Major step forward for Riverside Stage 2 project

Published: 14 Dec 2020 9:10pm

Riverside Stage 2 project takes important step forward

A major step forward in the Riverside Stage 2 development was taken tonight when Wagga Wagga City Council approved a contract be awarded for the project’s design and construction which is now expected to start early in the new year.

Councillors endorsed entering into a contract with Huon Contractors Pty Ltd for the amount of $7.61M and also approved additional Federal Government funding of $3.08M for Riverside as part of its COVID-19 stimulus package.

A $2M portion of the Federal funding will go towards a “regionally significant” playground which will double as a major tourist attraction for residents and visitors to the city’s Wagga Beach precinct.

Council’s Strategic Assets Planner (Parks and Recreation) Ben Creighton said Council will conduct a community consultation process in January to get feedback on various designs being put forward for the new playground.

“The additional funding is focused on delivering a regionally significant park that is unique to Wagga Wagga and is considered a destination that will attract local people and tourists to the Riverside area,” Mr Creighton said.

“We will be asking the community early next year to have their say and choose one of the various options to be installed in the area.

“The designs we have seen so far are very impressive and we’re sure the community will approve when we put the concept designs out for public comment and voting.”

Mr Creighton said the playground designs Council has received are significantly larger than first planned and feature many more attractions that will provide a broader and more diverse range of activities for all ages utilising the facility.

The overall $9.93M Riverside Stage 2 project is being funded by NSW Government’s Restart NSW ($5M), the Federal Government’s Local Roads & Community Infrastructure Fund ($3.08M) and Wagga Wagga City Council ($1.85M).