Council has awarded the tender for the Lake Albert Water Sports and Events Precinct Foreshore Remediation Design and Construction. At its Ordinary Meeting on 28 April 2025, Council endorsed awarding the tender to Rare Environmental Pty Ltd for a lump sum price of $ $1,126,032.43, excluding GST. Stage one of works will deliver 2.78-kilometres of embankment stabilisation and stormwater outlet rehabilitation around the lake, using a combination of rock and sand stabilisation bags alongside the replacement of stormwater pipes and headwalls. Council's Manager City Growth & Regional Assets Ben Creighton described the contract endorsement as an important step in Council's long-term efforts to protect and enhance the Lake Albert precinct. "It will allow us to fix the erosion and collapsing foreshore issues that we have at the lake," Mr Creighton said. "It's important that we do that now, because once the pipeline's in place, we're going to have higher water levels making construction on the foreshore more difficult. "Following these improvements, we've also got works planned to renew the weir, after which the pipeline will be installed. "The project's progressing nicely, with significant progress made on the design and the planning stages of the pipeline. We're reasonably comfortable it will be constructed on schedule with completion by the end of next year, weather permitting." The pipeline, once installed, will work to improve water quality and aid in maintaining consistent water levels. The project overall aims to boost social, environmental, business, and tourism benefits for the Wagga Wagga community, while also improving both access to and safety around the lake. While a commencement date is yet to be finalised, the foreshore remediation works are expected to commence in the coming months. "People will notice that there will be construction happening, as there will be a need to have a lot of pedestrian diversions in place in the areas where the construction contractor is working," Mr Creighton said. The Lake Albert dog park is once again open to Wagga Wagga residents and their canine companions, after Council completed the project to upgrade the ageing facility. Located in O’Halloran Park, at the northern end of Lake Albert, the dog park has been closed since mid-October to allow for the major revamp, its first in more than 15 years. Parks and Recreation Assets Officer Rob Owers is confident the community, and their pets, will enjoy the changes and improvements made as part of the project. “We have given the existing agility equipment a fresh coat of paint and installed turf in the central part of the dog park, around some of the equipment,” Mr Owers said. “There’s a new, taller chain wire fence around the park, with top and bottom rails, and we built up the soil, so it comes up to the bottom of the rail, so dogs won’t fit under it without digging their way out. “There are also double gates to enter and leave the park, to reduce the chance of dogs getting out if one of the gates is left open. The last of these gates was installed last Thursday (28 November). “We’ve also made some new additions, including a bubbler and bowl for the dogs, a shelter and picnic seating, and a variety of seating options for pet owners and visitors within the dog park itself.” A concrete access path from the carpark is another addition, and the Pet Waste Bag Dispenser has been relocated closer to the entrance gate. With a large number of mature Blakeney Red Gums inside and surrounding the dog park, Council approached an arborist for an assessment of the most appropriate ground cover around the trees. “The arborist recommended putting in a special forest wood mulch to help protect the trees’ extensive root systems by reducing the compaction from the people and dogs who use the park,” Mr Owers said. “It's got a long strand so it doesn't flick around as much as, say, playground mulch, and that will hopefully minimize the dogs flicking it everywhere as they run around the park.” Council ‘em-barked’ on the upgrade project in response to a number of requests from the public to improve the facility. Mr Owers thanked residents and the broader community for their patience and cooperation during the upgrade project. “We know it caused some disruption in the area and had an impact on those people who regularly visit the dog park with their pets,” Mr Owers said. “However, their understanding has enabled us to get through the work quickly and has given the newly installed turf much-needed time to establish its roots system before being exposed to the pattering of paws.” The upgrade spend has been $70,000, funded through Council’s Strategic Recreation Renewal Budget. Pictures supplied/Tom DennisA Wagga resident says he is tired of the council spending too much money on "unproven trials" to fix Lake Albert All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe lake's water levels and quality have been an ongoing issue for many years Hugh Dodwell said it felt like nothing was being achieved by these various attempts Four years and nothing's happened," he said and it costs the Wagga ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars Mr Dodwell is calling for the water level to be increased and willow trees to be replanted believing both will improve the lake's conditions Picture suppliedIt is designed to reduce Lake Albert's blue-green algae and involves technology using ultrafine bubbles of oxygen and ozone to increase the lake's oxygen levels and manage the level of blue-green algae A council spokesperson said the trial was part ofthe council's ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the lake Mr Dodwell said there were questions about the project's success as it hasn't been used on a body of water as big as Lake Albert Former councillor Mick Henderson said six months wasn't long enough to determine the trial's success they need to do that over 12 months," he said "It's the same thing as when we did the treatment last year A council spokesperson said the project's results would be assessed at the end of the trial to determine whether Hydro2050 will be used Mr Dodwell believes the water level has significantly dropped and will soon be critically low which will only exacerbate blue-green algae (BGA) blooms Lake Albert resident Hugh Dodwell and former Wagga councillor Mick Henderson standing on the low shoreline at Lake Albert Picture by Tom Dennis"We've had a lot of years now where we've had a wet season That doesn't happen all the time," he said and I'll be very surprised if it doesn't all dry up." A council spokesperson said monitoring of the water quality at Lake Albert for BGA and bacterial content is undertaken weekly during the summer period "The results from the samples taken on Thursday were consistent with recent results with the lake continuing to be on algae amber alert for water quality," they said "While there are no restrictions attached to an amber alert an increased amount of water sampling occurs to ensure any risks are more accurately assessed." Mr Dodwell said if the council had water coming in and the lake was filling they could use current infrastructure to improve the water quality In June 2024, the NSW government announced funding to the council for the Lake Albert pipeline project A council spokesperson said the project was progressing through the planning phase after receiving the funding in January 2025 Mr Henderson said the council was waiting for the funding before funding project drawings and tenders "I believe they should have been shovel-ready," he said they should have been ready to get into it "Here we are still designing and still putting stuff out the tenders Mr Dodwell said action needed to be taken before it was too late and more money was wasted they'll blame anyone but themselves," he said "The general manager and council staff need to get on with the business of filling the lake "They've got everything they need to do it." I understand the importance of community news in highlighting stories that members of local communities care about - including events, businesses, sports and the people that make towns unique. Email me at finn.coleman@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0437 550 909 Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Council is about to embark on work to strengthen the durability of the turf at the recently refurbished Lake Albert Dog Park at O’Halloran Park and ensure the grassed area is maintained through the winter months and into spring The popular facility at the northern end of Lake Albert will be closed for up to five weeks from Monday 5 May as the turf improvement works are carried out Council’s Team Leader Parks Operations (Open Space) Ben Nimmo says the works will involve over-sowing the large turfed area of the dog park with a cool-season grass type “Since we finished the major revamp of the dog park in December last year (2024) we’ve received lots of feedback from the community about how much they and their pets love the new turfed space,” Mr Nimmo said the kikuyu grass goes dormant and dries out over winter which makes it more vulnerable to wearing away under constant paw and foot traffic “None of us want it to go back to being bare dirt so we’re going to be over-sowing the turf with a rye grass “We’re trying to bolster and protect that popular patch of green as we move into the cooler months of the year and ensure there’s still grass for the dogs and their humans to run around on “It’s similar to what we do with our sportsgrounds between the football and cricket seasons and at some of our parks and playground areas to maintain the health of the fields and lawns for those who use those spaces.” Staff will start over-sowing the existing turf with the cool-season grass type on Monday 5 May The dog park will be temporarily closed to all users to give the new grass time to properly establish which is expected to take between four to five weeks “We couldn’t add the rye grass when we originally installed the turf last year as it was too hot and the seeds would not have germinated,” Mr Nimmo said “We had to wait until the temperature started to drop in early autumn to do the over-sowing “We’ve timed the start of works to coincide with the new school terms as we didn’t want to impact on the ability of residents and their fur-friends to use the park over the school holiday break “The dog park will be reopened once the new grass is strong enough to handle the level of paw and foot traffic this popular park experiences “We appreciate your cooperation and patience as we carry out these improvement works especially when the turf comes out of dormancy in spring and you have a lush green lawn to enjoy.” For the location of other dog parks and off-leash areas in the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area, visit our website The six-month trial of a new state-of-the-art treatment designed to reduce Lake Albert’s blue-green algae is commencing with the installation of the units occurring over the past two weeks Hydro2050 involves technology using ultrafine bubbles of oxygen and ozone to increase the lake’s oxygen levels and manage the level of blue-green algae Council’s Manager City Growth & Regional Assets Ben Creighton said the trial will consist of five separate units positioned around the lake “Hydro2050 is now in the final process of getting the units operational,” Mr Creighton said “We expect all five units to be up-and-running very soon.” Mr Creighton said the treatment has already experienced success internationally “This trial is part of Council’s ongoing efforts to rehabilitate Lake Albert “Council will assess results at the end of the trial and determine whether Council will continue using Hydro2050 into the future.” Wagga Wagga City Council has resolved to trial the treatment and management of blue-green algae within Lake Albert using Hydro2050 technology Hydro2050 is relatively new to Australia and is a product that will use ultrafine bubbles of ozone to manage the level of blue-green algae in the lake Council’s Manager City Growth & Regional Assets Ben Creighton said the cost of this trial will be approximately $300,000 Council will consider purchasing the product,” Mr Creighton said this treatment involves the generation of ultrafine bubbles of ozone; these collapse to produce non-toxic hydroxyl radicals which then impact the blue-green algae.” so we're only using it for six months to test it The outcomes will then be reviewed to determine if Council wants to continue to use it in the future.” A popular site in Lake Albert for Wagga Wagga residents and their canine companions is about to get a much-needed facelift Council is undertaking a project to upgrade the dog park in O’Halloran Park with work expected to commence on Monday 14 October Parks and Recreation Assets Officer Rob Owers said the dog park is regularly visited by local residents who want a place to let their pets off-leash in close proximity to the lake but the facility has been ageing and is in need of a refresh “Council has received a number of requests from the public over the past couple of years to have this park upgraded,” Mr Owers said “This has increased since the construction of the Gobbagombalin dog park and upgrade of the Forest Hill dog park “The Lake Albert dog park has not had any renewals for a long time possibly more than 15 years; it’s now time to upgrade it to bring it up to a relevant standard.” the existing agility equipment will get a fresh coat of paint and any maintenance required while new additions will include a shelter and picnic seating and various seating for pet owners and visitors Irrigation and turf will also be installed inside the dog park as well as a concrete access path from the carpark the dog park will be closed and access to the area immediately surrounding the facility will also be restricted when the new fencing “We understand this will cause inconvenience for those residents who regularly take their dogs to the park but we ask for your patience and understanding as we carry out this project to refresh renew and upgrade the facility,” Mr Owers said “It will deliver a great place where our dogs can run exercise and socialise with other dogs and pet owners as well as furniture for people who want to sit down while their dogs are inside the off-leash area.” It is estimated the upgrade will cost $85,000 funded through Council’s Strategic Recreation Renewal Budget The project is expected to get underway on Monday 14 October and will take around two months to complete Wagga Wagga City Council is inviting the community’s input on its proposed 10-year plan of management for the Lake Albert precinct The draft Lake Albert Plan of Management is now on public exhibition and is open to public submissions until 7 November through an online submission on our Have Your Say Wagga Wagga website The management plan covers the Lake Albert precinct and includes Crown Land Council’s Recreation Coordinator Joshua Walsh says the comprehensive 10-year document outlines a strategic framework for the future management of the Lake Albert precinct offering a range of facilities for leisure community events and markets and it is a natural habitat area ,” Mr Walsh said “Our aim through the plan is to manage the Lake Albert precinct cooperatively with and to maintain and improve the amenity of the Lake Albert precinct consistent with the established character of the area “It’s important to get our community’s opinion and perspective on this draft document as it will serve as a guiding resource for the future planning Council sought community feedback and input from key stakeholders during an extensive consultation phase which will be ongoing during the public exhibition period Key features of the draft plan cover the cultural significance of Lake Albert current uses and potential uses of the lake and surrounding precinct While the document does not recommend a specific solution to the Lake Albert water quality issues it does identify several options to be investigated and implemented if deemed feasible and subject to the relevant statutory approvals “This is the community’s opportunity to voice their opinions and perspectives to the future planning of the Lake Albert precinct,” Mr Walsh said “The feedback we receive through the public submissions along with detailed consultation to be undertaken with the lake users surrounding residents and the Wiradjuri community will be an important contribution to the final management plan.” The online submissions will be open until Thursday 7 November 2024 A hard copy of the plan is available at the Customer Service desk at the Civic Centre Error: no decision tree source folder detected Get ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Wagga Wagga at a free community event at Lake Albert which will culminate with a spectacular on-water fireworks display Wagga Wagga City Council is hosting the family-friendly event at Apex Park Council’s Destination & Events Coordinator Kimberly Parker says residents from the city and surrounding communities are invited to join in the celebrations “It will be great way for families and friends to get together to say farewell to 2024 and welcome in 2025,” Ms Parker said “It’s a beautiful spot to sit back in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere and enjoy good company “This year we are anticipating between 10,000-12,000 people will flock to the lake for the event so we’re encouraging those planning to attend to head down early “Find a spot along the foreshore of the lake to set up your camp chairs or picnic rug and then settle in and enjoy a family evening “You can bring along a picnic to share with friends and family and there will also be a range of local food vendors located at Apex Park offering a range of delicious small snacks and refreshments throughout the evening.” The evening will conclude with a 15-minute fireworks display at 9.30pm attendees can head home to continue their celebrations or venture out to other venues across the city where more local celebrations are being held Residents and eventgoers are advised there will be changed traffic conditions on Eastlake Drive Lakeside Drive and Lansdowne Avenue for the event Detours and traffic management will be in place “If you live within walking distance of the lake we encourage you to leave your vehicle at home and walk instead so you don’t have to worry about parking,” Ms Parker said “For those planning to drive to the event remember to allow extra travel time to take those traffic changes into account and to find parking.” Regular bus and taxi services will be available for the event Wagga Wagga City Council approved a funding agreement with the Australian Government for the development and construction of the Lake Albert Pipeline This funding is a result of Council’s successful application for $4,493,776 from the Growing Regions Program – Round 1 to undertake the project Council’s Manager City Growth and Regional Assets Ben Creighton said alongside the approved funding Council is required to co-contribute $4,493,776 towards the delivery of this project “At the August 5 Ordinary Council Meeting Council endorsed to enter the funding deed with the Government for just under $4.5 million,” Mr Creighton said “Council will match that $4.5 million worth of funding We'll essentially have a $9 million project that would see the development of a pipeline from the river through to the lake “It will also see a bit over two kilometres of foreshore works completed to address significant erosion There will also be some weir upgrade works which will allow us to better control the outflow of the water from the lake.” there was another report presented to Council providing an update on the different activities being undertaken at Lake Albert (read more on page 2) Although Council has not yet received the funding deed from the government Council is expecting it shortly following the recent announcement there's a number of planning activities Council is currently working on at the moment as well investigating potential partnership opportunities on the delivery model.” While still in the planning stage for the works it is expected that Council will go to market for the foreshore works before the end of 2024 “The pipeline works do require some land and easement acquisitions and we’re currently identifying those areas I would anticipate that the acquisition works would be completed over the next 12 months and then we would look to complete the pipeline in the following year.” As the works progress, updates will be provided through Council’s Have Your Say website. Picture by Tom Dennis Lake Albert residents were left shaken after a gum tree fell onto a unit in their residential street during a short-lived but ferocious storm on Wednesday All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAbout 2pm a severe thunderstorm hit Wagga one on Graham Street and a second on Hume Street Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Wagga and Culcairn responded to the scene taping the unit off and working to clear the tree A unit in Lake Albert has been significantly damaged after a gum tree fell onto it Picture by Tom Dennis Nearby resident Anne Barrow was the one who called triple zero fearful that someone may have been inside at the time "I've been waiting for that to go for years and I thought it was going to come down on our house "I didn't know which way it would go if it did come down." Mrs Barrow promptly called emergency services, who were out in force attending to more than 130 jobs across the city relating to the storm. "I rang the police first because I didn't know who to ring; I didn't know if anyone was injured or what was going on," she said "I wondered if they would all get evacuated or not; they haven't got any electricity; we haven't got electricity Mark Barrow had seen the first tree fall on Graham Street only a short time before the second tree hit the unit "I heard this gust of wind coming and poked my head out the window and it was blowing stuff all down the road and about 20 seconds later a branch from a tree just went crashing into the ground," he said "I was worried about the people in the flats; I was hoping there was nobody in there." Mr and Mrs Barrow, and 1163 others, remain without power due to power lines down in nearby streets, including Forest Street. No one was injured due to the tree hitting the unit, but the residents will need to find elsewhere to stay for the night. The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V., its licensors, and contributors. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply. clear Wagga night awaited the thousands who lined the banks of Lake Albert to experience the city's New Year's Eve fireworks for 2024 For some spending New Year's Eve by the lake is a yearly tradition Sue MacDonald joined friends she'd met in a walking group 40 years ago for the end of year celebration "They used to have it at the Victory Memorial Gardens then they moved it," Ms MacDonald said "It's a much bigger space [here] and it goes right around you get the reflection in the water and it's really pretty Many in the crowd arrived well before the firework show just to secure the perfect view Rami Kachi and his family arrived at the lake at 2pm for a barbecue lunch and drinks "It was my uncle's decision ... I'm just looking forward to some fireworks and enjoying it with family," he said and family at the New Year's Eve celebrations at Lake Albert Picture by Bernard HumphreysAlicia Salmon and her family arrived at Apex Park at 6pm and quickly set up their chairs and esky for the night Ms Salmon said she had spent previous New Year's Eve nights in Sydney with her extended family "I was very impressed last year at the fireworks display that they had here," she said if we were in Sydney we'd be lucky to have this picnic blanket [sized space]." As for whether Ms Salmon and the kids would make it to midnight "We've got poppers and everything for when we get home to stay up till midnight and watch the fireworks on the telly but whether these three will make it is another thing," she said Originally from Wollongong, Jeremy has made the move to The Daily Advertiser to tell the stories of the Riverina. Got a story to share? Email jeremy.eager@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0473 641 320. 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Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Council has received and noted a report providing an update on several planning and operational activities that will impact Lake Albert in the short and long term. The report presented at Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Monday 5 August included an update on the Waterzyme blue-green algae (BGA) treatment trial in Lake Albert, sedimentation levels in the lake, and the draft Lake Albert Plan of Management. Manager City Growth and Regional Assets Ben Creighton says the Waterzyme trial began in January this year and coincided with testing results that indicated a Red Alert level for blue-green algae. “It did have some impact but didn't necessarily resolve all of the issues for us, so at this point in time, it's about investigating what options are out there,” Mr Creighton said. “The decision from councillors was for staff to continue to have discussions with other government organisations and suppliers of possible emerging treatments of blue-green algae. “We will also continue to talk to Waterzyme around their product as well, with the potential to look at that again this year. “At this stage, we will be looking to take a report to the new council closer to the summer season on what treatments would be available for the upcoming season.” Councillors also received an update about sedimentation in the lake, after a hydrographic survey was conducted in late May 2024 to produce accurate depths of the lake and to provide an indication of the sediment hardness. The survey found that the sediment accumulation was substantially less than had previously been anticipated. It is recommended that staff continue to monitor the sediment accumulation and movement within the lake and continue to explore future sediment mitigation measures. The final update discussed at the meeting was the draft Lake Albert Plan of Management, with the Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure approving the draft Plan of Management for public exhibition. The draft is expected to go on public exhibition during August. In addition to the broader public consultation, detailed consultation will be undertaken with the lake users, surrounding residents and the Wiradjuri community. Following the public exhibition period if no significant changes are required, the department has also consented to the plan’s adoption following its consideration by Council. At the meeting, Council endorsed the consideration of allocating funding during the 2025/26 Financial Year towards the provision of sediment mapping, and towards implementing the actions and projects identified in the Lake Albert Management Plan. Picture suppliedA blue-green algae solution may be right under Wagga City Council's nose after a former councillor spoke out about the numerous reports into the health of Lake Albert that already exist Former councillor Paul Funnell spoke against Cr Davies' motion during the meeting's public forum and said "not less than six reports" about the lake's health were brought to the council during his tenure along with more than 60 questions with notice that were never answered "The motion that should be before you tonight [is] where are these reports?," Mr Funnell said "It's obvious you haven't been informed or had that available to you." Mr Funnell explained that every council report tendered must produce a Renewal of Environmental Factors (REF) to comply with various NSW legislative acts and said the paperwork must be somewhere He said the existing paperwork could offer the long-term solution Cr Davies is looking for without spending more money on a new report "There is such a wealth of information already in this organisation," Mr Funnell said Mr Funnell's comments led to an amendment to the notice of motion which called for collating and presenting to the council all the previous technical reports on Lake Albert Former councillor Paul Funnell indicated documents into the health of Lake Albert already exist at the Wagga City Council meeting on January 20 speaking against deputy mayor Georgie Davies' notice of motion File picturesCouncillors then moved to debate with Councillor Lindsay Tanner speaking in favour of the amendment "I think the lake is a jewel in the crown of Wagga and we need to do more to improve it not just blue-green algae," Cr Tanner said Both Cr Tanner and Cr Amelia Parkins spoke on previous investments made in the lake and the two councillors shared their reluctance to spend any further money until a concise report is produced which is likely going to tell us information and I would hope that information has informed council staff when they've provided us with recommendations," Cr Parkins said The council has spent $450,000 in the past 12 months to treat blue-green algae in two separate trials and has matched a $4.5 million NSW government investment for the Lake Albert pipeline project - spending that has caused concern for Cr Parkins "The feedback that we're getting from councillors having committed to spending millions and millions on potentially treating the lake .. we're now saying we don't have enough information to make those decisions," she said however Cr Parkins voted against the amendment Wagga City Council cheif operating officer Scott Gray File pictureSpeaking the day after the meeting on January 21 Wagga City Council's chief operating officer Scott Gray said the documents Mr Funnell mentioned did exist and were regularly used to inform decisions what this motion now does with that amendment is we'll go back we'll collate it so it's all in one single source," he said "The second part is whether or not we actually will make a recommendation to go back out to request for quotation for someone to come in and do a broader analysis There may already be enough information that we've got time and effort on Lake Albert than any other term of council .. we see it as a valuable asset and we're trying to do what we can for the community." Mr Gray said the Hyrdo2050 trial will be set up in the coming days and will run for six months Picture by Bernard Humphreys A man has died after a devastating crash in Wagga's suburbs Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA spokesperson for NSW Police confirmed a motorcyclist reportedly involved in a collision with a truck on Kooringal Road on Wednesday afternoon died after being rushed to hospital It is understood bystanders came to the man's aid after the crash which saw police and paramedics called to the roundabout at the Lake Albert Road intersection around 5.20pm "On arrival, officers attached to Riverina Police District found the rider - a man believed to be aged in his 60s - with life-threatening injuries," the police spokesperson confirmed. "He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital where he died." The 33-year-old driver of the truck was also taken to hospital for mandatory testing Inquiries into the cause of the crash are ongoing and police urge anyone with information about the crash to come forward as they prepare a report for the coroner Members of the public initially assisted in directing the peak hour traffic away from the scene and stopping more vehicles from coming through while the man Police remained at the scene and have closed a section of Kooringal Road and Lake Albert Road to motorists and pedestrians A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance confirmed they sent multiple resources the incident Plumpton Road and Lake Albert Road are currently congested as traffic is redirected from the area Anyone with information to assist the investigation can contact police through Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or visiting the online reporting page You'll find my byline on breaking news, live blogs and anything in between. Got a tip? Email dhuntly@austcommunitymedia.com.au. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe club appointed Rob Fry and Jaiden Watson as co-captains in 2023 and have been climbing the ladder ever since Now preparing to run out one last time this year to play in the Pascoe Cup grand final the pair's chalk-and-cheese dynamic has been an asset to the side doesn't get to spend games mixed in with his teammates instead confined to his box as goal keeper Instead his booming voice can be heard from two fields away and utilising his full-view of the game to keep the Sharks a step ahead Meanwhile Watson is right in the thick of it He's the one speaking to players individually and leading by example - I play well "I think we really compliment each other with our leadership styles," Fry said "Watto really leads by example and gives everything on the pitch and runs the midfield like that I'm obviously a little bit less involved in games sometimes but I can lead with with talk and I guess have a bit more experience as well "I think that it all works alongside each other the boys will just just naturally react to the way that Watto leads during games and I'm nice and loud so I can force a reaction sometimes." Lake Albert co-captains Robert Fry and Jaiden Watson ahead of Sunday's Pascoe Cup grand final Picture by Tom DennisAs some of the more experienced players in the team thanks to a slew of young guns stepping up this season Fry said he is hopeful the young players will take the grand final experience in their stride Though he is confident they won't succumb to the heightened emotions of the day "I think that the experience can help but over the past two weeks they've been extremely high pressure games and the younger boys have just completely stood up and it hasn't fazed them at all," he said "So I'm expecting the same on the weekend and I think the boys are going to step up "There's no pressure on us so I think it'll be all guns blazing." While the captaincy didn't change between seasons much of the playing group did and Lake Albert arrive to the grand final with a different team to the one that fell just short in 2023 It's been a long time between drinks for the club who are desperate to add another first grade premiership to their list of achievements The duo believe they have the team to do it "I've been back for three years and we've been working towards [a grand final appearance] since then but there are boys who have been here for a lot longer," Fry said "We're seeing a lot of new guys come in adn we lost a lot of players as well it's been really satisfying to get there this week "It's going to be the hardest game of the season as it should be Hanwood have set the standard ever since they came back into the competition so they'll extremely difficult to play against but they will have a lot of pressure on them." With a new team though comes adjustment periods And though they're a well oiled machine now it's taken them all season to become the force they are The captains said the team is peaking right at the correct time There was no doubt in Watson's mind the team has come a long way saying they were "100 per cent" better now than in round one we had that little run of losses but the last two games are probably the best two games I have played in since I got back "It really showed the cohesion amongst the whole team parts of those games weren't necessarily the best to watch but the effort that was there and the fight that everyone had for each other puts us in really good stead." Lake Albert play Hanwood in the Pascoe Cup grand final at Equex Centre this Sunday Tahlia Sinclair runs around Wagga Wagga for The Daily Advertiser. You can reach me on 0455 370 575 Wagga Wagga City Council is letting the community know that an alert for blue-green algae in Lake Albert has been issued this morning (28 June) and advises that contact with water from the lake should be avoided. Manager City Growth & Regional Assets Ben Creighton said while the blooms are in high numbers, water from Lake Albert is unsuitable for all uses, including drinking and recreational use. “We’re advising everyone in the community to avoid coming into contact with water from the lake, and this includes your pets; dogs are especially susceptible to these toxins,” Mr Creighton said. “Particular care should be taken where algae can be seen, or where the water has a strong odour.” Blue-green algae can appear as specking, suspended clumps or as algal scums which take the form of green or yellow discoloured slicks on the water surface. Signs are being put up by Council advising people to stay out of the water. Council will continue to monitor the situation. “We appreciate everyone staying out of the water and we will notify the community as soon as the readings are at an acceptable level,” Mr Creighton said. Wagga Wagga City Council is a member of the Murrumbidgee Regional Algal Coordinating Committee and is following the protocols contained in the Murrumbidgee Regional Algal Contingency Plan. Picture by Taylor DodgeKnowing all too well the pain of losing a child to suicide a Wagga mother is determined to raise awareness around the importance of speaking out The charity event aims to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention while mark 12 months since the passing of Wagga father and well-respected local builder Shane Cox. Shane's mother, Debbie Cox, knew she wanted to do something to promote awareness after she became aware of just how many families have lost loved ones to suicide. "It blew me away the amount of people who came to us and shared their stories," she said. "We knew what we were going through but didn't realise that it impacted so many. "I've heard so many similar stories, and it's scary." The charity event aims to break down the barriers of suicide discussions, a course of action Mrs Cox said is long overdue. Debbie Cox reflects on her late son's love for the Wagga Boat Club, where an upcoming event will be held in his honour. Picture by Taylor Dodge"It needs to be talked about," she said. "Our walk is to get people talking, and if someone is struggling and they strike up the right conversation with the right person when they're there, that's all we want." While alone Mrs Cox is limited in what she can do, but with an army behind her, it could just save a life. "I'd love to see a change; I don't think there is a quick fix to this; I don't think there is any one person who can do anything greatly, but just getting people to reach out and talk about their mental health is important, especially among tradies," she said. "Tradies don't talk, and what we found was that at Shane's funeral, a lot of his friends and colleagues came up and said they had no idea he was struggling. "We did, we knew, we had seen it for years, but we're his family - but at his work site, nobody knew, and that's across the board. "Instead of silently struggling, people need to talk to somebody, and there is help out there. Mr McDonell and other participants will also tackle a 24-hour challenge, pushing a wheelbarrow around Lake Albert for the entire time in Shane's honour. Mrs Cox is hoping to see the community getting behind the cause by going down to the Wagga Boat Club on the day. "We have a barbecue on Saturday, we have live music in the afternoon. "We have karaoke at night, and we have kids activities and a scavenger hunt, face painting, ice cream, and a coffee van, and we will be having breakfast on Sunday and a raffle." The raffle is a barbecue donated by Barbecues Galore and the barbecue will be conducted by SES volunteers. The event will kick off on Saturday, October 26 from the Wagga Boat Club. Mr McDonell is set to finish walking at 8am on Sunday at the club, where a breakfast will be provided. Picture by Tom DennisPlaytime for children in three Wagga suburbs will have a fresh look as the results of a public vote on playground designs have been revealed Jemima Norbury is a daily user of Llyod Park on Barton Street which is a stone's throw away from her home The winning design for Lloyd Park on Barton Avenue which is set for construction at the end of 2024 or early 2025 Picture by Wagga City CouncilShe voted for the most popular design for the park and is eager for it to be built so that her two sons have a playground they can enjoy as they grow up "It'll be nice to just bring my morning coffee over and have them have something to do," she said climbing frame and two rotating pieces of play equipment She said her nieces and nephews prefer to use the equipment in her backyard instead of playing on the four pieces of play equipment at the park Construction will begin on a new playground at Ray Beddoe Park Picture by Wagga City Council"We come over he has a swing on the swing and that's about it," she said "We usually drive over to other Lloyd Park." But the park is set for a refresh as 52 per cent of the 182 locals who voted through a council survey preferred one design Ken Schulz Park in Mount Austin and Ray Beddoe Park in Lake Albert were also part of the public vote The winning design for Ken Schulz Park in Mount Austin after a public engagement survey where locals voted on their favourite playground Picture by Wagga City CouncilThe parks will cost ratepayers $240,000 with construction expected to begin in late 2024 or early 2025 While another Lloyd mother was pleased about the new playground designs, she said she wouldn't go to a park in summer if it didn't have any shade. Mother-of-two Rachel Lonergan on a swing at Lloyd Park, which is set for a new playground after the community voted on its favourite design. Picture by Tom Dennis"Being no shade, isn't ideal ... on those hotter days you can't even sit on the swings," Rachel Lonergan said. "I definitely like looking for a park that has shade." She also wants more Wagga parks to have barbecue areas. Youngju Anderson's daughter was also quick to point out the need for shade at the three new parks. "My daughter, who is the pedantic one, said 'oh, but you need shade, Mum'," Ms Anderson said. "The park is a great idea, but you really need shade sails ... that would be a really big deterrent for a lot of families if there isn't some sort of shade." The existing playground at Ray Beddoe Park, Lake Albert, which will be replaced by a new design voted on by locals. Picture by Tom DennisHowever, she is pleased the council is renovating suburban parks to include more equipment for all ages. "I definitely wanted a slide of some sort ... every park of any kind needs some sort of slide, some sort of climbing something-or-other, and it has to have a swing," she said. The council was contacted for comment about plans for shade at the parks. Picture by Tom Dennis.Hopes for restoring Lake Albert to swimmable condition have been weakened as the search for anti-algae solutions moves beyond a recent six-figure chemical trial "We would take the boat out and we would spot spray wherever the algae was still visible," Wagga Sailing Club volunteer Mr Williams said you could fill your tank up one time and it would broadcast for 10 minutes and then you'd have to come back and do it again." Garry Williams and Gilbert Cooke spraying Lake Albert with Waterzyme during the two-month trial in early 2024 Picture suppliedDuring the trial in January and February volunteers spent 10 hours per week spraying the lake with Waterzyme with equipment purchased by the sailing and boat clubs and Bidgee Dragons While Mr Williams said club volunteers would be happy to work if it means the lake is usable for recreation he doesn't think Waterzyme is the silver bullet but people with passion for water sports will find a way." Council staff also admit they are unconvinced by the results and are actively looking at alternative treatments "It did have some impact but didn't necessarily resolve all of the issues for us it's about investigating what options are out there," city growth and regional assets manager Ben Creighton said A report on the next steps won't be handed down until after new councillors are elected in September we will be looking to take a report to the new council closer to the summer season on what treatments would be available for the upcoming season," he said Although councillor Mick Henderson has a conflict of interest regarding council and lake matters he hopes the decision will happen before spring Councillor and Wagga Boat Club commodore Mick Henderson wants a decision about algae treatment for Lake Albert to be made as soon as the new council is elected in September 2024 Picture by Tom Dennis"Whatever happens this summer as soon as the algae reappears council needs to make a decision on what company or product they want to trial or retrial," Mr Henderson said "And not leave it till the lake is on red alert again forcing the closure of the lake again during summer." It is understood Wagga council has been communicating with algae treatment company Hydro 2050 for a two-week trial of an oxygen and ozone technology said to kill blue-green algae CEO Michael Schaefer said he visited Lake Albert in June 2024 to demonstrate the technology and quoted the council a 14-day trial for $25,000 to $30,000 Blue-green algae at the southern end of Lake Albert in February 2024 Picture supplied"We want to show the council and community the fact that we can do it without pouring chemicals in," Mr Schaefer said The product is a submersible pump which has oxygen and ozone transferred through it to be dispersed in the water He said that if council chose to go with the product on a "more permanent basis" requiring no capital expenditure or maintenance from council or volunteer organisations Algae Control Australia owner Wayne Sobey suggests an alternative ultrasound unit from Water IQ could be a solution. However, he is waiting for results from the America-based manufacturer to confirm whether the technology targets the different types of algae found in Lake Albert. The "Pulsar" units cost around $50,000 each and are said to treat 120 acres of blue-green algae. Wagga City Council was approached for comment about alternative treatments and the expected timeframe on a new proposal. "Council have had direct discussions with several suppliers regarding possible algae treatments at the lake, some of which have put forward offers for treatment," chief operations officer Scott Gray said. "Given the recent weather conditions have resulted in a significant improvement in water quality Council is not proposing to trial any product before spring as it would be difficult to measure the impact." Picture by Tom DennisEven though his apprentice is older than he is a 19-year-old barber has not let his age get in the way of his dream of opening his very own shop in his hometown All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWagga's Nash Nixon remembers the first time he ever gave someone a haircut was out the back of his house when he was 13 Despite what he considered a butchered haircut, Mr Nixon thinks this was the moment he first realised barbering was "kinda cool" and could be worth dropping out of school for. "I wasn't enjoying school too much and wanted to continue doing something, just out of school," he said. "I've always been creative and when I found barbering I thought it was the perfect way." A little more than five years later, the now 19-year-old is putting the finishing touches on his own barbershop business at Lake Albert shopping centre. It's been a journey he said started when he first began work experience at Ross C's Barber Shop on Baylis Street. "I just loved that communication with the clients and just the rapport you have with people," he said. 19-year-old Nash Nixon is putting the final touches onto his first barber shop business and will welcome customers and young trainees on Monday September 23. Picture by Tom DennisAt 15, Mr Nixon moved to Melbourne to finesse his skills at a barber school. Despite several COVID-19 lockdowns, he said he loved living in the Victorian capital because of the culture and opportunities to work at fashion weeks and photoshoots. "You get to see the people working the runways," he said. But he said that he's always been a Wagga boy at heart, and knew he wanted to set up a Melbourne-inspired barber shop in his home town. "It was just about time I moved out and made something for myself," he said. While he's looking forward to cutting hair in the comfort of his own shop, the barber's vision is to give other young people the training opportunities he was given. "I wanted to create something for the youth of Wagga," he said. "I want to show the young fellas and young girls that you don't have to go straight to uni and back-breaking training, there's stuff in between." Mr Nixon is already training an apprentice who he said is "like a little brother to him" despite him being older in age. Training older people has been part and parcel of Mr Nixon's career, but he said he hasn't faced much backlash for being young. "I've got a fair bit of experience under my belt," he said. "You've got to let the haircut speak for itself." He said he caters each haircut to the person's face shape, and gives suggestions for different hairstyles he thinks would suit the client. "I think a good barber does what the client asks, a great barber does what the client needs," he said. "You give them a good opinion, and you're not too pushy with it." He's looking for another qualified barber to join him in the shop but is also hoping to run training sessions with aspiring barbers as young as 13. "You need an outlet, and creative opportunities," he said. "You also get more loyal workers when you train them, you're really investing in them." Razor Lane Barbershop will open on Monday, September 23. Progress at Uganda’s premier upstream project is on track for first oil by year-end But the Eacop pipeline – which will carry most of the output to Tanzania’s coast for export – is behind schedule due to financing difficulties The lack of midstream progress could delay Ugandan oil exports An active subscription is required to view this article View subscription options All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueYoogali Football Club will have an away game at the weekend while Yoogali SC will take on Lake Albert at home Josh Di Rossi pictured in action during a past years match Picture fileThe cup has been underway for several weeks with Hanwood unfortunately knocked out of the competition following several losses The first was to Lake Albert on March 1 followed by a loss to the Albury Hotspurs on March 8 Hanwood FC first-grade men's coach Gabriel Abdala says lack of fitness was to blame for both losses "Fitness really got the better of us in the end; pre-season games are always difficult," Mr Abdala said "The other teams were just better prepared." Yoogali SC will now face Lake Albert which has been shaping up to be Wagga's top team coming away with resounding wins to pivot them into the quarter-finals They will have the home-ground advantage when they play Lake Albert at Solar Mad Stadium "Lake are basically the champions of the Wagga competition so it will be a tough game," Yoogali SC coach Luke Santolin said Santolin hopes to see a repeat of the final score of his side's clash against Tolland United at Solar Mad Stadium at the weekend "We've been training really hard and have been together consistently," Santolin said "Having the home ground advantage helps but you also want to ensure you perform well; we just hope we obtain the result we're after." Sermanni will be holding a football clinic prior to the game on Saturday He will also be a guest speaker at the team's season launch afterwards Yoogali FC travel south to take on Wodonga at Yellow Tail Park the same day Journalist with previous experience working for mastheads in Tumut, Temora and Lake Cargelligo. Local to the area. Send me your news tips at allan.wilson@areanews.com.au Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Wagga Wagga City Council has received funding of almost $4.5 million under the Federal Government's Growing Regions Program for a project to carry out works as part of the development of the Lake Albert Water Sports and Event Precinct. Council is one of 40 successful applicants from Round 1 of the Growing Regions Program with total funding of approximately $207 million under the Australian Government initiative. Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout welcomed the announcement by Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King that Council would receive $4,493,776 under the program. "Council applied for Round 1 of the Growing Regions Program to develop the Lake Albert Water Sports and Event Precinct through the installation of pumps and pipes, remediation of the foreshore and upgrades to the existing Lake Albert weir and spillway system," Cr Tout said. “The funding will be matched by Council (almost $4.5 million) and will deliver construction of infrastructure that will allow 1800 megalitres of water to be pumped from the river to the lake annually. “It will also allow the remediation of more than two kilometres of foreshore to address erosion issues, and the upgrade of the existing weir and spillway system. “These works, once completed, will ensure that Lake Albert has a consistently high water level, enabling a large variety of water sports and events to be held within the precinct.” Council’s contribution to the estimated $8.987 million project will predominately be funded from Council’s internal reserves, which were previously restricted for future infrastructure development use. The Federal Government's Growing Regions Program supports local government entities and incorporated not-for-profit organisations to deliver capital works projects in regional and rural Australia that support community socio-economic outcomes and regional priorities. Pota Pasta's Gabriele Rota has done well for himself - and now he is stepping it up a notch Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMr Rota is the first lessee to sign off on a space at the new business hub at 11-15 Lake Albert Road "This building is likely going to get knocked down so I'm moving my business to a nicer place The new space at lot 44, unit 33, will allow Mr Rota to create an outdoor dining area which his current restaurant is without. "There will be some outdoor seating, about 50-60 seats overall. Outside will be a nice area, it will have a patio and make it comfortable even throughout winter," he said. While hesitant at first, Mr Rota believes the new location will be a smart business move. "A very well-known business broker mentioned it to me and I didn't think much of it at first, I thought I should go to the main street, but I looked into it a bit more and I decided it would be a good move," he said. "It has street frontage and Lake Albert Road is very busy." Mr Rota is hoping he will be fully moved into the new site by the end of the year. Gabriele Rota at Pota Pasta, where pictures of his Italian home city of Bergamo adorn one of the Wagga Wagga restaurant's walls. Picture by Bernard HumphreysThe chef has a love for authenticity and is hoping to see new faces coming along with the move. Having learnt to make pasta from his mother before attending cooking school in Italy before working as a chef, Mr Rota knows what Wagga is lacking and he is adamant on filling that void. Pota Pasta has been operating at the location at Wagga Homebase for three years, but Mr Rota says it is very likely his current site will be knocked down once he's gone. Picture by Taylor DodgeA young girl and a woman have been taken to hospital after a vehicle rolled during a two-car crash at a busy Wagga intersection Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueEmergency services were called to the intersection of Lake Albert Road and Copland Street in Kooringal shortly after 10am on Friday A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said paramedics treated three patients The girl sustained minor injuries and was taken by road ambulance to Wagga Base Hospital with the woman for further treatment Fire and Rescue NSW crews were also called to the scene to help clean up a small fuel spill and debris Both vehicles have since been towed from the road and the scene is now clear In other news, police investigators have released descriptions of two people they would like to speak with following a suspicious fire that damaged Uneke Lounge earlier this week. The community’s votes are in on the design options for new playgrounds in three suburban neighbourhoods: Ken Shultz Park Wagga Wagga City Council put three concept designs for each playground to the community through our online engagement platform between Thursday 12 September and Friday 27 September 2024 with clear community favourites chosen for all three playgrounds Council’s Works and Playground Officer John Conlan thanked residents for making the effort to cast their votes online through Have Your Say Wagga Wagga we received more than 530 submissions online with the majority of submissions from residents who live near the playgrounds,” Mr Conlan said “We are overwhelmed and happy to see so many people submit their vote “The community’s input is integral to the playground improvement process and we appreciate that they took the time to get involved and give us their input on what they want to see installed at their neighbourhood park.” The Ken Schultz playground is located in the park on the corner of Ceduna Street and Nilma Avenue in Mount Austin The most favoured design for this playground was Option 1 The favourite design for the Ray Beddoe playground was Option 1 The park is in the open space to the west of Lakeside Drive with 51.64 per cent of submissions favouring Option 1 and Option 2 accounting for 31.86 per cent of the vote The design options for all three playgrounds combine traditional playground elements with modern features with aims to encourage play between younger and older youth “The new playground designs not only focus on general appeal making them more attractive to each neighbourhood with a focus on equipment at ground level,” Mr Conlan said “There will also be bespoke elements such as a large stainless steel tube slide at the Ray Beddoe Park which is being relocated closer to the Wagga Wagga Country Club to take advantage of more open space for the larger playground.” The new playground designs not only focus on general appeal The total budget for the three playground replacements is $240,000 Council aims to commence construction of the winning design options at the end of the year or by early 2025 depending on availability of the equipment from suppliers Ken Schultz Playground - Mount Austin - 124 votesOption 1 - 66 - 53.22%Option 2 - 2 - 1.61%Option 3 - 56 - 45.16% Ray Beddoe Playground - Lake Albert - 227 votesOption 1 - 186 - 81.93%Option 2 - 29 - 12.77% Option 3 - 12 - 5.28% Lloyd Playground - Lloyd - 182 votesOption 1 - 94 - 51.64%Option 2 - 58 - 31.86%Option 3 - 30 - 16.48% Uganda is on track to deliver first oil from its Lake Albert development by 2025 after having so far drilled 63 of the 426 wells planned at TotalEnergie’s Tilenga side of the project and nine out of the 11 wells required for first oil at Chinese major CNOOC’s Kingfisher project TotalEnergies’ 63 wells at Tilenga exceed the number needed for first oil Uganda’s Minister for Energy and Mineral Development told a press briefing in Kampala on 21 August and the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) are developing the $6-billion upstream Tilenga and Kingfisher projects which together with the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) ($5 billion) and the Uganda Refinery project ($4 billion) represent a combined investment of approximately $20 billion into Uganda's economy In her project update Nankabirwa noted that “Our integrated approach, which includes the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors, positions Uganda to significantly contribute to the global oil supply, fostering economic growth and boosting national revenue” while maintaining a balance between economic growth social development and environmental conservation The minister noted that Uganda’s estimated 6.5 billion bbl of reserves (of which 1.5 billion bbl are deemed as recoverable) “are not only pivotal for Uganda's economy but also have significant implications for the global energy market … contributing to global energy security.” thus extending the life of the development’s midstream projects exploration licenses were granted in February and May 2023 to UNOC and DGR Energy Turaco Uganda SMC Ltd for the Kasuruban and Turaco contract areas have held licenses since 2017 for the Ngassa Deep & Shallow Play and the Kanywataba contract areas but continue technical studies and have yet to drill Uganda is a landlocked country with no current hydrocarbon production Exploration and development is centered in the Albert-Edward Rift Basin a part of the East African Rift system which lies in northwest Uganda and extends into the Democratic Republic of Congo The scarcity of exploration wells, combined with poor-quality seismic data, has made it problematic to assess reservoir potential in the area, as described in a paper presented in March 2019 at the International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) by CNOOC’s Research Institute in Beijing 1.5 billion bbl of recoverable reserves have been discovered in Blocks 1 and 2 of the Tilenga field and Block 3A of Kingfisher and UNOC (15%)—expect to produce 230,000 B/D basinwide to satisfy domestic needs and for export via the EACOP to Tanzania’s port of Tanga on the Indian Ocean coast As for the midstream and downstream components TotalEnergies holds a 62% share in EACOP with UNOC (15%) Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (15%) IPTC 19372 Stratigraphic Forward Simulation of the Miocene Fan Delta in the South of Albert Basin, Uganda by Wei Xu, Yingchun Zhang, Lei Fang, et al., CNOOC Research Institute Co. Ltd. The Journal of Petroleum Technology, the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ flagship magazine, presents authoritative briefs and features on technology advancements in exploration and production, oil and gas industry issues, and news about SPE and its members. ISSN: 1944-978X (Online)ISSN: 0149-2136 (Print) Given potential perceived conflicts of interest it was decided that Cricket NSW would convene an independent panel to hear the appeal The panel consisted of integrity and fair play manager at Cricket NSW Bruce Whitehouse Cricket NSW competition lead Luke Mace and Riverina Zone delegate Michael Erdeljac A hearing was heard late last week where they voted in favour of St Michaels' appeal which will result in the four premiership points being reversed on the competition ladder The amended result will see St Michaels jump four points clear of Wagga City on top of the ladder ahead of the final two rounds of the regular season It also officially rules out Lake Albert of sneaking into finals as they now fall 12 points behind fourth-placed Wagga RSL The panel determined that human error contributed to an incorrect target score being determined which was agreed upon by all parties on the day when both teams re-entered the field after the rain delay They also determined that the application of 16.9 + 16.0.1 from the Laws of Cricket was incorrectly used given there was no actual error in the scoring but an error in the interpretation of the target score by all parties An independent Cricket NSW panel has reached a decision regarding St Michaels appeal of the match decision following their round eight clash against Lake Albert Picture by Bernard HumphreysFollowing this the panel determined that the Cricket Wagga by-law 1.13D applied and the initial result of a St Michaels victory should be the final result Cricket NSW released the following statement following the decision of the independent panel to award the win and four points to St Michaels a Cricket Wagga Wagga first grade fixture at Robertson Oval between St Michaels and Lake Albert ended with a dispute around the result "Lake Albert were awarded the match at the ground "Due to various perceived conflicts arising from the match and Cricket Wagga Wagga's nominated appeals panel Cricket NSW convened an independent panel to hear the appeal "The independent panel met on Feburary 6 and agreed that human error was a key factor in interpreting and determining the target "Using all evidence at hand and applying the Laws of Cricket and Cricket Wagga by-laws the independent panel upheld the appeal and St Michaels were awarded the win "The panel also determined that the online scoring system had been correct throughout the fixture and had played no part in the match-day decision making by match officials or those at both clubs." shall agree to the winner of each match prior to leaving the ground Any error found on the scoresheet when verified on PlayHQ shall not change the overall winner of the match Lake Albert v Leeton United at Duke Of Kent fields Picture by Bernard HumphreysLake Albert have secured an important three points and redemption over Leeton United Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe club's drew 2-2 in their last meeting with two Sharks handed marching orders but the circumstances were reversed this time around Leeton were down by two come the final whistle during Lake's 2-1 win Co-captain Robert Fry was impressed with how his side kept their cool throughout the match "To some extent it got a little bit hated but we kept our heads really well actually so I was pretty proud of the boys for that," Fry said "I don't think we're in too much trouble with yellow cards but especially after the last time we played Leeton it's good that we didn't repeat that this time." Now with consecutive wins after a disappointing round nine loss Fry was impressed with how his team played Beautiful playing conditions and a sturdy pitch made for an all around enjoyable afternoon Keeping control of the ball on ground has been a struggle due to slippery field conditions View +9 PhotosPictures by Bernard Humphreys"I thought that we played really well the grass was a little bit funny it held up a lot but in terms of passing the ball along the ground it was pretty reliable and it actually quite suited us." After a quick start the side got exactly what they were after with Beck Frostick scoring in just the 7th minute to put them ahead early Fry said the first 20 minutes was some of the best play he's seen from the team all season Mostafa Khalaf was once again a standout for the side alongside Mitchell Henman "Mitch's defence at centre back was phenomenal and his ball playing was really good as well," Fry said "He really started a lot of our attacks and Mostafa we moved into the centre just for the second time this season "He was outstanding and provided a lot of energy in the middle and his decision making on when to pass and when to run was really great for a young bloke Fry said having flexibility to move players across the field as needed has made a big difference to their season Looking ahead the Sharks have a tough match this coming weekend with Hanwood on their fixture Though they are top of the ladder currently the gap between the top teams is decreasing each week It's something he said they're not focusing on too much "If we had of lost then I think we're down to third but I'm really happy with the result and we just need to build on it and keep going," he said "We don't really talk about [the ladder] that much to be honest I don't think we really do feel that pressure "We focus on how we want to play and our performance and I think that naturally reflects on the table." Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice have been told a group of unknown males broke into the Lake Albert home and threatened the occupants at knifepoint before fleeing with cash A crime scene was set up and an investigation into the incident was launched under the NSW Police Force's Operation Southern Mongoose Police subsequently arrested an 18-year-old man at a hotel in Lake Albert and another 17-year-old boy at a home in Hollows Crescent in Lloyd on Tuesday Both have been charged and are now before the courts was arrested at a Bourkelands property about 11.30am on Wednesday Police said knuckle dusters with a built-in flick knife were found during the arrest and seized The man was charged with aggravated break and enter (commit serious indictable offence) and possessing a prohibited weapon He was refused police bail and is due to face Wagga Local Court Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court. helped South Wagga Blues to a convincing win against the Lake Albert Blues narrow losses and a batsman brainsnap have emerged from Wagga's cricket grounds at the weekend Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSouth Wagga defeated Lake Albert convincingly at Rawlings Park where the Blues batted first and piled on an enormous 298 run total Opener Alex Smeeth's 129-run knock included 19 boundaries and a 171-run partnership with Joel Robinson who recorded a total of 97 not-out from 85 balls South Wagga opener and captain Brayden Ambler said these big totals and batting excellence are the right signs to see in the early stages of the competition "Once Smeeth got his hundred it was a matter of just go hell for leather.. if we bat like that most weeks I think it goes a long way," he said "They just manipulated the field and they took them apart at the back end of the innings South Wagga Blues batsmen Joel Robinson and Alex Smeeth partnered for 171 runs against the Lake Albert Bulls Picture by Bernard Humphreys"The fact that we had wickets in hand it allowed us to have the license to be a lot more aggressive early on." Blues bowlers Mac Webster and Patrick Cooke led the way with three wickets each starting with the valuable scalp of lead Bulls run maker Rowan Hoare Mr Ambler had nothing but praise for the 20-year-old paceman once he got his second wicket we were putting the pressure on them he just said 'I'll just bowl the same ball' and he did it's as simple as it could be," Mr Ambler said when your juniors like that are coming through and they're actually successful "I think this year is going to be his breakout year." A 104-run stint from Brad McMillan helped the Wagga RSL Bulldogs to their second win of the season defeating the Kooringal Colts by 137 runs at Wagga Cricket Ground After losing Ben Radford for three and Tim Jenkins for a duck captain Sam Perry said McMillian's total was a game-saving effort "We were two for 10 and probably in a bit of trouble and we went from two for 100," Mr Perry said Wagga RSL cricketer Braith Gain celebrates a catch in their win against the Kooringal Colts Picture by Bernard Humphreys"Having Bradley back from Albury has really helped us and it gives a batting group confidence in the way that they can go about their game as well Perry was the star man with the ball and managed five wickets on his own but puts his haul down to a strong batting effort "We built a fair bit of pressure scoring 250 they had to take the game on and I was lucky enough to be the one that reaped the rewards," he said Meanwhile at Robertson Oval, St Michaels managed to keep their unbeaten streak with a two-run victory over Wagga City St Michaels opener Beck Frostick's unbeaten 127 runs lead his side to victory clearing the Wagga City total of 223 in the 44th over St Michaels Cricket Club star Beck Frostick during a bowling spell he managed 127 runs not out to help his side to victory Picture by Bernard Humphreys Wagga City batsman Caleb Walker was given out for handling the ball delivered by St Michaels leg spinner and captain Nathan Corby "I was appealing for an LBW after he's gone down for a sweep.. the ball's rolled back to the stumps and he's just bumped it knocked it out of the road with his hand," Mr Corby said "I can understand how he's done it because he's going for a sweep - it was very unfortunate." Wagga City coach Rob Nicoll said it just happened instinctively but was pleased with how his player handled the incident "Caleb knew immediately what he'd done and just walked off didn't wait for the umpire - he just got it wrong and he owned it," Mr Nicoll said "He's such a mature guy and he was our captain yesterday and he was our captain for a reason