The Vellar Mansions – crown jewels of corruption

Corrimal Action for Rehabilitation of our Escarpment

CARE Convenor: Will Reynolds, 4284 4040, corrimal@sportspower.com.au

Where are they?

On prime protected escarpment land above Corrimal (up Francis St to Glenlea St.)

What’s it about?

In the 90s, corrupt developer Vic Vellar built two houses for himself, but put them up on a ridge for the view, not where it was safe to build them. Many Council staff turned a blind eye.

Where’s it up to?

Following CARE’s campaign, Council held a Review (look it up on the Council website – click Glenlea St Corrimal Report). Zoning stays as is in the Draft Local Environment Plan, but the Review gives 2 options: demolish the houses or rezone in Vellar’s favour. The timetable for submissions on the report is the same as for the DLEP – they close on Friday 13 March.

What can I do?

Write a submission (we can help you or email you an outline submission)

Council will take more notice of individually written submissions. Identical letters don’t count for much.  One page hand written submissions are just fine, as are longer detailed documents. Here are some points to consider including in yours. Email us and we can send you this by return email.

Environmental significance

• 3 northernmost branches of Towradgi Creek rise on this land
• It is pristine escarpment forest – he’s vandalised 4,500m2 already – enough! Make him fix it.

Safety

• Vellar built where it was found to be unsafe – risk of landslide into neighbouring houses
• Kids on roofs could kill themselves – or start a fire??

Flood and stormwater

• Massive damage in the 1998 floods to houses in three surrounding streets made worse by the “man-made streams” of Vellar’s driveways
• 2 man-made creeks channelling waters into Justine Ave and Glenlea Streets
• Vic Vellar bulldozed the berm system protecting Cresting Avenue homes
• Expensive stormwater mitigation is needed all along the boundaries – at owner’s expense

Access to NPWS land

• Vic Vellar donated the top of the block to the NPWS, and Council created a 10m wide right of way to provide access.
• Currently locked behind an ugly gate with security notices – make the access real by providing signage and a walking-only trail

Options in the Vellar Review

• Demolish or rezone???
• Rezoning the site would reward the corruption
• I want Council to order the demolition of the mansions and make the owner pay to restore the escarpment

o rectification of the landslip risk,
o rectification of the flood risk, and
o restoration of the environment

I am watching to see what the Administrators do: are you here to clean up the Wollongong “system” or to allow business as usual?

Submissions should be sent to Council by 13 March 2008.  They must be in writing and should be addressed to:

 The General Manager
 Locked Bag 8821  
 WOLLONGONG   NSW   2500
 Attention: Planning Manager.

or by email to DGreen@wollongong.nsw.gov.au

Come to the meeting on Thursday night, 5 March 7pm Corrimal Library and tell Council directly

Maximum attendance, maximum submissions = a real chance to reverse this legacy of corruption

Illawarra female leadership recognised by Perth conference

With International Women’s Day Approaching, 22 year old Illawarra resident Melissa Abu-Gazaleh has been selected as a keynote speaker for the International Women’s Day National Conference ‘Setting the Social Inclusion Agenda’ to be held in Perth on the 5-6th March. The conference is organised by Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia and held by the Western Australian Government.

“I am honored to have been selected to speak about leadership among young ethnic women. This is a testament that female youth leadership within the Illawarra can be recognised on a national scale. I am proud that I will be a representative both of young ethnic women and the Illawarra” said Melissa Abu-Gazaleh.

Born and raised in the Illawarra, Melissa Abu-Gazaleh’s is currently Managing Director of Best Catch Foundation, a local not for profit organisation that empowers young men to positively contribute to their local community. Her selection for the conference also highlights her other achievements including being selected as Australia’s Top 100 Brightest Young Minds in 2008 and being a Representative at the Whitlam Institute Forum on Young People’s views on Democracy.

Melissa will be appearing along side other guests who may attend the conference including the Australian Governor General Ms Quentin Bryce, Opposition MP Julie Bishop and Patricia Azarias, Board Member for SBS.

“Having a Palestinian ethnicity, I believe that young women from an ethnic background have a powerful role in helping to shape and redefine Australia’s future. I’m passionate about youth leadership and empowering young people to be agents of change, not tomorrow, but today. And I only have 30 minutes on that stage to try to convey all of this, what a task!”