Tolland Renewal Masterplan adopted, moved on to public exhibition

The Tolland Renewal Masterplan will be open to public submissions this week. Photo: NSW Government.

A final masterplan for the Tolland Renewal Project has been endorsed by Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC).

The current masterplan draft aims to deliver 500 new residential homes while also improving the drainage and footpaths for roads and locations such as Chambers Sports Field. The plans also seek to improve the outdoor spaces in Tolland by building a new barbecue space and outdoor learning spaces.

WWCC Director of Regional Activation John Sidgwick said that during Monday night’s ordinary council meeting councillors agreed to support the voluntary planning agreement and it would now go to community consultation.

“The consultation will soon be available for 28 days with members of the community able to provide their submissions for the next 42 days,” he said.

“The voluntary planning agreement essentially sets out how Home NSW will fund and then deliver the necessary infrastructure upgrades that will go hand in hand with the housing renewal.

“First and foremost, this is the first time that the State Government has gone into the regions to undertake such a large renewal of its social and affordable housing structure.

“So in total, 270 dwellings will be replaced and renewed in Tolland. That’s a major urban renewal project that will represent significantly better housing and more appropriate housing for the demographic and people who actually live in Tolland today.”

During the plan’s previous public exhibition period (September and October 2023), WWCC received 29 submissions from the community.

The Tolland community’s major concerns centred on the proposed development and relocation of Emblen Park, proposed road layouts that they said might increase occurrences of dangerous driving and adversely impact existing congestion, the impacts of salinity and the need for a simple biodiversity assessment to update and improve the masterplan.

Homes NSW responded to the biodiversity concerns, explaining that new assessments will be taken during each step of the renewal.

Mr Sidgwick addressed concerns about residents who will be rehomed, explaining that Homes NSW will be working closely with residents living in public housing to make sure the families and individuals affected can find affordable housing elsewhere.

“Homes NSW will be looking to help people transition elsewhere, most likely around the Duke of Kent precinct,” Mr Sidgwick said.

“The private renters in that area will continue to work with real estate agents that operate in that area to essentially transition out of that space when they need to.”

The proposed Planning Agreement will be placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days from 31 May to 28 June and submissions are invited until 12 July.

Following the public exhibition period, WWCC will receive a further report addressing any submissions made in respect of the proposed planning agreement, and recommending whether or not to enter into the proposed agreement.

A statement from WWCC stated the project was anticipated to achieve some key milestones in the next six months.