This will hopefully bridge the gap between regional and capital cities through a number of different fields throughout Wagga. 

Committee 4 Wagga CEO Alan Johnston said it is about embracing smart decisions and finding solutions to problems in the community effectively and efficiently. 

“You’d be surprised to see that smart technologies are already in place around Wagga,” Mr Johnston said. 

“Creating a smart city is becoming the buzz word and Australia’s capital and large regional towns are strong examples.

“We’re currently developing our strategic plan and gathering information and data from Melbourne, Newcastle, Geelong and Adelaide who have been acknowledged worldwide. 

“It’s something we’re really excited about for the next couple of years in Wagga.” 

Like capital cities, Wagga residents and visitors can expect free WiFi in town and car park sensors showing bays that are available and occupied.

“Free CBD WiFi adds excitement and brings people into town, meets the expectations of everyday life and services become more accessible,” Mr Johnston said. 

Additionally, Wagga will likely implement LED light technologies in the main street, which will dim when there is no movement and then light up when there is. 

Mr Johnston said creating smarter cities becomes cost effective. 

“LED technologies will only use power when needed and this will save money,” he said. 

Mobile CCTV is also proposed for the city and with these new technological advances, it is hoped this will lead to more opportunities. 

“It’s all about making Wagga a better place to live in, through people sensibility, mobility and services,” he said.

“Having largely been fulfilled in major cities, people visiting Wagga have expectations so this is important to make Wagga a livable place.” 

City strategy manager Tristan Kell said it is not about adding “shiny, materialistic” objects in the city, but using technology to improve the connectivity, livability and efficiency of community services. 

“It’s all about using evidence-based decisions, which then become smart decisions, giving us confidence to invest infrastructure long-term in Wagga,” Mr Kell said. 

Mr Kell argued with the recognition of Wagga as a regional ‘transport hub’ for this first time in the Future Transport Strategy, this will provide scope to grow. 

“Wagga is now on the map and there is confidence to invest in long-term infrastructure, like the high-speed rail,” he said. 

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Mr Kell said in the short-term, Wagga should work with local committees and local representation to improve the existing services. 

“So from Albury there’s five or six services a day to Melbourne, why don’t we get five or six rail services back to Sydney?,” he asked. 

“This is something we should be working through as a city; we want to improve access to major cities, because that makes us a more livable city and is better for doing business. 

“Then, instead of being a six and half hour journey that might become a four hour journey and that’s using existing infrastructure; then down the track, 20 plus years, we can offer a high-speed service that is only one or two hours to Sydney or Melbourne.” 

The question of when commuters will see increased train services to the capital cities from Wagga, still remains uncertain.