Minister queried

Despite the fact that weekend headlines told us that the State Minister for Lands Tony Kelly will be the sole decision–maker concerning the future plans for Belmore Basin and its surrounds I know that he has been asked to update certain local people on the future of the city’s foreshore plan of management.

And this before the weekend’s headlines which have quite truly sent shock waves through a large number of ratepayers of the city.

My mail is that the former city council adopted the plan at a meeting on January 29 and now the Minister is being asked in the light of the subsequent ICAC investigation whether or not he has approved and signed off on the document.

It has been suggested to the Minister that the proposal touches on various matters in relation to the controversial North Beach Bathers Pavilion, the ICAC enquiry casting considerable doubt on the council’s decision making processes, and whether important matters in relation to the Wollongong Foreshore Park were adequately disclosed to either the former councillors or the general public.

And, just in case the Minister has already signed off on the suggested draft, he has been asked if he can advise whether or not there is a mechanism to rescind this decision in the wider interests of many people.

It was interesting to note that in the same issue of The Mercury on Saturday which highlighted the new plan a residents’ interview section elsewhere in the paper did not have one person interviewed for comment as being in favour of the proposed new initiatives.

And, if the Minister had been at a Dapto rally that morning he would have certainly got the peoples’ message on this matter.

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Dapto rally a starting point 

 The “Don’t Dump Dapto” rally down that way on Saturday morning made it quite clear that those who attended want action in the suburb.

Those present voted unanimously in favour of an urgent on–site meeting with the city’s recently appointed administrators to discuss a range of local issues; that the Fowler’s Road bridge requirements were far more pressing than any inner city Blue Mile proposal; there should be no housing allowed on Reed Park; the Tallawarra Power Station proposal needed a thorough investigation and that use of the local swimming pool should be at no cost to the locals.

The rally organisers will now go ahead to establish a Dapto Coalition which will draw support from people throughout the suburb.

It was interesting to see who turned up, with interested people there from the northern and central suburbs.

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Lylea copped it

The people at the Dapto rally gave the State Member for Shellharbour, which embraces the local area, a real raspberry for her non–attendance.

In fact, even one of the key speakers, union boss Arthur Rorris, was quite stinging in some of his comments about the current State Government and its elected representatives.

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Lining up already 

The next State election might be a way off but it’s already being mooted that South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris and former city councillor David Brown will nominate for the seat of Wollongong.

And from what I saw of him on Saturday morning (now don’t faint my Labor friends!!! ), Rorris might well be a good choice.

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Kevin’s surprises continue

First of all he made all that fuss about saying “sorry” and since then there seems to have been a rush of racism around the country.

Now he’s asked leading sporting administrators to a conference to discuss the problem of binge drinking, particularly among our younger folk, and not all these earnest men have taken his side where the antics of their sportsmen are concerned.

Despite the fact that recently many sports stars have being caught out late at night, boozed and shot at among other things, some of the sporting chiefs have suggested it is in the home where the investigations into binge drinking should start.

Our new PM might be more effective on the booze issue by having our hotels and clubs close at, say 11pm, and earlier on weekends just for starters.

It’s a move I’m sure would be welcomed by many parents, police officers and taxi drivers, to mention just a few.

But, then there’s the problem of convincing a greedy state government to give up all the extra revenue it receives from the hotel and club hours as we have them today.

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Here we go again  

 Despite all the hype about their preparation and fitness the St George Illawarra Dragons have started the new NRL season on a downer, but did you really suspect anything else?

Maybe they should sign up Formula One racing driver Mark Webber, whose continual poor form in the ones that count would make him a suitable Dragons recruit.

Despite 183,000 people attending the opening games, did you notice that of this number 57,000 were at games played in Brisbane and nearby, and the Storm attracted 20 000 plus in Melbourne.

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Strikes me that disreputable is not the correct word

The hotels / bars in question were on the list of those hotels / clubs / bars that had the most anti-social (fights) on premises. 

Again, no responsibility is put on the perpetrators of the violence who get so affected by alcohol that they are violent and irrational. 

The ultimate responsibility must rest on the people who drink to excess … they MUST be held responsible for their actions.  Alcohol is a part of the Australian culture, and no matter what the ‘blue-noses’ want, they will not change human behavior with their whingeing and complaining.  Our laws encourage binge drinking … prohibition has never worked, never will work and never can work.  So long as our ‘heroes’ drink and carouse and escape the consequences, the young and impressionable will emulate their obnoxious behaviours. 

Henry Collier
Albion Park

2005 Berkeley Plan never acted upon

I'm about to bring to the fore again, my predicament and the predicament in Berkeley.

A Berkeley Plan was published in 2005 and never acted upon, a shop development was developed in Berkeley and it still has all the 13 developed shops on the main street empty and boarded up.

I set up a Fitness Centre in West Berkeley and have been required as part of the DA to pay for a $50,000 commercial car park for 9 parking spaces, when there's a 15 space car park running parallel to the building that is officially public road, and grassed.

I'll stop here.... but I'm mad as hell and about to hit the media again about the lack of interest and action regarding Berkeley along with my predicament where, as the result of an inefficient planning department, I could have to close down my business in a disadvantaged area.

Know anyone who can help and/or support me, the little person?
 
Regards
Susan Haynes

Land speculation around Helensburgh  

 It’s a pity Jim Bennett, lamenting his problems along with 200 landowners, about long term rezoning with WCC.. well, where, actually? For all his lamenting he doesn’t even to bother to mention the area he is talking about. However it is not hard to work out. It is all the speculated land around Helensburgh, again. Just a fact he happened to leave out.

Land speculation bought through promises by the sellers of land zoning changing, sometime. Obviously in the 28 years Mr Bennett has had his land, the sometime is turning into a long time. One loud spokesman patsy has loudly lamented his misfortunes, but he bought his land about 8 years ago, as rates default for $20,000 or so. He has said he would sell it for $40,000.

The land speculation is mainly on 7d Hacking River Catchment, soon to be E2 in the new LEP.

Not only is Helensburgh surrounded by Hacking River catchment land south and east. Garrawarra Conservation Area, and the Royal National Park, both now on the National Heritage List are to the North and North-east. To the west and south west is the Sydney Catchment Area, and somehow I can’t see these moving away.

There was a Commission of Inquiry which put a clamp on this speculated land years ago. But the loophole is that it doesn’t stop these land speculators trying with Council over and over again. I’m sure they’ll try with the new administrators.

Just before Fay Steward, in charge of Planning or something, and mentioned enough in the ICAC Inquiry, left Council, she signed off on a $20,000 ratepayer funded survey which was done on this very same speculated land area around Helensburgh. Our two former independent Councillors were surprised by the report. They had no idea it was done, or of that amount of money spent. Amazingly it came to the same conclusion as the COI, no further expansion outside the Helensburgh footprint. But there was room for at least 500 houses in the footprint.

That didn’t stop land speculators. One of these people wrote that if their land was rezoned and built on, that would help the world climate change problem! I guess your entitled to try anything.

When Bob Proudfoot ran for Mayor at the 2004 Council elections, not only did he receive over $20,000 from the ALP, he also got $1500 from the Helensburgh Land Pooling Group, the 7d speculators. Bob Proudfoot also got a donation from a company owned by Frank Vellar. What an illustrious group of backers. Of course they expected nothing in return. Let’s be clear on that.

Alan Bond

A neglected point  

Shaun Prince is doing some sanctimonious opportunistic ranting of his own in the Mercury when he complains about former councillor Dave Martin with lack of action over various issues.

What on earth this go at Dave Martin has got to do with the rest of his letter, is anyone's guess. Except that Shaun Prince certainly knows a lot of what went on in council. Not bad for someone who didn’t work there. He also neglects to mention that he was on Alex Darling’s election team for position of mayor.

He brings up the failed SAP computer software program as though he only just discovered it. But I’ve been writing about it ever since it happened. Along with the waste into energy fiasco that Joe Scimone was involved in. I don't recall his letters to the media about these issues.

Being on the mayor’s election team certainly would have put him in the right place to gain the answers to the questions he seems to be having a go at Dave Martin about. But then again, we know who ran council then. Obviously Shaun Prince doesn’t.

Alan Bond