NF1's July report

Helensburgh Town Centre Plan 30kph zone – TfNSW

Helensburgh town centre is being considered as a trial area to introduce a 30kph zone along with all the changes being made to the area. Feedback to Wollongong Council from the community is that it wants Walker Street through the town centre to be more pedestrian friendly. The zone will start at the proposed roundabout at the end of Lilyvale Street along Walker Street through to Cowper Lane and from the top end of Hume Drive along Parkes Street through to Waratah Street. The zone is scheduled to start in July/August after the stage 1 work on the town centre is completed. Transport for NSW are responsible for speed zones and have provided a preliminary reference plan for the community’s information.

Helensburgh & Garrawarra Cemetery update

After flooding in March this year damaged several grave sites in Helensburgh cemetery, Wollongong Council will be undertaking work to reconstruct the main road going through the cemetery and install drainage measures to prevent future damage to the site. Drainage will discharge on to the adjacent property. Due to the cemetery being heritage listed, heritage masons will be contracted to restore the damaged grave sites. A heritage impact assessment will also be undertaken on the portico at the entrance to the cemetery, which appears to have been damaged by a large vehicle. Work has started when this report was written and could take up to four weeks to complete. Garrawarra cemetery has an Aboriginal land claim over it and Wollongong Council will negotiate with Crown Lands to manage the site, which is surrounded by Heathcote National Park.

Helensburgh Town Centre Plan – update

Rain has delayed current work on the town centre. Road works have started with road closures and detours in place. Stage 2 works are to be completed by early August and stage 3 works will commence next year. No work will be carried out in the lead-up to the UCI event from early August to late September when the event is scheduled to finish. Councillors informed NF1 that WCC will remove the blister in Short Street from the plan and look at other alternative traffic-calming measures.

Helensburgh Courthouse

Helensburgh’s Men’s Shed and Historical Society will liaise with Member for Heathcote Lee Evans to see if the Courthouse can be used by both groups so that the Courthouse can be returned to community use, together with the old Police residence.

Package Liquor Licence 19-21 Walker Street Helensburgh update

The package liquor licence has been refused by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA). Coles has 28 days to appeal the decision after it is published. ILGA has advised that all submitters will be advised when the decision is published. NF1 has been asked to request WCC rescind the DA and are currently waiting on advice. Numerous comments have been received that if Coles appeals the decision then Coles does not respect the community of 2508 and is only interested in taking money out of our community.

NF1 will next meet on Wednesday, 13 July, 7pm at Otford Community Hall.