Easter might have brought some respite but there’s no doubt the future shape of our city faces increasing challenges and the immediate months ahead could well determine its ongoing status.
While we await the findings of the recent ICAC inquiry, and many out there are expecting something of a “whitewash” when the announcements are made, the critical attention will turn to the three appointed administrators and the city’s General Manager.
One can only hope the administrators will move around and have a good look at the city and its suburbs, and they will announce an early willingness to meet with and listen to concerned ratepayers.
Unfortunately, there’s already a feeling out there this may not happen.
The Wollongong Against Corruption (WAC) movement seems to have gone suddenly quiet, but the unions are promising to “salvage what’s left of democracy in Wollongong”.
Our Neighbourhood Committees are sure to battle on, but despite these efforts we still face decision making by the State Government that remains somewhat suspicious.
Okay, one of the key people involved in the ICAC scandal, Joe Scimone, has lost a plumb job with a State department, and will this mean he becomes the scapegoat for the court cases of recent weeks?
Once the largest industrial city in the land and fully recognised for this, our city has slipped in the national rankings and what happens in the next six months, in particular, will very much set the seeds for the future.
It will be very sad indeed if we become seen as a city without a voice – a pawn for
Government.
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It gets worse
Fresh on the news that volunteers working at the city’s historical museum are going to have to meet certain operating expenses we have one that really takes the cake.
Now The South Coast Rescue Squad is being asked to pay rent for headquarters which its volunteers built themselves on council offered land.
This is a group that has helped save lives throughout the Illawarra for 35 years. The ones that drop everything no matter what the time of day and night and go out and brave all sorts of elements to try and save people facing natural disasters and the like.
And it seems the city’s new general manager sees these type of “savings” as a key part of our future!!!
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Who needs a Mayor?
We may no longer have a city Mayor but that won’t stop his lunches going ahead, this time in the name of the city’s General Manager.
The lunches will resume this Friday on the 10th floor of the city offices with guest speaker, so I believe, one of the three newly appointed administrators Gabrielle Kibble.
She’s the one I’m advised is quite pro – development.
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dapto rushed back on agenda
And if you believe what you read and hear the much debated West Dapto expansion proposal will be a key agenda item when the administrators meet this week.
I wonder whether they have actually visited the area, or even will, before the talks occur.
This rush has raised the eyebrows of that suburb’s Reed Park Users Group which has recent correspondence from the city which indicates 11 April was a date designated to review much of the West Dapto scenario including objections they were asked to make to proposed new land rezoning.
More unhealthy early signs that the new structure is going to largely ignore the ratepayers???
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It was on the cards
I mentioned recently that the former board of the then Illawarra Steelers sold local rugby out the door when they merged with St George some 10 years ago.
Well, now it appears that decision has come back to really bite the local fans with St George looking set to go it alone and drop the “Illawarra”.
All of which takes away some of the gloss surrounding the St George Illawarra Dragons win on Monday night.
I wonder how all this will impact on The Steelers Club?
Your Opinion Counts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> | 
