachy Agett said. The spectacular science show was the latest instalment in the City of Wagga Wagga’s Hall-A-Day Adventures outreach program, which has brought national and local performances to rural halls in the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area each July school holidays since 2013. “The crowds in the Wagga area have been amazing and are rivalling some of the best school groups we have performed to,” Mr Agett said. “It’s great that we can offer travelling science shows like Balloonatic, because we can bring some of the best bits that Questacon has to offer out into rural areas for those who wouldn’t have the opportunity to come to Canberra to see us.” There are now new little scientists across the Wagga area with the show performing to 10 sold-out shows in Uranquinty, Oura, Collingullie and Ladysmith and Galore, which was introduced into the program this year.
Pothole repair a priority: GM It’s winter, it’s wet and potholes are popping up across the city’s road network. Patching and monitoring potholes is always a priority for Council, more so during the winter months. Above-average rainfalls in May and June this year have contributed to an increased number of potholes across the city’s 2300km road network. Since this time, and when
weather conditions have permitted, Council road maintenance staff have concentrated efforts on pothole repairs. Potholes are best repaired when the weather is dry and warm as the material has a better chance of sticking. “In the past few months, when the weather conditions have been right, all Council crews have been out patching and repairing potholes across the city,” City of Wagga Wagga General Manager Alan Eldridge said. “Crews work on repairing
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT
potholes on high volume and high speed zone roads first, as these can carry higher safety risks. “When our crews are out and about they are applying about 17 tonnes of material daily to patch the road failures.” Potholes form when moisture works its way into the road surface or when the subgrade of the road becomes saturated. So, more rain, more potholes. Council uses a number of different materials to patch potholes, including bitumen emulsion and aggregate, hotmix asphalt or coldmix asphalt.
Material choice depends on the location and nature of the pothole and weather conditions at the time of repair. The community can also assist Council with timely pothole repairs. “We ask all motorists and community members to report a pothole directly to our customer services team when they see one,” Mr Eldridge said. “With such an extensive road network it’s impossible for Council to know exactly where a pothole is at any given time.”
POTHOLE PATROL Let us know! Residents can report potholes to Council on 1300 292 442 or at wagga. nsw.gov.au/online services, or download the iCouncil app and report it straight from your phone.
Music at Midday and Music in the Evening Featuring Australian Army Band Kapooka, conducted by Major Lindsay Mee
Wednesday 12noon and 6pm 20 July 2016
To book tickets call 6926 9688 or visit: www.civictheatre.com.au