Lord Mayor attended NF1's November meeting

By Neighbourhood Forum 1 convenor Warwick Erwin

Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM was at the November NF1 meeting and openly participated in discussions and provided some answers for items discussed.

Cr Bradbery is the only Councillor from the current session of council to regularly attend NF1 meetings.

Helensburgh Town Centre Works

Council staff presented the plans for Walker St (Parkes to Lilyvale sts) and for the Western Terrace (Chemist to Newsagent area). Copies of plans are at the library. On the to-do list: new roundabout Walker and Lilyvale streets, new pedestrian crossing near the southern butchers, sandstone kerb to be reused, new blisters at Short St to make crossing the road safer and improve sight lines for vehicles into Walker St, remove lower branches on the memorial trees in Walker St to lift canopy, new path at road level on western side of Walker St, new mobility ramp and stairs into terrace area.

Parking changes in Walker Street

Council staff and Lord Mayor confirmed work will not start until after the school holidays in 2022. This is to allow businesses in the CBD to recover from lockdown and to trade uninterrupted through the holiday season. Roadworks will happen first as the State Government grant must be completed by April 2022, then the western terrace work, which is expected to finish in the third quarter of 2022.

In the plan, the Western Terrace will give an open area for possible outdoor dining, events, casual seating, new pavement surface, mobility ramp, new stairs, while retaining the bush feel. This may help revitalise the area. Hope for the old bank/pizza shop yet. Plans can be viewed at the library.

New Community Centre and Library

No further news from Council – still scheduled to be opened in 2027. Another six years is a long time to wait. Email Councillors (after 4 December elections) and the Lord Mayor via records@wollongong.nsw.gov.au, requesting the project be fast-tracked. Lord Mayor Cr Gordon Bradbery indicated at the meeting that he would push for the new centre to be fast-tracked if he was re-elected.

Town Centre Plan CBD area timed parking

Helensburgh is listed for a 30km/h speed zone in the CBD once work is done in 2022. Some locations will have timed parking, such as loading zones.

Current Community Centre Main Hall Floor Repair

Council said: “We have been working to repair the floor of the main hall in the existing Community Centre and fix the underlying problem of damp by installing a new sub-floor ventilation system. This process will take several months but we are aiming to have the hall available to the community again in time for summer.”

Floor timber has been sitting in the entrance hall for months “acclimatising”. It will not be installed in time for summer. More time without our centre. Ask those Councillor candidates about this.

Liquor Licence Application for corner of Walker and Short St by Coles Group

APP-0008817690: Status shows Under Assessment on ILGA noticeboard at the time of writing.

DA-2021/822 – 19-21 Walker Street, Helensburgh - Commercial - change of use to liquor store and extension of trading hours

This DA was approved by council.

DA-2021/1058 Lot 2 Short Lane, Helensburgh

This is the laneway next to Bear Trader. Council approved accesses, ventilation duct and grease trap pump-out connections from building either side of this laneway so Council cannot approve any development that blocks those items. Oral history tells that Charles Harper donated this laneway to the community but somehow it has gotten into private hands and the owner keeps trying to put a building on it. NF1 has submitted an objection to this DA based on the objection to the previous DA. The well-worn track in the laneway clearly shows continuous use by locals between Hume Drive and Walker St. Council has to sort out this laneway ownership and the ownership of the laneway at Stanwell Tops behind Stonehaven Rd. These should be in public ownership and maintained by Council.

Planning Proposal request for land located at Lot 10 DP 260258 and Lot 24 DP 260258, 20 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Stanwell Tops. Aka Wagon Wheels

Seeks to amend Schedule 1 – additional permitted uses of the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009 to include recreation facility (outdoor) and function centre. Submissions to the Draft Planning Proposal have closed and council staff will provide a recommendation to the new Council.

750 Princes Highway, Darkes Forest

Extract from a letter from the Lord Mayor:

“As you are aware enforcement action has been taken by Council in relation to unauthorised uses and building works on the property.

“These actions resulted in development applications and building information certificates being lodged with Council that were subsequently appealed to the Land and Environment Court. The Court has issued Consent for the structures on the site with strict conditions.

“The landowner is now working to address these conditions and staff are currently undertaking assessment of a number of applications and studies that have been submitted by the landowner in response to Consent conditions.

“Inspections of the site will be undertaken as required to ensure that the consent conditions are met. The matter will be returned to the Court should this not occur.”

Saturday, 4 December Council Elections

Pre-poll voting from 22 Nov-3 Dec at Helensburgh Anglican church hall. Voting is for Lord Mayor and four Ward 1 Councillors. Visit elections.nsw.gov.au

Outgoing Wollongong City Councillor

The Liberal party decided not to have Cr Leigh Colacino as their lead candidate for Ward 1 for December’s election. Cr Colacino has represented Ward 1 since 2011 and driven a number of achievements for the 2508 area, especially around Stanwell Park (the new Kiosk being one). He has also served on the board of Destination Wollongong. NF1, on behalf of its members and the 2508 area, thanks Cr Colacino for his service as a Wollongong City Councillor and wishes him the best. Thank you, Cr Colacino.

No NF1 meetings in December and January

Next NF1 meeting is 7pm on 9 February 2022 at the Community Centre front meeting room.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.