Wagga Wagga’s Visitor Information Centre will be permanently re-established at its former site on Tarcutta Street, once capital works are carried out to address both the essential work health and safety issues for staff and improvements to enhance the visitor welcome experience.
At the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 21 September 2026, Councillors approved the recommendation to undertake a $736,845 upgrade.
The Visitor Information Centre (VIC) has been temporarily relocated to the foyer of the Museum of the Riverina’s Historic Council Chambers since May 2025, due to work health and safety (WHS) issues identified at the Tarcutta Street location.
Director Community, Environment & Partnerships Christine Priest said the decision reached by Council at last night’s meeting is a positive step for staff, visitors and the broader Wagga Wagga community.
“Over the past 16 months, the safety of staff and the continuity of service to visitors have been Council’s top priorities as investigations were carried out into a range of options for the future location and configuration of the Visitor Information Centre,” Ms Priest said.
“Now we have a plan to move forward with a permanent solution which will address both of those priorities and see our Visitor Information Centre return to the Tarcutta Street site.
“The capital works proposed will focus on delivering the safety and security upgrades and investing in improvements to enhance the visitor welcome experience and retail space available.”
The capital works project includes:
- creating a secure staff area separated from the public retail space, incorporating storage and back-of-house work areas, an accessible staff toilet and lockdown area
- enhancing the visitor experience by refurbishing the customer service area, expanding the retail space and new visitor journey seating area
- removing the existing public toilets at the VIC building, with the decommissioned End of Trip facility to be converted into dedicated public toilet amenities
- installing a self-service kiosk and external-facing information screens that can be viewed after hours
- creating a bookable meeting space.
Miss Priest said these changes consider the WHS needs for staff and align with the long-term priorities for visitor servicing outlined in the Wagga Wagga Destination Management Plan 2025-2034.
“It is vital that we provide a work environment that is safe and secure for our dedicated staff along with creating a positive welcoming visitor experience, reflecting Wagga Wagga’s role as a major regional destination.
“Through the redesigned floorplan, the centre will be able to expand its retail offering space, providing additional opportunities to showcase and support local and regional producers, strengthening connections between visitors and the region’s producers,” Ms Priest said.
It is anticipated the works would begin with the toilet construction at the decommissioned End of Trip facility, and then the proposed VIC works would be completed over a six-month timeframe, following a six-month final design and procurement process.
This would mean the Visitor Information Centre services could be re-established and commence operation at the Tarcutta Street site in approximately October 2027.
