New splash park among recreational and tourism projects for Albury Wodonga

Federal funding of $7 million has been allocated to support the delivery of recreational, tourism and education projects in the Albury Wodonga region.

Delivered as part of the Federal Government’s $80 million investment in the Albury Wodonga Regional Projects (AWRP) initiative, the new projects include:

• The Oddies Creek (Albury) Park Play Space

• The Wodonga Creek precinct development

• An Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence (Wodonga TAFE)

Upgrades to the Oddies Creek Park in Albury include construction of a splash park, plant room and water treatment system, as well as fencing and gates, paths and landscaping.

The works respond to calls from the community to provide a free and safe family friendly splash park close to the river for residents and tourists. The $5 million project is being jointly funded by the Australian Government and the Albury City Council.

The splash park will be accessible from both sides of the Murray, enhancing tourism in the region as well as improving amenity and liveability for locals. Design works for the project will begin in early 2025, with completion expected in mid-2026.

Albury City Council Mayor Kevin Mack shared “Albury City welcomes formal confirmation of this funding from the Australian Government to help us bring the Oddies Creek splash park project to life.

“A key element of the recently endorsed Murray River Experience Masterplan and a much-needed facility which our community, particularly young people and families, have been seeking for some time, the splash park project offers significant local and regional tourism potential.

“It brings us closer to achieving our community’s vision for Albury to be a nationally significant regional city that is vibrant, diverse, innovative and connected, and inspired by its culture, environment and location on the Murray River.”

The $5 million Wodonga Creek precinct development, jointly funded by the Federal Government and Wodonga Council, will link the Wodonga central business area, Belvoir Park and Gateway Island through to Albury by connecting to the existing Wodonga pathways network.

Stronger connections between the town centre and Wodonga Creek will enable a range of tourism, leisure and economic opportunities. Planning and design has commenced, with construction commencing mid-2026.

The $2 million Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at Wodonga TAFE’s Logic campus is fully funded by the Federal Government – as part of the Government’s commitment to investing in critical skills that will help with Building Australia’s Future.

The facility will enable a tactile introduction to advanced manufacturing within a suite of labs, providing introductory programs and basic prototyping capabilities for small and medium enterprises. Construction will commence mid-2025.

Wodonga Council Mayor Michael Gobel added “Wodonga Council welcomes this federal investment; this type of support is not just an economic driver, it’s an investment in our residents and community.

“Tourism, recreation and education are pillars of a thriving city and these projects, including the Wodonga Creek precinct development and the development of the Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, will open doors to new opportunities for our youth, local businesses and ensure Wodonga remains a dynamic place to live and grow.”