Neighbourhood Forum 1 (NF1) meetings are held in the Helensburgh Community Rooms in front of the old Community Centre on the second Wednesday of the month, from Feb to Nov. Next meeting: 10 Sept 2025. All welcome.
Helensburgh Pool Closed until January 2026
Under the NSW Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund 2022-23, Council received a grant for $3,241,666 to upgrade of Helensburgh Pool and lighting on the adjoining turf field. Term: Projects to start by July 2023, finish by 31 December 2025. Council claim that pool works will start in late August and be done by January 2026. NF1 members wanted works postponed until next winter but stopping the “upgrade” work now could mean losing funding from the State Government. This is contrary to council’s “we’ll get an extension” feedback to NF1. How will Council compensate 2508 residents due to Council’s stuff-up? Free entry to Corrimal Pool? That is the closest WCC pool. Free hourly shuttle bus to/from Corrimal?
New Helensburgh Library and Community Centre
The update from Council’s Manager Libraries + Community Facilities on Helensburgh centre plans included information on the brief that the architect will work with to develop the concept design.
• Community Hall scoped as 220m², it will be expandable into the library space for larger events.
• The library area will be approximately 310m² vs 175m² of the existing library.
A detailed scope and design brief has been sent to Public Works and a tender has been undertaken for a Principal Design Consultant (PDC) and sub-consultant team. Concept designs will be presented to the community once they are developed, likely in early 2026.
NF1 objects to Council using “commercial in confidence” as a reason to avoid sharing the detailed scope that staff – not the community – have defined for the new centre. We don’t want a centre that is smaller than the previous one. NF1 members are asking if Council staff have too much delegated authority, and are calling on councillors to listen to community and question staff more.
Get updates, report problems
To get neighbourhood updates, go to our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au and sign in. Click ‘My Account’ and select topics or places of interest, and save. To report issues – eg, pot holes, blocked drains or drainage problems – the easiest way is via the Snap Send Solve app.
Read more
GP calls out ‘cruel’ summer closure of Helensburgh Pool
Council says Helensburgh Pool to reopen ‘before the January summer peak’