Council News issue #200 23 June 2018

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Council News

Issue No: 200!

CITY OF WAGGA WAGGA

Weekly information from us to you

FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 23 JUNE 2018

BREAKING: WAGGA IN TOP NINE FOR QANTAS GROUP PILOT ACADEMY

Wagga Wagga’s bid to become the home of the new Qantas Group Pilot Academy has received a boost after Qantas confirmed the city was included in their shortlist of locations under investigation for the Academy. Just nine regional cities have been shortlisted from more than 60 proposals. General Manager of Wagga Wagga City Council Peter Thompson said it’s a great

opportunity for the city. “Wagga Wagga has a compelling case to host this facility and I look forward to showing Qantas what we are capable of delivering for the Academy and the proud Qantas brand,” he said. “Wagga Wagga Airport is already a premier facility and very little additional infrastructure would be required, we’re ready to go. “As the largest regional inland

city in NSW, Wagga Wagga has it all in terms of lifestyle, high quality affordable housing, access to services such as health, entertainment, and sports and recreation, making the city an attractive location for both Academy staff and students.” The Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga, Councillor Greg Conkey OAM, said this would be a significant boost for the city. “I really appreciate the efforts of

the staff in putting this submission together, it’s been a lot of hard work so full credit to the staff who have put this together,” he said. “We received a lot of support from our local State and Federal members along with CSU and we obviously have the support of the business community as well.” Qantas says a final decision on the Academy’s location is expected to be made in the third quarter of the year.

SCHOOL’S IN: (From left) CSU’s Stephen Butt, the Department of Education’s Jenene McGrath, Member for Wagga Wagga Daryl Maguire and Mayor Greg Conkey take a look at vacant land on the CSU campus set to be developed into a new primary school.

New school for growing north The thriving northern growth area is set to be home to a new primary school in 2021.

Negotiations have taken place to locate the new school so it is integrated with the Charles Sturt University campus in Estella and Wagga Wagga City Council’s planned northern sporting and recreation precinct. Member for Wagga Wagga Daryl Maguire, Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM, CSU’s Stephen Butt and the Department of Education’s Jenene McGrath announced on Friday 22 June that planning is underway, with construction to start in 2019 and finish in time for Term 1, 2021. Cr Conkey said Wagga Wagga’s north was one of the fastest growing regions in NSW.

“A new primary school near the CSU campus will cater for many families who are calling these neighbourhoods home,” Cr Conkey said. “The school’s location builds on Wagga Wagga City Council’s strategic planning to develop the north and our work with CSU to create a northern sporting and recreation precinct adjacent to the university’s Peter Hastie Oval.”

WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE ‘LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES’

Mr Maguire said the project will provide lifelong learning opportunities through partnerships with CSU and Council, with the Department of Education signing memorandums of understanding for joint use with both parties. “The project is for the provision of a new primary school with the potential for

connectivity to CSU, links to adjoining sporting facilities and use as a community hub,” Mr Maguire said. “The new school will incorporate stateof-the-art flexible teaching and learning spaces and other core facilities, which will cater for the anticipated growth of increased residential development in the area in the next two decades. “In the coming weeks we aim to start talking with the local community about the opportunities this exciting project will present.” Mr Butt said CSU was excited to be part of the project and the proposal to integrate a new school with the university. “This provides a unique opportunity for students, parents and the community to integrate the broader open space and recreation areas and supports our goal of ‘lifelong learning,” Mr Butt said.

“This is a unique and fantastic opportunity for Charles Sturt University and the Wagga community.”

NEW SCHOOL TO BE A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY

While the proposal is in the early stages of planning, the design strategy for the new school will aim to think creatively and deliver multipurpose buildings that will be suitable for events, sports and joint use by the community after hours. “This is an exciting proposal to provide best practice in collaborative education in a regional setting by integrating programs with CSU,” Mr Maguire said. “We are preparing young people to lead rewarding and productive lives in a complex and fast changing environment.” Cr Conkey thanked Council staff for their hard work behind the scenes to ensure the best possible outcome for the community.


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