The March NF1 report
The community centre has been closed indefinitely due to rising damp under the main hall flooring caused by poor drainage and ventilation.
H’burgh Community Centre closed for 2022
The community centre has been closed indefinitely due to rising damp under the main hall flooring caused by poor drainage and ventilation. The flooring has significant damage and mould has built up and spread to the whole building including the youth centre. Wollongong City Council (WCC) has closed the building for further investigation after which it will determine if the centre should be demolished or rehabilitated. The building must be cleaned, which will require Council going to tender. The building is sealed closed to protect the community. NF1 does not expect to see the building rehabilitated due to the cost and the new Community Centre and Library project.
New Helensburgh Community Centre Project
Jenny Thompson, WCC Manager Library and Community Services, as well as Matt Neill and Carl Hopley from council, responded to questions about the new Community Centre and Library. A site close to Helensburgh Pool is the preferred site due to being less fire-prone than the current library site on Walker St. However, the swimming pool site is on Crown Land, which provides restrictions. The newly purchased sites next to the current library – which Council bought as a back-up if the site at the pool cannot be used – will be used as a works depot for the work being carried out on Walker Street once the house there has been demolished.
It will then be turned into green space until a decision has been made on the community centre. The space could be integrated into the UCI cycling event in September as two of the main races will travel along Walker Street before continuing south.
Helensburgh Town Centre Project Work
Council is starting work on Walker St in February 2022. By the time you read this, the Brush Box memorial trees on the western side should have had their lower branches pruned to allow more sunlight to pass under the tree canopy. This will make it easier for people to see the shops from the other side of the road. Walker St is getting reprofiled and parts of Walker St between Lilyvale and Parkes streets will be closed for that work. Council says locals will be able to access the shopping centre at all times and work will be done during the day. Road detours still have to be approved by Council’s traffic committee. NF1 has suggested the detours be the roads the locals will use anyway: Gibbons Lane southbound and Stuart St northbound. It will be interesting to see if council officers listen to locals and common sense prevails. Council officers have said that all works on Walker St will be completed before the UCI road race in September and the Western Terrace area will be undertaken after the race. They have excluded the footpath on the eastern side of Walker St, Coles to Witty Rd, from the work – this was a separate project that Council has just dropped. NF1 will ask why this was dropped.
Liquor Licence Application for corner of Walker and Short St by Coles Group
APP-0008817690: Status – ‘Under Assessment’
UPDATE: After the March edition went to press, NF1 received a notice of a public meeting regarding the packaged liquor licence. The meeting is to take place online via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, 30 March, from 6.30-8.30pm. Read the letter below.
NF1 has arranged with Hope Church to use their facilities for Wednesday night 30 March for a group location for those that are not comfortable joining an online meeting from home for whatever reasons. Please email a request a link if you are comfortable participating in an online meeting. Please book the date. Email apology to the email address if you can't make it for some reason as that will count towards the numbers for the "meeting".
Planning Proposal request for land located at Lot 10 DP 260258 and Lot 24 DP 260258, 20 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Stanwell Tops. Also known as Wagon Wheels.
Council officers are preparing a report to go to a Council meeting for a decision.
DA-2021/1058 Lot 2 Short Lane, H’burgh
DA has been withdrawn by applicant, ZTA Group
Wollongong Development Control Plan 2009 – Changes
Council will put on exhibition changes to chapters of the Wollongong Development Control Plan 2009
Next NF1 meeting: 7pm, 9 March at H’burgh Thistle Club House at Rex Jackson Oval.
