A multi-million dollar plan to upgrade Wagga Beach has been met with backlash.
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Workshops and meetings will kick-off for the second phase in coming weeks but concerns have been raised about the cost, annual flooding and the loss of Wagga Beach Caravan Park.
Councillor Paul Funnell said his biggest worry was the removal of 40,000 to 45,000 annual visitors from the centre of the city if the park was to be removed.
While the park’s owners declined to comment, Wagga City Council confirmed it had resolved not to renew the lease for the Johnston Street site in 2019.
Despite its intent to offer an alternative location at Wiradjuri Reserve, Cr Funnell said council had neither allocated funds, nor made plans to develop a site or upgrade the “disgraceful” Billy-goat track, leading from the reserve into the city.
“It’s not sensible,” Cr Funnell said.
“We’re trying to attract tourists to the town so they spend more money.”
He said the development at Wagga Beach could be “a real draw card”, but it couldn’t be rushed.
He said it also needed to be made in a way that would not be the end of the world if it flooded.
The next stage of the $6.2 million Riverside Master Plan will include the installation of a pop-up-shop avenue, a regional playground with water-play elements, improved parking, amenities, landscaping and an upgraded irrigation system.
It follows a $1 million upgrade to the popular destination in 2014.
Wagga woman Alexandra Richards wondered if the money could be better spent elsewhere.
“It could be cool,” Ms Richards said. “They could also be working to build up areas around north of Wagga … I can’t help but think $6.2 million is a lot.”
Her partner, Anthony Richards, said he was for the development, but wondered how council would make the facilities flood-proof and how much money would be spent to fix damages in coming years.
Councillor Vanessa Keenan defended the master plan, saying it was not an overnight decision.
“It’s part of that broader plan to regenerate and revitalise that space down there,” Cr Keenan said.
“It’s not a case of booting (the caravan park out), but a case of what is best use for that land.”
The plan’s former project manager said council was seeking to maximise one of the city’s greatest assets.
“On any warm day, you can see how important it is to the community,” Cr Keenan said.
“The alternative is to leave places like that a wasteland.”
She said flood tolerance would also be taken into account before the construction phase.