The Destination Discovery Hub in Marie Bashir Park was officially opened on Thursday 18 July 2024, with the State Government Representative the Hon. Stephen Lawrence, and Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP on hand to help celebrate the highly anticipated occasion.

The opening finalised the “Playground on the Murrumbidgee” a collection of ambitious tourism and infrastructure projects designed to grow the environmental tourism offering, further solidifying Narrandera Shire as a key visitor destination.

Narrandera now features much-loved attractions including the Destination Discovery Hub, Skywalk, Lake Talbot Water Park, Northbank Walking Bridge with additional footpaths further connecting the Bike and Hike Trail, and the new Camp Kitchen and amenities block plus new and improved existing long parking bays at Lake Talbot Tourist Park.
The pipeline project originated from initial discussions involving General Manager George Cowan, Mayor Neville Kschenka, Steph Cooke, and the former Minister for Tourism and the Environment, the Hon. Adam Marshall. 

It evolved through extensive lobbying efforts and persistent grant applications, culminating in a funding announcement in December 2019. 
The NSW Government allocated $8 million towards the total project cost of $11 million, representing the largest funding grant successfully acquired by the Council to date.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP said of the occasion, “Today marks a significant
milestone for our community with the official opening of the Destination and Discovery Hub here in Narrandera, which of course is a vital component of the visionary ‘Playground on the Murrumbidgee’ project.”

Mayor Kschenka has stated “It is great to see this important project come to fruition. The visitor economy is very important in our shire. The completion of these projects has already seen an increase in visitor numbers and Augers well for the future”.