Draft LEP
While there is justifiably concern over aspects of the Draft Wollongong LEP 2009, one must consider it is only a draft. That is why it is on exhibition so people can add in what they want to see in there. Unless you submit submissions, instead of holding meetings, like Monty Python, chances are you won’t get things in there that should be.
Don’t expect authorities to know everything. I am submitting a 15 page submission. The concerns are that some people seem to want to make it perfect before it should be passed, including, for some reason, that Wollongong City Council, should have elected councillors. Elected councillors have nothing to do with the draft.
The idea is to build a foundation. Don’t forget, this new draft replaces the old LEP that had over 200 amendments. This will be the same, too, in 19 years time. There is nothing to say amendments can not be added later.
The LEP is like everything else on this planet, it is an evolving creature. But you need a foundation. While it is delayed it is allowing those that want to do things on their land to get away with it. Whatever LEP is in, they will always try, but this new one will make it tougher.
Council also could have advertised it better by posting to all ratepayers homes a simple 4 page brochure with key elements, mainly comparing old zones with new and their explanations. Building heights etc. It could have been done. Posted, and not stuck in with the other advertising material which gets easily thrown out.
Alan Bond
Escarpment and Plains
I’m afraid June Pronk has got it wrong if she thought I was talking about a Liberal State Government in regards to my letter having a crack at Minister Keneally about passing the Maddens Plains Golf Resort estate because it absurdly passed Bushfire regulations and that was good enough to allow the development. By the way, the Minister has not replied to my letter, so I guess she agrees with me. She has not said I am wrong.
Anyway what I did say in the letter was “Hopefully at the next state election when Labor gets tossed out big time, we will have a better Government who is more realistic in approach.” If I thought it was Liberal, I would have said it.
If Liberals had been in power, not only would we have an Eastern Creek Race Track at Maddens Plains, there would have been suburbs between Stanwell Tops and Bulli Tops. But don’t worry we do have the Bulli Tops International Terminal, we just need an airport to go with it. Don’t forget, former Mayor Darling thought Maddens Plains was a great place for a prison. Well, it will still be, it’s just that it will have a 9 hole golf course and room service. It’s just that Labor is going about it in a different way.
The Labor and Liberal Parties are no different, except they know the right thing to do when they are in Opposition.
The Draft Wollongong LEP 2009, a one size fits all proposal, does lack considerable thought about protecting the Illawarra Escarpment but still it has more grunt than the previous LEP. But in reality, I would be surprised if more than 2% of the Illawarra population even knew there was a Draft. 1.5% of that are developers.
Alan Bond
Stimulus Package
So a writer has said the first stimulus package has failed then confessed they do not know financial matters. (Mercury 12)
I wasn’t privy to that pay out but I do know retired people who were finally at last able to buy a widescreen TV when as a child there was no such thing in Australia. Let alone in colour.
This second payout I will be entitled to - the $900. It would have been $950, but the Greens got the 50 bucks to go towards bicycle paths, something we really need. Except for me, I don’t ride a bike, so shouldn’t I get the extra 50 bucks?
However, that $900 is worth about $5,000 to me, the $950 about $5,500. Why? Because it’s going straight into my mortgage and saving on the interest, shortening the mortgage. Anyone who gets it should do that as the first priority if required. Secondly, pay your credit card. Remember, this is our GST coming back to us.
As for debt for the future generations, why should they be worried? They’ll all be on a million bucks a week.
Alan Bond
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