More levee works to get underway this year

The second stage of one of the city’s most important infrastructure projects, the Main City Levee Upgrade, will get underway this year after Council tonight agreed to enter into a contract with the preferred tenderer.

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM said discussions will commence with the preferred tenderer and contracts should be exchanged in November.

“The $9.6M stage 2 works account for a significant portion of the entire $23.2M levee upgrade which is being funded by all levels of government, and will offer a greater level of assurance to Wagga Wagga residents and businesses,” Cr Conkey said.

“The levee upgrade has been a long and detailed project due to its complexity and importance and I’m pleased to see it progressing to the second stage, noting that Stage 1 is due for completion in December.”

Construction methods to be used to raise the levy height in Stage 2 will comprise predominately of capped sheet piles that will protrude from the earth levee running the length of the Cadell Place wall (parallel to Fitzmaurice Street) to Johnson Street, then from, Riverina Playhouse to Hammond Avenue.

In addition to the sheet piling, raising and extending the existing concrete retaining walls along Cadell Place and behind Watermark apartments, will also be part of this stage.

The works, which are expected to begin in December, will be higher in visibility in comparison to Stage 1 due to the proximity of construction sites to the CBD and residential areas located along the Murrumbidgee River.

A community meeting to explain the Stage 2 project and the potential impacts to residents and businesses during construction will be held in late November.

More information: wagga.nsw.gov.au/levee

Levee upgrade works update:

• Stage 1 earthworks began October 2017 at Flowerdale Lagoon and Kooringal Rd near the Monumental Cemetery
• 800 m of new levee bank constructed, 2.9 km raised in height and reinforced
• Two concrete spillways built – 350m at Flowerdale and 120m at Kooringal Rd
• Headwalls at Copland St constructed
• Stage 1 scheduled for completion in December 2018
• Heavy machinery has moved 25,000 cubic metres of clay, topsoil and granite as part of the stage 1 upgrade

Levee upgrade works funding breakdown

The following funding contributions have been made to cover the $23.2M cost of the Wagga Wagga levee upgrades:

• Wagga Wagga City Council - raising one-third share of $7.75M through a special rate variation, effective from 2016 and maintained for five years
• NSW Government - stage 1 grant funding of $2M and stage 2 grant of $2.1M
• Federal Government - $10M of funding.