JudeM

We moved to Wagga 8 years ago from

IF you are selling a house in Sydney or near a big city, then you will be pleasantly surprised at the cost of houses. (However, the house prices are not all cheap and the salaries in Wagga are generally a lot lower than city salaries.)
The proximity to work is a plus, with traffic not really an issue although as the city is the fastest growing inland city in NSW, the road infrastructure is not going to be adequate and there are some parts which are ridiculous (Tarcutta/lake Albert and Edward street intersection for eg). Also, the Sturt and Olympic 'highways' are single lane roads with high volumes of trucks and heavy vehicles using them and for a small but growing city, the roads need serious attention.
A new hospital is being built and the old (eye sore) one will be demolished.
The new one looks out of place because it's so modern and yet it has no more beds than the old one.
Doctors and other professionals are not born and bred in Wagga. They move here. But many send their children to private boarding schools in Sydney because they don't think even the private schools are up to scratch.
There are only 2 private high schools, 2 systemic catholic high schools and a private catholic school.

The university offers very few options outside of health,
Education and agriculture.
There are a lot of health workers and trades people in Wagga apart from the newbies coming for work from cities.
Wagga is a great place to settle if you have a very young family but if the children don't want to study agriculture, Equine studies or health then they will have to leave Wagga and go to a university in a city that has more to offer them.
That said, there is a TAFE and community college and childcare and trades are popular in Wagga.
There is a zoo, botanic gardens and parks, the junee
Chocolate factory and the movies and bowling and an indoor swimming centre. There is a serious lack of opportunities and services for teenagers. There is a juvenile detention centre in Wagga and a prison in neighbouring Junee.
Wagga doesn't have an ice rink and despite boasting that it had arts and culture, compared to other progressive centres (rural and regional ones at that) it is quite bland and has nothing really interesting. There is not much variety when it comes to the music and theatre because it is a small town but there are visiting productions. There is a glass gallery and the art gallery has some good exhibitions but teenagers are not catered to.
There are sufficient (and great) coffee shops and eateries and some lovely boutique shopping.
It's a pretty town with the lovely lagoon and beautiful streets but you wouldn't know there is a river unless you have the directions and there has been no development on the river - only a caravan park at the only recreational and swimming area (there are other areas but they're not developed spots) and the caravan park will soon be gone (which is good because it is ugly).. There is a 'beach' and that's where everybody goes to swim on hot days but there have been a few drownings so the river is dangerous. No restaurants or coffee shops on the river, no kayaks for hire or lots of picnic spots. There is one hotel that has a deck over looking the river but it's from a distance and it's a small area.
Wagga is very cliquey and whilst people are very friendly, dont hold your breath for an invitation to a BBQ, even if you host it first.
Those born and bred in Wagga just love it and think it's great. They stick up for their little town and it's clear they don't really know about the big wide world outside of this little
Riverina town.
That said, there are some very interesting and intellectual people fortunately - but they moved here - they studied elsewhere, they've travelled... They are not locals.
There is a large African refugee community and lots of community events. When the lake is full, if you have a boat, you can enjoy water sports but although the lake circumference is around 10kms,
There is really only 1 major area for picnics.
The library has plenty on offer for young children who seem to be catered for very well but it's a relatively small library for the capital of the region.
People with young families would probably really benefit from a
Move to friendly, because of proximity to work, child care, pace etc.
It's a small city with a country feel and it's not difficult to see why people genuinely love it, until they're teenagers. There is a problem with ice and other drugs -
Probably due to boredom,
Family breakdown and unemployment. I don't feel unsafe in Wagga but I don't venture down town on a Saturday late and I avoided certain dodgy areas. There is a bowling centre and cinema and skate parks. teens often hang out at macdonalds and Wagga has a high rate of obesity although there are plenty gyms.
The weather is quite extreme - hot summers and cold winters.
Wagga has plenty of sports so families will be very busy. It has a transient population because people leave and there is a military base.
Also, the flights to Sydney and Melbourne are expensive.
Canberra is 3 hours away and it's slap bang in the middle of Melbourne and Sydney so it can feel isolated but it's not far to a major city for a weekend.

All in all, an easy enough town to live in with some great facilities and a friendly community with no traffic woes. lacking in development of river and lake and facilities and opportunities for youth.