Wollongong needs 'human-scale city', says independent in bid for state seat
Independent city councillor Andrew Anthony has announced he'll contest the state seat of Wollongong in the March election
The battle for the NSW seat of Wollongong is hotting up with Wollongong City Councillor Andrew Anthony throwing his hat in the ring to challenge high-profile incumbent Paul Scully.
Cr Anthony, who is often a lone voice as an independent in council, said he had no hesitation taking on the tough job of trying to unseat the current Member for Wollongong and Minister for Planning and Public Places.
He hopes to strike a chord with the community amid growing concern about the explosion of new high-rise buildings proposed for Wollongong CBD and surrounds.
Cr Anthony said he would draw on his experience as a Ward Two councillor to tackle the issues facing a city which is growing rapidly “and needs a much stronger focus on coordinating development with the infrastructure required to support it”.
“My campaign will focus on responsible development, improved road networks, better public transport, infrastructure investment and ensuring planning decisions consider the long-term needs of Wollongong residents.”
The independent candidate spoke out at the first Wrong for the Gong rally in Wollongong, calling for a better balanced approach to new housing. He will also have a presence at what’s expected to be an even bigger community rally in Lang Park at 1pm on Sunday, November 22, to coincide with the NSW Local Government annual conference.
'A sensible scale'
“I’m not against development. I want to see Wollongong grow, but it needs to happen on a sensible scale that respects the character of our city and the needs of the people who live here,” Cr Anthony said. “We need a sensible, well-planned city, not development for development’s sake. Growth must be matched by roads, public transport and community infrastructure needed to support it.”
He said the growing push for buildings reaching 38 and 40 storeys raised serious questions about the future shape of Wollongong. He expressed particular concern about high-rise proposals along Flinders Street and Smith Street.
Cr Anthony was critical of the State Significant Development pathways and state planning policies which are “increasingly allowing development to override local planning controls established by Wollongong City Council”.
“These developments have the potential to fundamentally change the character of the city. We need to ask ourselves what sort of Wollongong we want to leave for future generations. Our city has a unique setting between the ocean and the Illawarra escarpment. We need to protect those important view corridors rather than allow inappropriate development to compromise them.
“I believe we should be planning for a human-scale city, with a maximum building height of 12 storeys in appropriate areas in the CBD, rather than allowing a push towards 38 and 40 storey towers that are out of place with the character of Wollongong.”
Focus on planning powers
Cr Anthony said a key priority in his campaign will be restoring meaningful planning powers to Wollongong City Council.
“Decisions about the future shape of Wollongong should be made locally, with residents having a genuine say in the planning process, rather than having local planning controls routinely overridden by state government polices and development pathways.
“I want to see planning powers returned to local government, with appropriate safeguards, transparent decision-making and meaningful community consultation. Residents should not feel that decisions about the future of their neighbourhoods are being made behind closed doors.
“Ultimately, this campaign is about giving the people of Wollongong a stronger independent voice and making sure our community’s interests come first.”
Cr Anthony’s decision to run as an independent in Wollongong follows closely that of local businesswoman and social enterprise leader Kylie Flament, nominating for neighbouring Keira in a challenge to another NSW Labor Minister in Ryan Park.
