Stage two of the construction will take about two years and will improve a section of levees between Gobbagombalin Bridge to Hammond Avenue.

The first stage of the work was split into two sections: from Flowerdale Lagoon to the Gobbagombalin Bridge and then Copland Street to the monumental cemetery on Kooringal Road.

Combined, the two projects are costing about $23 million.

Wagga City Council has warned there will be some impact to residents and businesses because of the works, including noise, dust and vibration.

“The work will begin in earnest on January 7 – so a couple of weeks’ time – and we’re looking at an early 2020 completion date,” Wagga Mayor Greg Conkey said.

“There will be some disruptions and we have spoken to a number of people – all the business houses, especially those in Fitzmaurice Street. We’ve spoken to those business houses and warned them about the work.

“There some parking issues in that lane behind Fitzmaurice Street, they’re aware of that.

“So we’ve been keeping close consultation with those business houses, but in the end, they’ll get a level of protection that they haven’t received up until now.”

In March 2012, the Murrumbidgee River flooded at Wagga and came within centimetres of breaching the levees protecting the central part of the city.

“Modelling done in 2007 showed that we really only had a level of protection of one in 60 and not one in 100, so we’ve been working since that time,” Councillor Conkey said.

“I know it’s taken a while, but there’s a lots of hurdles that we had to overcome, but it’s a great day and we look forward to work starting on January 7.”

Cr Conkey said council would be doing some further investigation into reducing the flood risks at North Wagga.

“At the moment they have a level of protection of one in eight. We will be looking at leaving it as it is or going to a one in 20,” he said.