Riverside Redevelopment - Stage 2

Riverside redevelopment completed | 27 Jun 2022

Wagga Wagga's eagerly awaited Riverside Redevelopment is complete.

The redevelopment will turn the Wagga beach and Murrumbidgee River precinct into an attraction for residents and visitors to the region, and an ideal venue for festivals, markets and musical performances.

Works included upgraded fencing, lighting, walk and cycle paths, an events stage, parking, new accessible amenities, and an al-abilities playground inspired by the city's paddle-steamer past and the old Wagga Water Whizz.

The $9.93 million project was funded through a $5 million grant from the NSW Government's Regional Growth - Environment and Tourism Fund, $3.08 million from the Commonwealth Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund and $1.85 million from Wagga Wagga City Council.

Riverside Stage 2 update | 09 May 2022

Riverside Stage 2 is expected to be completed by the end of May, weather permitting.

Delays have been due to wet weather and to allow for newly laid turf and seeded areas to establish.

Riverside Stage 2 close to completion | 22 Apr 2022

Riverside Stage 2 is scheduled to be completed by 6 May 2022, weather permitting.

Additional minor works are expected to be carried out in the carpark area towards the end of May for a period of one week.

Changed traffic conditions at Wagga Beach | 11 Mar 2022

Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions at the Wagga Beach while we upgrade the carpark.

Work will be carried out at the carpark between 7am and 5pm, from 14 to 22 March, weather permitting.

The work will be done in three stages to ensure minimum disruption to the public accessing Wagga Beach area.

Closure to the carpark and the end of Johnston Street between Church Street and the site gate will be necessary during Stage 3.

Traffic control will be in place.

Wagga Beach carpark upgrades to begin | 22 Feb 2022

Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions at the Wagga Beach while we upgrade the carpark.

Work will be carried out at the carpark between 7am and 5pm from 14 to 22 March, weather permitting.

The work will be done in three stages to ensure minimum disruption to the public accessing Wagga Beach area.

Closure to the carpark and the end of Johnston Street between Church Street and the site gate will be necessary during Stage 3. Traffic control will be in place.

These works are part of the Riverside Stage 2 precinct redevelopment project.

Riverside Stage 2 transformation taking shape | 18 Feb 2022

Work on Stage 2 is progressing. The playground designed by Moduplay, is more than 85 per cent complete.

Concrete works for the shared path and pavement, along with the tiered seating works near the new kiosk are progressing, and the internal fit out is underway on the new amenities block.

The new main stage, which will cater for a wide range of events, is also taking shape with the structural steel frames installed and block work and slabs for the stage also in progress.

The project is expected to be completed by end of April 2022, weather permitting.

Work is progressing on Riverside | 20 Dec 2021

Despite wet weather delays and ongoing high river levels, work is progressing on Stage 2 of the Riverside project.

The new amenities block will be in lock up stage by Christmas and the playground is over 70% complete with the large towers installed and majority of the key equipment installed or delivered.

Concrete works are underway for the shared path and pavement. The stage footings have been poured and structural steel is being installed.

The expected completion date is April 2022, weather permitting.

Riverside playground works start | 26 Nov 2021

Close to a third of the new playground at the Riverside Stage 2 project has been installed as works on site progress towards other key milestones.

The “regionally significant” playground is an adventure zone which has been inspired by parts of Wagga Wagga’s history such as paddle steamers which once travelled the Murrumbidgee River and the Wagga Water Whizz slide which was located at the beach precinct. It will be a key feature in the development and was the winning design as selected by community members as part of the consultation process. The popular design was a clear winner with the community and includes an all-abilities play space.

Construction works have continued despite recent adverse weather conditions. The existing amenities block which is located on the project site has been demolished. The slab has been poured for the new amenities building and block work has commenced – it will be built in the same location and include a changing place facility.

Footings for the stage construction are in progress alongside grading and trimming on internal roads and shared paths. Kerb construction at the main entrance on Johnston Street is also in progress.

Practical completion is scheduled for April 2022, weather permitting.

Riverside Redevelopment Stage 2 Update - 24 September 2021 | 24 Sep 2021

Detailed design for the development is being finalised and contractors, Huon, have begun stormwater works at the site. Once complete, bulk earthworks with be carried out in preparation for construction to commence in the coming months.

A container for the gardeners’ storage and office, along with a food and beverage van have been purchased, while a substantial order has been placed for landscaping elements.

Sub-contractor Moduplay has started fabricating and testing the playground equipment at its factory. It will be transported to Wagga Wagga in small sections and assemble on site.

The Moduplay design is an all-abilities adventure play space inspired by some of the city’s history, as well as Wiradjuri themes. It was a clear winner with community members in Council’s playground poll conducted earlier this year.

A new amenities block will be constructed, which will include an accredited adult-accessible lay down change facility.

Another design feature of the precinct will be the main stage, which will cater for a wide range of events.

The project is expected to be completed by mid-April 2022, weather permitting.

Flood mitigation strategies in place for rising river levels | 29 Jul 2021

Council are monitoring onsite water levels.

Our contractors have flood mitigation strategies in place. Due to the rising water no unauthorised entry to the site is permitted.

The key project elements such as the playground, stage and internal roads have been designed to withstand a 1 in 100 flood.

Contractors take possession of Riverside site | 25 May 2021

Contractors for Stage 2 of the Riverside project have taken possession of site.

In the coming weeks, the perimeter fence will be extended and site establishment and clearing works will begin.

Visitors to area continue to have access to the car park and existing amenities block near the beach.

Work on the car park is expected to take place in December - alternative temporary parking arrangements will be provided closer to that time.

Detailed design of the internal paths, drainage, playground, stage and refurbishment of the disused amenities block are progressing.

Community helps pick new Riverside Stage 2 regionally significant playground concept design | 16 Apr 2021

Council's recent playground poll received more than 1800 responses. Based on the Riverside Stage 2 project team's assessment and community feedback, the Council's preferred playground sub-contractor is Moduplay, Option 2 design, which is an adventure playground inspired by parts of Wagga Wagga's history. The design was a clear winner with community members and will now be built as a key feature in the development.

The playground will have components of design inspired by paddle steamers which once travelled the Murrumbidgee River and the Wagga Water Whizz slide which was located at the beach precinct. It includes a mix of standard playground equipment and aims to cater for different ages and abilities.

Huon Contractors was selected to carry out the design and construct of the overall project.

Construction is expected to start in June this year with a proposed completion date in mid 2022.

Riverside - Stage 2 will rejuvenate the entire precinct - from the beach carpark through to the former St Michael’s Oval - to complete the vision of the Riverside Strategic Master Plan and build on the success of the $1 million Stage 1 works completed in 2014-15.

The development aims to activate the Wagga Beach and Murrumbidgee River 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.

The $9.93 million Stage 2 project will integrate the former St Michael’s Oval and the former caravan park site into a large multipurpose public recreation space.

The project is expected to be completed by June 2022, weather permitting.

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

This project was also initially part funded from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure under their Low Cost Loans Initiative (LCLI) program.

The project will integrate the former St Michael’s Oval and the former caravan park site into a large multipurpose public recreation space. The plans include:

• A large ‘destination’ playground
• Improvements to the existing path network and creation from a new shared path
• Container for gardeners’ storage and office and a food and beverage van that are removable during a flood.
• Event spaces including large, medium and small spaces to cater for a wide range of events, which can be used individually or combined for major events
• Car parking minor upgrade including trees for shade, CCTV and lighting

The benefits of the destination playground include:

• Ability to bring the community together
• Create a sense of community pride
• Provides children and families the opportunity to use their imagination, explore, exercise, and spend time outdoors
• All abilities play space

You can also read about the upgrades that have already happened during Stage 1 of the Riverside project on the Wagga Beach and Wiradjuri Reserve pages on our site.