Described in the master plan as a picturesque setting with poor facilities and amenity, the beach on the Murrumbidgee River is set to be transformed with:

– Two new specially designed barbecue areas and an upgrade of the existing barbecues;

– A multi-purpose half court and adjoining youth activity area (possibly to suit parkour) for eight to 14-year-olds;

– A second children's playground;

– All new street furniture, including picnic tables;

– Improved pathways from the "rocks" area through to the Hampden Bridge end of the beach;

– Improvements to the main car park, including major tree planting and lighting to make it attractive for markets and festivals; and

– The eradication of weeds and the planting of 20,000 native plants, mostly grasses but also shrubs.

The upgrade has been designed by Wagga landscaping firm Somewhere and the work will be carried out by Wagga landscaping business Aspect Irrigation and Landscaping.

Aspect moved onto the site on Monday, fencing off part of the car park for a work compound to begin the 34-week project.

"What we want to do is reinvigorate the Wagga beach and encourage Wagga people and visitors back to the site," said council's commercial and economic development strategic officer Rob Sharpe

The aim is to have the work that impacts on the public the most completed by the start of the summer school holidays.

The area to be rejuvenated in this stage of the master plan is described as "the bend" and stretches from the rocks to the end of the major beach car park.

The start of work was hailed by Wagga's mayor, Rod Kendall.

"It's the start of another destination park in Wagga," Councillor Kendall said.

"Most people who get out and about in other destination parks, such as the Botanic Gardens, Apex Park, the Victory Memorial Gardens and Collins Park, realise they are under a fair bit of user pressure.

"It's important that as the population grows that we have sufficient park space."

Cr Kendall pointed out that improvements at the beach had started last year with a major upgrade of the amenities block.

Committee 4 Wagga chairwoman Judy Galloway is delighted that work has started at the beach and is looking forward to the next stage of the master plan - redevelopment of the adjoining caravan park into a major open space area when the lease with the caravan park operators expires in 2019.

The stage will include a regional playground, a "pop up" cafe precinct, more parking and possibly a water play area.

"We are absolutely delighted, because I think that for too long the (Murrumbidgee) river has been part of our community, but we have not really known it is there," Mrs Galloway said.

"I don't think we have made the most of this wonderful asset we have.

"We think it's a great council initiative and we are excited it has come to fruition."

Council will contribute $697,000 towards the cost of upgrading the bend and the state government is providing $350,000.