Council News #2 - July 12 2014

Council News WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL

FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 12 JULY 2014

Issue 2

Weekly information from us to you

BIG PLANS: Wagga Wagga City Council’s Strategic Manager James Bolton (centre), discusses the Riverside Wagga Beach landscape upgrade plans with Aspect Irrigation and Landscaping Directors Brett Ashcroft (left) and Brendan Schneider (right).

Million dollar beach makeover One of Wagga’s jewels in the crown, Wagga Beach, will undergo a major upgrade scheduled to commence in coming weeks.

The million dollar first stage of the Riverside Wagga Beach landscaping upgrade will see the area from the existing car park through to ‘the rocks’ upgraded with new landscaping, furniture, pathways and lighting slated to commence on 21 July.

“The Wagga Beach landscaping project was identified in the Riverside Master Plan which was adopted by Council in 2010,” Wagga Wagga City Council Strategic Manager

“The aim of the project is to reactivate the Wagga Beach precinct and develop the area as a focal point and destination for residents and visitors, as well as create linkages to the city’s CBD and existing civic precinct.”

James Bolton said.

Works will include extensive landscaping, new irrigation, upgrade to lighting, new furniture, upgrade of the existing BBQ area and installation of two new additional BBQ areas.

“A local contractor, Aspect

Irrigation and Landscaping, was successful in winning the tender for the project which was also designed by a local landscape architect,” Mr Bolton explained.

“Preliminary works commenced onsite this week with the removal of 28 trees.

The landscaping works are expected to take 34 weeks to complete. The beach area will be completed first, ready for the summer period. This will be followed by the area around to ‘the rocks’ and finishing with the upgrade of the existing car park.”

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Wagga to host 2015 Eastern Unigames Wagga Wagga will play host to around 3,000 university and TAFE students from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory from 5-9 July 2015, with the city announced as the next location for the Eastern University Games.

The Eastern University Games is the key event for Australian University Sport’s eastern region, comprising a multi-sport competition between

universities in NSW and ACT. “We are thrilled to be named the host city for 2015, and believe it is testament to the quality of facilities and the community support that Wagga Wagga has to offer for sporting events,” Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Rod Kendall said.

“This is a major coup for Wagga Wagga and surrounds.

This event will provide enormous

benefits for our local economy by generating significant business for accommodation, transport and hospitality operators.

The 2015 Eastern University Games is expected to include AFL 9s, basketball, football, futsal, golf singles, hockey, indoor cricket, lawn bowls, netball, oztag, squash singles, tennis singles, tenpin bowling, touch, ultimate (frisbee) and volleyball.

Steady progress for Hampden The Hampden Bridge project commenced on 15 May and has seen the progressive removal of parts of the historic structure, in preparation for the collapse of the three main truss spans in the coming month.

The project’s main focus prior to the collapse is on removing as much material as possible from the main structure, including contaminants such as lead paint.

Two large cranes have been mobilised to site to assist with the construction of a supporting frame under the heavily weakened truss span that is closest to Fitzmaurice Street.

Although placing supporting structures may seem at odds with the progress of a demolition project, this structure will play an important role in maintaining a safe worksite throughout the preparation stages and ensure any collapse is strictly controlled.

The supporting structure will also protect the historically significant western

abutment date stone and plaque during the collapse of truss span one.

In addition to the preservation of the western abutment, Council’s Museum of the Riverina has worked closely with Heritage NSW and Engineers Australia to earmark many structural items for retention due to their heritage significance.

These items will be removed from site, decontaminated and retained by Council to ensure they are appropriately conserved or reused as part of a public legacy project for the bridge to commemorate the Hampden Bridge’s strong place in Wagga Wagga’s history.

Council staff have also been collecting and collating historical documentation on the Bridge throughout the project.

Stay up to date with weekly project updates available on Council’s website.

wagga.nsw.gov.au/hampdenbridge

Around the grounds Sportsground users might think when it rains, it pours when Council closes sportsgrounds – but there are good reasons behind why Council chooses to close grounds.

“Council staff undertake inspections of sportsgrounds following heavy or prolonged wet weather before any decision to close a ground is made,” Manager Environment and Recreation Services Mark Gardiner said.

“The current condition of the ground is taken into consideration, but there are also a number of other factors that Council staff will look at.

“Consideration is given to future fixtures at the ground, safety considerations for players and spectators, damage that may occur to the ground if it was to be used and the impact on the playing surface for the remainder of the season.

“Council understands that closing grounds impacts on scheduled training and matches, but has the long term availability of the ground in mind when making any decision to close it.”

When the decision to close a ground has been made users of that ground are notified via email and SMS. Council also has a dedicated webpage to advise all residents and users of the status of ground closures. The page can be accessed at wagga.nsw.gov.au/groundstatus and is updated when ground conditions change.

INSPECTION: Wagga Wagga City Council’s Acting Supervisor Open Space Peter Rowlands and Recreation Officer Baha Mosa inspect the Harris Park playing surface.

wagga.nsw.gov.au/groundstatus

It’s free tip time

Uranquinty & district residents are invited to attend a neighbourhood meeting with Councillors & Council staff.

7pm Wednesday 6 August 2014 Uranquinty Community Hall Council is hosting a neighbourhood meeting to discuss news, events and issues relating to Uranquinty and the broader Local Government Area. Stay for a cuppa after the meeting!

Have a question to ask or an issue to raise?

Contact Vanessa Keenan Phone: (02) 6926 9197 Email: communityengagement@wagga.nsw.gov.au

www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/neighbourhoodmeetings

It’s that time again to load up your trailer and head out to the Gregadoo Waste Management Centre (GWMC) to dispose of your rubbish for free.

Council’s next Free Tip Day is on again tomorrow – Sunday 13 July – from 7am to 4:30pm.

“Residents are able to dispose of a single axle trailer load of general domestic waste including garden rubbish, mixed recyclables and general household waste,” Council’s Director Infrastructure Services Heinz Kausche said.

“At the April Free Tip Day 566 loads of waste, totalling 102 tonne, were disposed of for free at the centre.

“This year Council has doubled the number of Free Tip Days from two to four in an effort to make them more accessible for residents.

“Previously Council has provided a kerbside bulky waste collection service in the city and this ceased in November 2010 due to the risks associated with waste being placed on the nature strip. Some of these risks included exposure to hazardous materials, scavenging and children playing in the waste creating a large number of issues and complaints.

“Council is also in the process of reviewing the project to construct a new Resource Recovery Centre located at Gregadoo to allow for free disposal of waste materials that can be recovered and put to re-use rather than disposal to landfill.”

Residents can also dispose of televisions, computers & computer equipment for free every day of the year at Gregadoo as part of the National Television & Computer Recycling Scheme.

Cardboard and polystyrene are accepted for free all year round and are reprocessed onsite for reuse.

Council News - A Wagga Wagga City Council publication

Councillor Column June was a momentous month for the NSW public library sector with a funding announcement and a longawaited amalgamation.

The previously separate

NSW Metropolitan Public Libraries Association and Public Libraries NSW (the country association) resolved to join forces in a new association – the NSW Public Libraries Association.

State budget delivered a $15m infrastructure public library grant program over the 4 years from 2014-15 to 1017-18.

Whilst this is welcome news, it only reinstates the grant funding program to the level that

it was in 2005-06 and is a fixed –term program that needs to be recurrent.

NSW Public Library Funding Campaign is influencing state government funding decisions. Over 100 NSW councils having resolved to support the Campaign, and petition signatures approaching 40,000, the Campaign is sending a compelling message to our state politicians. The first

councillor.braid@wagga.nsw.gov.au parliamentary debate on the library funding issue, triggered by the tabling of two tranches of 10,000 petitions each, will take place on 7 August.

The next target for the Funding Campaign is to address the problem of the recurrent elements of library funding – the $1.85 per capita legislated payment (both in quantum and indexation) as well as the Disability & Geographic

Improved water quality for Lagoon

Adjustment fund, which combine to form the annual funding that is provided directly to NSW councils.

These allocations are not indexed to population growth or CPI, so there is no source to fund the annual increase resulting from additional NSW population.

This will lead to the first actual reduction in direct funding to NSW councils (in 2015-16) if the attrition is not addressed.

If you have not already signed the petition go into a library near you and sign, your signature will help not only libraries in our area but all libraries in New South Wales.

Councillor Yvonne Braid

Sheffield Shield in Wagga Following approaches from Wagga Wagga City Council, Cricket NSW has announced that the city will host a Sheffield Shield match at Robertson Oval in February 2015.

The match, scheduled for Sunday 15 – Wednesday 18 February, will see the NSW Blues take on the Victorian Bushrangers.

“Wagga Wagga is very excited to be hosting a Sheffield Shield match in the city,” Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Rod Kendall said.

“Many great cricketers have grown up and played their early cricket in Wagga and this match is a great

opportunity for the city to showcase our wonderful sporting facilities, and a fantastic opportunity for regional residents to experience first class cricket in their own backyard.”

As part of the three year agreement, Wagga will also host an under 14 State Challenge match in both 2015 and 2016.

The agreement will see Council and Cricket NSW contribute $15,000 a year for three years to establish a grassroots cricket reserve and will seek contributions from local clubs and State Government grants programs.

A new scenario for funding Council’s $6.7M share of the levee upgrade project through borrowings was included in the Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) and adopted by Council at the June Council Meeting.

The scenario details the financial impact of borrowing money to fund Council’s one-third share of the levee project in the event an application for a Special Rate Variation is not approved by the NSW Government.

The additional scenario provides the community assurance by Council to progressing with the $20M project, regardless of the result of the Special Rate Variation application.

The funding options contained in Council’s LTFP do not impact on the current status of the levee project and work is continuing on finalising

the detailed design process.

Detailed designs for both the Main City and North Wagga levee systems are due to be completed by June 2015. The detailed designs will be presented together with the results of Council’s investigation of flood protection alternatives for North Wagga, which will include a large community consultation component.

Staff are currently developing the consultation plan to work with the community in the exploration of possible alternatives to upgrading the North Wagga levee. Feedback from the consultation process will be crucial to Council in the decision making process regarding the North Wagga levee.

Visit www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/ floodfutures to keep up to date.

Levee funding committment

REED BED: The new 120m2 floating reed bed installed within Wollundry Lagoon to help improve water quality.

Continuing on from recent landscaping works around Wollundry Lagoon, Council has installed a 6mx20m floating reed bed within the lagoon in a pilot project to help improve water quality.

Council’s Plan of Management for the Wollundry Lagoon recommended the installation of floating reed beds to aid in controlling nutrient accumulation and to help reduce algae.

“Floating reed beds remove suspended solids, nutrients, phytoplankton and reduce biological oxygen demand which helps to improve the quality of the water in the lagoon, which ultimately ends up in the Murrumbidgee River,” Wagga Wagga City Council Environmental Management Team Leader Tony Phelps said.

“A locally growing Sedge, Carex appressa, is planted on the reed bed which is anchored to the bottom of the lagoon with sufficient freedom to float up and down with changing water levels.”

The Wollundry Lagoon is a natural drainage basin for a large area of the city from the higher parts of Mount Austin, Turvey Park and Central Wagga to Gurwood Street - covering an area of 539 hectares.

“Storm water from these areas carry litter and debris from the streets into the lagoon and as a result there are a number of pollutants in the lagoon including oils and fuels from cars, bird and animal faeces, organic matter from fallen leaves, nutrients from garden fertilizers and general litter,” Mr Phelps explained.

“The reed beds are designed to allow the plant roots to grow deep in to the water to physically filter and remove algae-causing nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous. If this initial pilot project proves to be successful additional reed beds may be installed in the future.”

The new plants will take several months to establish within the lagoon and during that time protective bird netting will be necessary to protect the reed bed. In approximately six months the netting will be removed and the reed bed will add to the visual amenity of the lagoon, and provide potential habitat for water birds and turtles.

Wagga Wagga City Council in association with Wagga Wagga Tidy Town Sustainable Community Committee, SITA Environmental Solutions and Cleanaway.

help us make the

city of wagga

wagga shine with clean up wagga day

wagga.nsw.gov.au/environment

register a site for sunday 3 august!

Keep our city beautiful by participating in Clean Up Wagga Day, an event that is proudly coordinated

by Wagga Wagga City Council and the Wagga Wagga Tidy Town Sustainable Community Committee.

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This event aims to reduce the amount of litter in parks, reserves and roadways by encouraging groups to select sites to clean up. Not only is litter unsightly, it also degrades the health of our natural environment and can harm our native animals. It can also be costly if you are caught littering with fines up to $200.

Find a site that needs some TLC and then register a “Clean Up Every Day” activity at www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au

FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/environment for information on how you can get involved.

for more information call alice kent on 1300 292 442

Over the next 12 months, Wagga Wagga City Council & NSW EPA are piloting a Household Asbestos Disposal Scheme offering free disposal of bonded asbestos from across the Local Government Area.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

wagga.nsw.gov.au/asbestos OR Call 1300 292 442

This trial is supported by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority with funding from the waste levy.

Council News - A Wagga Wagga City Council publication

Public Notices

Meet Tiger!

to the General Manager, Wagga Wagga City Council, PO Box 20, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650 or emailed to council@wagga.nsw.gov.au.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DISPOSE OF ABANDONED ARTICLES AND VEHICLES

Notice is hereby given that Council intends to dispose of the following vehicles and other items which are currently held in Council’s Vehicle Impound Yard:

Persons making written submissions regarding the above draft plan are advised that any submission received within the submission period will be subject to the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 and the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPPA) and may be attached to the final report, in its entirety or in part, to Council unless explicitly requested by the person making the submission that they do not wish this to occur.

This week’s pet of the week is Tiger, a four year old male domestic long hair tabby.

Tiger has a very affectionate, loving nature and would love nothing more than to relax in front of the heater with you and laze the day away. Tiger would be suitable for most families and would love to be a new member of your family.

NO.

DESCRIPTION

VIN

7/12

Ford ute white

6FPAAAJGCMPK51480

15/12

Ford Wagon Green

6FPAAAJGWA2R93170

8/13

Kia Sdn Red

KNAFA2412T5600610

9/13

Magna Sdn white

6MMTR4D41PT071487

10/13

Ford Sdn Grey

6FPAAAJGSWVK82489

11/13

Renault Sdn silver

VF1BB130A20610215

12/13

Hyundai Sdn white

KMHUD11NPWU382462

13/13

Mitsubishi Sdn silver

JMFMRCI2AWU001743

14/13

VW Sdn silver

WVWZZZ1KZ6M708414

1/14

Daewoo Wagon blue

KLAVA25Z11K637341

3/14

Nissan Sdn gold

6F4FJAN14M0E06207

4/14

Nissan Sdn white

6F4FJFN14M0E01370

5/14

Toyota Sdn blue

KE30873764

6/14

Mitsubishi Sdn beige

6MMTH7D42XT004703

DA14/0200, Internal Fit Out of Existing Building - Works Located within a Listed Heritage Item (Former Brewery), 22-24 The Esplanade WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650, Lot 1 DP 1034723, Applicant: Flight Centre.

7/14

Mitsubishi Sdn green

6MMTH6D42XT003758

Name of Consent Authority: Wagga Wagga City Council.

8/14

Nomad bicycle

DF2E6511

9/14

Toyota Sdn red

6T154AE9209509995

The subject application and accompanying documentation, may be inspected at the following address until the closure of exhibition.

11/14

Mitsubishi Sdn silver

6MMTS6D41RT016325

Submission Period: 14/07/2014 to 28/07/2014

12/14

Holden Sdn blue

6H8VTK69HWL327300

14/14

Hyundai Sdn Blue

KMHUE31NPSU238962

Where: Wagga Wagga City Council, cnr Baylis and Morrow Streets, Wagga Wagga (Customer Service Counter).

Remuneration: Min $1,535.57 gpw + super Enquiries: Craig Richardson - (02) 6926 9200 Closing Date: Friday 1 August 2014

15/14

Hyundai Sdn Blue

Fire damaged

When: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (except Public Holidays).

STRATEGIC PARTNER CORPORATE GOVERANCE & RISK

Any questions relating to the draft plan may be referred to Council’s Manager Environment and Recreation Services, Mr Mark Gardiner on 1300 292 442.

Wagga Wagga City Council has received the following application to carry out “Development” under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979.

Meet Tiger or any of the animals at the Shelter between 1pm and 4:15pm Monday - Saturday. The friendly Animal Management Rangers can be contacted on 6971 4651 during business hours.

Name of Consent Authority: Wagga Wagga City Council

Large quantity post and rail timber fencing Large quantity weld mesh fencing and gates

Persons interested in purchasing the said vehicles and other equipment are invited to inspect the items at the Glenfield Road depot. Appointments for viewing are to be made by contacting Council’s Ordinance Ranger on 1300 292442.

Only written quotations will be received by Wagga Wagga City Council until 5pm Friday 25 July 2014.

Quotations are to be mailed to PO Box 20, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 marked “Expression of Interest Private and Confidential”.

DRAFT ON-SITE SEWAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2014-2018

Council hereby gives public notice for the exhibition of the draft On-Site Sewage Management Plan 2014-2018. The draft On-Site Sewage Management Plan 2014-2018 will be on exhibition from Monday 30 June 2014 for a period of 28 days, until Monday 28 July 2014. Council invites public submissions on the draft plan, to be lodged within the exhibition period.

Inspection Venue: The draft plan is available for review at Wagga Wagga City Council, Cnr Baylis & Morrow Streets, Wagga Wagga, during the hours of 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday (public holidays excluded) within the above exhibition period. The draft plan can also be accessed from Council’s website at www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/public

Submission Procedure: Persons wishing to make a submission in relation to the draft plan should do so prior to the close of the exhibition period.

Submissions should be in writing and may be delivered to Wagga Wagga City Council or mailed

p 1300 292 442 e council@wagga.nsw.gov.au w www.wagga.nsw.gov.au a Civic Centre Cnr Baylis & Morrow Sts PO Box 20 Wagga Wagga NSW 2650

You can adopt Tiger from Glenfield Road Animal Shelter for $186.63, which includes micro-chipping, lifetime registration, de-sexing, vaccinations, deworming and a vet check.

DA14/0204, Two (2) Double-Storey Units at Rear of Existing Dwelling, 60 Crampton St WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650, Lot 171 DP 996986, Applicant: GA McCarroll

80 shopping trolleys

Contact us

NOTICE OF DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

Any person seeking to make a submission in relation to the abovementioned development should address all correspondence to the Consent Authority to be received prior to 5pm on the final day of the exhibition period. If any submission is made by way of objection, the grounds of objection must be specified in the submission.

Persons lodging submissions are required to declare political donations (including donations of more than $1,000) made in the previous two years.

For more details, including disclosure form, go to www.planning.nsw.gov.au/donations.

Persons making written submissions regarding the above development are advised that any submission received within the submission period will be subject to the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 and the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPPA) and may be attached to the final report, in its entirety or in part, to Council unless explicitly requested by the person making the submission that they do not wish this to occur.

Enquiries: Further details relating to the matter can be obtained by contacting the Council’s Development Services. If you have any enquiries regarding the application, or about making submission, please telephone Development Services on 1300 292 442.

WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL careers at council

VACANCIES

STRATEGIC PARTNER STRATEGY & COMMUNICATIONS

Remuneration: Min $1,457.59 gpw + super Enquiries: Craig Richardson - (02) 6926 9200 Closing Date: Friday 1 August 2014

TEMPORARY PLUMBING DRAFTING & ADMINISTRATION OFFICER Fixed Term Contract up until June 2015 Remuneration: Min $922.16 gpw + super Enquiries: Tom Bowles - (02) 6926 9572 Closing Date: Monday 28 July 2014

MANAGER EXECUTIVE SUPPORT Enquiries: Phil Pinyon - (02) 6926 9120 Closing Date: Friday 25 July 2014

BOX OFFICE COORDINATOR

Remuneration: Min $1,212.79 gpw + super Enquiries: Carissa Campbell - (02) 6926 9680 Closing Date: Friday 25 July 2014

PEOPLE & CULTURE GRADUATE

Remuneration: Min $1,019.27 gpw + super Enquiries: Christine Priest - (02) 6926 9214 or 0418 897 454 Closing Date: Wednesday 23 July 2014

MANAGER CORPORATE STRATEGY, COMMUNICATIONS & GOVERNANCE

Enquiries: Craig Richardson - (02) 6926 9200 Closing Date: Friday 18 July 2014

GENERAL MANAGER Phil Pinyon

To view these opportunities and apply, visit www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/jobs Wagga Wagga City Council is an EEO employer

Values - Part of everything we do Trust • Respect • Innovation • Teamwork

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wagga.nsw.gov.au/councilnews Council News - A Wagga Wagga City Council publication