NIRAG Quarterly Meeting Minutes, 7pm, Wednesday 13 August 2025 Bulli Community Centre (upstairs meeting room)
Present – Maryanne Stuart (MP Heathcote), Jo Page (Director Infrastructure and Works), Cr Dan Hayes, Cr Jess Whittaker, John Croker, Tony Horneman, Ben Jarvis, Susanna Cavill, Ross Dearden, Neil Walker, Annette Jones, Margaret Hutchinson, Amber Joyce, Mike Meurer, Pam Rose, Anne Kelly, Liz Ponitka, Don Mayes and Kirk Bendall.
Apologies – Cr Richard Martin, Will Tibben, Terry Sands, KerrieAnne Christian, Jill Walker, Ruth Garland, Ian McKinlay, Daniel Perkiss and David Beswick.
Vale: Murray Jones
Murray Jones, passed away unexpectedly on August 1st. Murray was a tireless worker in the community whose efforts to conserve the special character of Thirroul, and plan for future infrastructure without inappropriate development will be remembered.
In addition to his 20 year service as secretary of the Thirroul Village Committee he was an active participant of NIRAG and the Neighbourhood 3 Committee / Forums since their inception. His friendship and contribution to the community will be sorely missed.
Motion of condolence to his wife Deb and family: Moved Ross/ Tony Horneman
Welcome to Maryanne Stuart, MP and thanks to Councillors Dan Hayes and Jess Whittaker for attending (Jo Page arrived about 10 minutes later).
Minutes of last meeting accepted: 13 May 2025: Moved: John Croker/ Seconded: Susanna Cavill
General Business: It was proposed that General Business item 1, 16 Unit Homes NSW proposal at 6 – 10 Southview St, BULLI be brought forward and discussed first:
Bulli residents’ representatives outlined their concerns about the Homes NSW proposal to combine 3 existing houses and build a 16-unit block of flats 3 storeys high, even though this is a R2 zoned area (2-storey limit). units will be incompatible and out of character with the R2 zoning, overlooking and overshadowing neighbours, insufficient parking, over 800 m from essential services and poor access to public transport.
Maryanne Stuart (Member for Heathcote) is meeting with the group on Friday 15th August. She was disappointed that a flyer had been printed and distributed in advance of the meeting rather than starting with a “blank sheet” to work with her to find a better way forward. She reiterated we needed to do everything possible to fix the housing crisis. Residents are asking for a pause in the process and advocating for genuine consultation to achieve a constructive solution. The proposal does not seem to accord with the Mid-Rise Housing Policy and Housing SEPP guidelines. The community group made it clear that they are not against public housing but that the 3 storey scale is excessive and the consultation process has been poor. Their contact for emails is PlanitrightNSW@gmail.com
Business arising:
1. Community Strategic Plan (CSP) and Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP). NIRAG reviewed the Strategic Community Plan 2035 and IDP / Operational Plan 2025 – 2026 and sent two submissions. A special concern was that the Goal “Sustainability” replacing the more recognisable and understandable word “Environment”.
The meeting reviewed the response received from Council dated 2 July (emailed to members on 10th July). Point St footpath was reinstated as a feasibility investigation. Also the scope of the widening to 4m of the Aragan to Hamilton cycleway is under review. Improvement to the parking on the east of Blackhall St and Lighting along Aragan St/Hamilton St cycleway has been added to the infrastructure request. The IDP has been amended to include Thirroul train station lighting. Our request that the C2 land (Green Corridor, Lot 303 Amy St) be included in the Strategic Plan for acquisition was denied.
2. Integrated Transport Strategy: The status of the Integrated Transport Strategy which mainly concerns the inner city of Wollongong will be provided to Council in September.
3. Private Certifiers and lack of notification to adjacent residents regarding development applications. A disappointing response was received from Minister Scully concerning private certifiers and complying development applications. NIRAG's original letter referred to private certifiers and all development applications. The response confused this with approvals and the housing crisis. Maryanne Stuart agreed to follow up so that Wollongong residents get the same notice as metropolitan areas.
4. Old Bulli Hospital: Wollongong Planning Panel met on Tues 3 June and a decision approving the redevelopment was given on 16th June. Disappointing that staff are not generally using the new parking area at Cnr Princess Hwy and Memorial Drive. Bus available to transport people from Bulli Showground to Bulli Hospital but the parking is still unresolved. There may be a further extension of timed parking.
5. 7 ha Green Corridor, Lot 303 (formerly the Ray Hannah land): We strongly believe this land needs to be recognised by Council as a vital GREEN CORRIDOR (similar to the Keira and Kembla Green Corridors) as recommended by the COI in 2003 so it becomes public land. Cr Dan Hayes spoke against identifying the land in the strategic plan as a green corridor. A draft “Pitch” document has been prepared to be part of lobbying campaign with Council, State and Federal authorities. Support for a petition has been requested (25/7/25) from Maryanne Stuart, MP and she said a possibility of rezoning part of the land as C4 (Environmental Living) may be a way to move forward. Details to be finalised with interested parties (such as ILALC) before it is circulated.
6. Point St Footpath: Attempts to progress design are on-going. The project is now included in the final IDP for investigation following our representations. Access and safety issues are a concern to children, local residents and people requiring safe access to bus stops to use public transport. Further increase in traffic expected when Anglicare Development and Geraghty St bridge is completed. Jo Page was requested to follow up the suggestion that a footpath could be partly built on the roadway, with some road narrowing. Jo to also get back to Ross with Options strategy and potential special grant funding.
8. LHD/Arthur St Thirroul intersection: A roundabout is shown on DCP 2009 (Chapter D12). Requested by NC3 in the past. Council Traffic Committee requested by email sent 26/2/2025 for investigation and line marking. No response to date. Follow up from Maryanne Stuart, was requested.
12. Changes to traffic movement in Bulli Township Advice received Wed 13th August (sent to members) that work will commence on Monday 18 August but clearways will be delayed until infrastructure is complete. This is in accord with our concern that the extension of clearways could adversely affect local businesses and that it would be better to delay implementation of the Saturday Clearway until the benefits of the other changes were known. Movement and Place needs to be addressed by TfNSW when reviewing traffic solutions in Bulli and Thirroul.
Late Business: Invitation to ICAC. The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is visiting Wollongong in August 2025 as part of its Rural and Regional Outreach Program (Outreach). The Outreach visit will comprise a week of activities for public officials and community members. An interactive public forum for the Wollongong community will be held on Thursday morning, 8am on 21 August 2025. This is an opportunity for you to meet the ICAC Chief Commissioner, and discuss corruption and integrity issues. Email circulated to interested members.
Treasurer’s Report: ICU account 249065342 (General A/c) Current Balance $255.71 (unchanged)
Notices:
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Neighbourhood Forum 3 needs a Convenor, Since 2020 NIRAG has acted as the interim WCC
community contact. Please contact the WCC Engagement Team on 4227 7060.
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Thirroul Village Committee (TVC) meetings are held at the TRIPS Hall in Railway Pde, Thirroul.
The next TVC meeting is the AGM on 4pm on Sunday 24th August 2025.
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Our next NIRAG/NF3 quarterly meeting, will be Wednesday 12th November, 2025, at 7pm, Bulli
Community Centre.
Meeting concluded at 8.40 pm