Council News #27 - January 17 2015

Council News WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL

FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 17 JANUARY 2015

Issue 27

Weekly information from us to you

IN FOCUS: Pulling through the first cable to mark the start of CCTV installation are (from left) Member for Riverina Michael McCormack, Committee 4 Wagga chairperson Judy Galloway, Councillor Yvonne Braid and Wagga Wagga City Council Director Corporate Services Craig Richardson.

CCTV rolls out across Kids invited to draw their best Wagga Wagga’s CBD Three levels of Government and community combine to fund safety project Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) installation is well under way, with Wagga Wagga City Council contractors working their way south from Fitzmaurice Street.

The works began on 6 January with rodding and roping taking place ahead of the first fibre being pulled through on 8 January by Wagga Wagga City Council Director Corporate Services Craig Richardson, Councillor Yvonne Braid, Member for Riverina Michael McCormack and Committee 4 Wagga Chairperson Judy Galloway. Mr Richardson said Council has worked hard in the lead up to ensure the most appropriate system is installed. “This is a purpose-built system and the presence of CCTV can have a deterrent effect on crime

and antisocial behaviour within the CBD, while contributing to a greater sense of safety in the community. “This $1,080,000 project is a combined effort with all three levels of government contributing funding, along with Committee 4 Wagga. “Council has also worked closely with NSW Police to ensure the right system is being installed. “The system is expected to be fully operational by early April 2015.” There will be minimal disruption to businesses along Fitzmaurice Street, Baylis Street and Station Place over the course of the works, and pedestrian access to businesses will be maintained at all times. Safety barriers will also be used along the footpath during the installation to ensure pedestrian safety. To keep up to date with the location of the CCTV works as they progress towards Station Place, visit www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/cctv. It will be updated with each week’s installation schedule and any other relevant information.

WEEK 3 WORKS LOCATIONS • Fitzmaurice Street, and up to and including Wollundry Lagoon bridge WORK • Open excavation and the installation of conduits and pits • Underboring and the installation of conduits • Continued installation of draw wires and pulling of fibre optic cable Pedestrian control measures will be installed with pedestrian diversions a possibility. Traffic control measures are also expected to be installed but not at the expense of reducing available car parking.

Wagga Waggafest organisers are calling on the community’s kids to help make the short film competition’s fifth year the best yet. Waggafest is the perfect platform for people to share their unique stories on what makes Wagga a great city to live, work and play. This year, kids will get the opportunity to have elements of their drawings featured on the Waggafest artwork and promotional material. A Waggafest 2015 “Draw Your Best…” Kids Drawing Studio will be set up on the main stage at Wagga Wagga City Council’s Australia Day celebrations on Sunday 25 January in the Victory Memorial Gardens from 9am to 2pm. Kids will have the opportunity to draw what they think is the best – something they love about Wagga, their favourite animal or anything that inspires them to put pencil to paper. Those drawings will then be incorporated into the Waggafest 2015 promotional material. Since it began in 2011, Waggafest has fostered and cultivated talent from across Wagga and the world. However, festival organisers believe “the best is yet to come” for the festival, which is why Wagga’s kids have been included in the design process. Kids can contribute to the “Draw Your Best…” campaign on the main stage at the Victory Memorial Gardens from 9am to 2pm on 25 January.