Neighbourhood Forum 1 report

By NF1 convenor Warwick Erwin

Lord Mayor, Cr Gordon Bradbery attended the June meeting of NF1.

Footpath Works at Junction Street, Helensburgh

Wollongong Council has proposed to construct a 1.5m wide path and associated kerbs and ramps along Junction Street between Fletcher Street and Parkes Street. Construction is to start in the next financial year. The proposed path is to be concrete from Parkes to High St and asphalt from High St to Fletcher St in front of the oval. Curb ramps are included at all roadways.

Coalcliff SLSC Club House Building

Having previously suggested that building a new Coalcliff SLSC clubhouse was preferable to alterations and additions, Council is now proposing that alterations and additions are preferred. The Coalcliff SLSC has developed a concept plan for the club house and met with Lee Evans who suggested applying for a community grant. However, the SLSC is unable to apply for the grant until the DA has been approved, but has raised the funds required to lodge the development application. The council has spent $130,000 on the club house to make it fire safe and is committed to spending $500,000 on repairs and maintenance. The next step is a new Geotech survey.

Transport NSW Dump Site

Cawleys Rd has been used by TfNSW’s contractor to access the dump site on the northern side of the railway line just below the Wilsons Creek Road bridge over the railway line, to dump the spoil from Waterfall railway project. Community objection to trucking the spoil through Helensburgh and along Wilsons Creek Rd forced TfNSW to use Cawleys Rd for access. TfNSW has stated that RFS and NPWS will use the spoil for fire trail upgrades.

Stanwell Park Kiosk

A new operator has been appointed as “winning tenderer” for Stanwell Park Kiosk. The tender has been awarded by Council staff but did not go to a full Council meeting for voting on. It is assumed this action is under “delegated authority”. The new operator is the previous operator, trading under a new name, Bostin Brew Co.

Helensburgh Community Centre Main Hall Floor

Council has advised that “the timber for the hall floor replacement was recently delivered to site and is currently being stored in the main building. The sub floor ventilation will be installed in coming weeks following which the project will have reached a hold point until further testing and inspections are undertaken by a hygienist”. No completion date for the works, and no date for when the hall can be used again. How many years does it take to fix the problem?

Helensburgh Town Centre Phase 2 (should be 2A) now called Walker Street Western Terrace.

With Parkes Street works under the Town Centre Plan Phase 1 nearing completion, focus has moved to Walker Street and, in what Council has instigated as the first part of “Phase 2”, a Sketch Design was released to NF1 and those residents who participated in workshops in March 2021. The Terrace area is from Lane 10 (lane between where the Newsagency is and the old Pizzarama building) and Parkes St (Pharmacy Corner) on the western side of Walker Street. This sketch was posted on Facebook. NF1 discussed it in detail and feedback was sent to Council, including the following:

• Drain in Lane 10 to be fully enclosed

• Access the Terrace area for vehicles such as food truck, truck for use as a stage for events, unloading for mini markets or similar

• Water refilling station

• Pharmacy entrance area to be enlarged

• Surface not be honed concrete but a softer looking and feeling surface

• Rampway from road level to shop level in line with Land 10 be half the width of lane 10 and not a quarter the width.

• Proposed Loading Zone be the last two car length parking spaces before the corner (roundabout)

• A power box or two be located in the Terrace area

• The curved disabled ramp projects into the potentially useful area of the Terrace too far and the understanding from those at the workshops was that the ramp would be parallel to the roadway and closer to the roadway. The location and size of the wall and railing for the ramp would create safety issues for parents with children.

• Extending the awning from the shops over the area of Lane 10 to create a continuous covered area.

There has been no overall vision / plan / interpretation / sketch for Walker St CBD area under the town plan and this is of concern as we cannot see how the Terrace area fits in with the overall vision.

NF1 meets at 7pm on the second Wednesday of each month, except December and January, at the old Helensburgh Community Centre on Walker Street.