www.awnw.com.au
Issue #241 – Wednesday, 23 July, 2014
Albury Wodonga’s largest circulating newspaper
Spurs hot to trot After a neck and neck competition between two well-matched teams, Albury Hotspurs captain Ryan Giles put Albury United in their place. FOR THE FULL STORY TURN TO PAGE 28
Building a bridge By KRYSTEN MANUEL A TEAM of hard-working Indigenous youth have proudly reached a significant milestone in AlburyCity’s plans for the all-weather Wagirra Trail. The trail will link Union Bridge and Wonga Wetlands, with the first of two bridges put up and announced early this week. The 30-metre long truss bridge has been installed at Rivergums, a private property on the Riverina Highway, between Horseshoe Lagoon and Wonga Wetlands. The second bridge at Waterview Creek
is scheduled for installation in a fortnight. AlburyCity mayor Kevin Mack said it was an exciting next step in extending the Wagirra Trail to Wonga Wetlands. “Once the second bridge goes in, there’ll only be 600 metres of trail left to construct,” Cr Mack said. “Those works will be undertaken in September, resulting in six kilometres of a sealed 2.5 metre wide shared pedestrian/cycle trail from the Union Bridge at South Albury through to Wonga.”
Supervisor Paul Scannel said it was a proud day for the boys, though there was still much work to be done. “All the boys are all Indigenous employees,” he said. “They’ve been here anywhere from five years to those who started on 1 April. It’s fantastic for them to be able to see the last two years of work finally being connected. “It’s going to take another six months or so to finish off the last section to Wonga Wetlands but then we’ll have this fantastic trail
right through from Noreuil Park. “There’s six pieces of art sculptures going in and they will have a Wirradjuri theme. We’ll also have some interpretive elements scattered amongst it with messages about the flora and fauna in the area. “For us to work here amongst the kangaroos, the whistling kites, the wedge-tailed eagles, echidnas and wombats, it’s just beautiful. “The boys teach me a lot and I try to help them along and give them the old grey-haired wisdom at
times,” Mr Scannel said. “They love the fact that they’ve got some respect and dignity from the community for the great work they’ve done. It’s great for their esteem and it’s fantastic to be able to give them an opportunity they’ve grabbed with both hands.” Wagirra project leader Cassandra Storm said the idea to employ Indigenous people on the project came about in 2008 when council implemented the Murray River Experience Masterplan. Continued on page 8.
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