With the scenario surrounding Wollongong City Council getting worse as the ICAC Inquiry continues in court it’s time to reflect on just how good a service our once recognised Local Neighbourhood Committees performed.
When you think back to the range of issues – many contentious – these volunteer groups raised, it’s little wonder we are now going through this national publicity associated with the ICAC hearing.
These committees, some of which continue to operate unofficially, were getting too close to the bone in many cases and our city council – or was it some senior officers - was convinced they should not remain officially recognised.
We said at the time this was a shame and a step in the wrong direction of trying to gag ratepayers’ opinions.
Now the North–South Alliance has been formed and is building its numbers with interested and disillusioned ratepayers from Helensburgh to Albion Park. It, too, would like official recognition.
Certainly the way ICAC is spinning out and not only former and present council officers, but sitting councillors too are being hauled over the coals, we cannot expect any turnaround from council in the short term.
But once the dust has settled and this NSW Government has finally summoned up enough moral fibre to put an administrator in down here the wrongs as far as recognising these ratepayer groups will be rectified.
We sincerely hope so.
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>> An interesting situation
Now that Dapto Ward councillor Frank Gigliotti has been mentioned at the ICAC inquiry and has stood down from the city council until the inquiry ends his chances of pre–selection for Labor, whenever and if ever we have the next council elections, would have slumped considerably perhaps leaving the door open for a Noreen Hay family member to get the ALP nod down that way.
With the other Labor councillor, Tony Kent, unsure of whether he might still be living in Dapto. and if he will stand anywhere in the city, the opening is certainly for new ALP faces.
Despite all the tooing and froing involving our council the rumour still persists that the State Member for Wollongong Noreen Hay wants a family member to represent Labor.
Then again, Noreen hasn’t fared all that well before the ICAC inquiry so the scene has opened up even more in our southern most suburb.
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>> More community action
My spies also tell me we could see a community action group unfold out Port Kembla way with the express purpose of questioning the operating hours of a local pub.
Seems it’s open hour after hour and many nearby residents are tired of being kept awake for most of the night.
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Union leader to address rally
I also understand our city’s top unionist Arthur Rorris has put his hand up to address the proposed Dapto street rally early next month and his subject will be the current lack of council attention to infrastructure and ridiculous planning decisions.
The big day is in the main street mall from 10am on Saturday March 15.
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Only three photos Jennie
My favourite local politician and somebody well respected by many people I bump into ,Jennie George, Federal Member for Throsby, has taken a step backwards in her latest report to the community.
Only three photos of yourself included Jennie, what’s gone wrong?
She does, however, outline the Federal Government’s commitments to the Illawarra which include $2.5 million towards a GP Super Clinic in Shellharbour; expansion of the Centrelink services to include an office at Warrawong; allocation of an MRI licence for Wollongong hospital and $230,000 to upgrade the WIN Entertainment Centre.
The Centrelink expansion and the MRI have been promises which have been around for a long, long time.
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Foodies have good reason to complain
Those food suppliers at the bottom end of the city mall have every reason to complain against a city council order telling them they must close for business by 2am.
Particularly when, for example, the Glasshouse Tavern carries a notice on a window saying that their closure times are at the discretion of management.
Knowing a couple of young folk who have worked there I can assure you it’s well past 2am.
Oh, and by the way, the food suppliers don’t serve the grog, which seems to be one of the major problems in the untoward revelry that erupts regularly in that area.
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>> PM makes no sense over soccer bid
Sure, it would be nice for Australia to host a world soccer cup series, but surely not the way our new Prime Minister would have it.
Before continuing let me say that while I support the Aussies in their world soccer efforts I personally don’t appreciate the game and only watch excerpts of it on TV.
Our PM would have us bid for the 2018 World Cup and has suggested that the Federal Government and the States share the costs of the bid.
Kevin has a short memory because it’s a well known fact our State Governments have little money and the thought of NSW, in particular, pouring millions into a soccer bid pool while our hospitals, road systems and education continue to lag in necessary services, makes you wonder about the way our politicians think.
Most Aussies Mr PM would prefer tax cuts and the like rather than see more monies go down the drain.
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>> And talking about soccer
Somebody mixed up in our local soccer scene tapped me on the shoulder on Saturday evening and suggested there’s big news soon to emerge that a former Wollongong Wolves regular would be coach of a local club next season.
The player being suggested was a member of the beaten Central Coast Mariners in the A–League grand final on Sunday.
Oh, and by the way, the local club being bandied about starts with the letter D, and it’s not Dandaloo.
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Senator makes her point
Our local Federal Senator Concetta Fierravanti – Wells has written to many constituents outlining her reasons for not supporting the well publicised recent “Sorry” motion before the Federal parliament.
Two of her reasons were that the motion exposes taxpayers to potential ambit claims of compensation and it solidified an acknowledgement that the policy of genocide was deliberately instituted against our Indigenous populations.
She also suggests the motion created an environment whereby generations of students will be inculcated through a curriculum that Australia once adopted a practice of violation of human rights of Indigenous people.
I must say I agree with her, particularly with regard to the third matter raised.
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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