Four community infrastructure projects in the Riverina town of Wagga Wagga were officially opened today – the Botanic Gardens Precinct development, the Belling Park Basketball Half Court, the Rural Villages Recreation Initiative and the Menshed Development.
As part of the Rudd Labor Government’s Economic Stimulus Plan, the Wagga Wagga City Council received over $1 million for the projects.
The funding was used to complete five projects at the Botanic Gardens Precinct; including a new amenities building, a new adventure playground, two new barbecue shelters, upgrades to the existing playground and improvements the model railway.
Wagga Wagga City Council Mayor, Kerry Pascoe, and local Zara Elliot, were at the Botanic Gardens to mark the openings. Miss Elliot won a competition to name the new adventure playground with her entry ‘Crow’s Nest’.
Funding for the Rural Villages Recreation Initiative was spread across four areas, a playground and a new BMX track at Ladysmith; new playground equipment, picnic furniture, playground fencing and a basketball/netball tower at the Recreation Reserve in Currawarna; a new playground at Crossroads Oval, Collingullie; a playground and a new sealed foot/bike path around the Paddy Osborne Park/Playground in Tarcutta.
The new Belling Park Basketball Half Court caters for basketball players at one end and netball players at the other, and the design involved extensive input from the Belling Park Community Group.
The Menshed Development funding has provided a new permanent facility where members can connect with other members of the community and participate in a range of activities, including woodwork and metalwork.
In partnership with every council in the country we are delivering more than 3,300 small and larger scale building projects, including new and refurbished public libraries, sporting facilities, parks and playgrounds, and child care centres.
In fact, we’re making the single largest federal investment in community infrastructure through the more than $1 billion Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.
The Program’s remaining $220 million will be made available to councils in coming months, with Wagga Wagga City Council set to receive at least $544,000. This additional funding will support even more local jobs and rebuild even more of the nation’s vital community infrastructure.
I congratulate Wagga Wagga City Council and the local community for helping deliver these important community facilities and helping build a stronger region for the future.