Former Wollongong city council chief executive Rod Oxley is reported to lay the blame for a lack of proper direction for the future of the city at the feet of two former Lord Mayors.

One of them George Harrison has described Oxley’s comments as “rubbish”, while Alex Darling has not commented at this time.

Oxley goes further by suggesting the ICAC inquiry findings, particularly as far as he is concerned, will lead to future senior staff at council retreating away from leadership and action.

Which leads me to ask the former CEO why was no decision made in his tenure on the future of the city mall, and why did it take so long to decide to restore the town hall. And let’s not even talk about the dilly – dallying over the future development at West Dapto.

Furthermore, maybe he would like to comment on the generally poor state of our roads and the presence of so many weeds around the city.

The evidence remains that his pro – development frame of mind let other necessary work around the place fall behind.

And what do we have as an Oxley legacy?

High rise developments – most of them ugly – cluttering our skies and obviously failed major projects scattered around the city.

More words

The Illawarra Business Chamber has released a new code of business conduct which they suggest will ensure Wollongong doesn’t have any more ICAC – type inquiries.

One of them is that its members should practise sound business ethics and act honestly and fairly in all business dealings.

Who, I might ask, is going to keep a check on this? And why might I also ask has it taken so long for the Chamber to ask its members to undertake their business operations in such a way?

Might it be that this body seems to spend too much time talking rather than doing?

And if you’re operating a business are you going to take any notice of this latest idea. Most businesspeople I know would say “mind your own business”.

You wouldn’t read about it

Fellow I know has been an accredited specialist in his field of work for many years and has the papers to prove it, and what’s more he has even been a workplace assessor himself.

His career began in South Australia and now many years later he and others are being told that they have to sit for and pass new accreditations in NSW.

Seems that while all the other States recognise accreditations obtained elsewhere in Australia, NSW is the odd one out.

Oh, and there’s another catch. My friend and his fellow workers have to pay a fee to get their papers cleared, and that sounds typical for NSW.

I also understand the unions have been alerted and there might be some action afoot.

Economic future in the balance

Looking at some up – to – date information recently sent to me by my financial advisers on the state of our economy there seems to be room for some optimism although sharemarket valuations may still get worse before they get better.

It seems that we can expect some volatility in this area for some time to come, but there is evidence that some of the most influential long term investors are now being active in the market on the buy side and are finding good quality companies to invest in at quite low prices in the market.

The information also suggested there won’t be an economic depression, but the present state of play will mean negative economic growth, increasing unemployment and decreasing company profits.

However, if you are pensioner of one type or another there is extra money coming your way due to a Federal Government cash investment, the benefits of which are expected to flow from 8 December.

It's all or nothing

Clubs NSW chairman Peter Newell, who also holds the positions of president of The Steelers Club, wants us to believe the clubs don’t pose as much of a problem for binge drinking as our hotels and the like.

In fact, he goes as far as to suggest that any ban on 24 hour trading should not be placed on the clubs.

So will that mean if your favourite pub has to close at 11pm you’ll go straight home, or will you slip around the corner to a leagues club and continue on until the wee hours of the morning?

Maybe he should talk the matter over with our taxi drivers, many of whom tell me they often fear for their lives when working night shift.

It makes sense that a ban is introduced and that it should apply to all booze outlets. Surely even the most voracious drinkers in our midst can bet their fill from, say, 10am to 11pm.

A real stinker

There it was at the top of a page in the weekend’s Sun – Herald

“Shamed GM cries fowl …”

I’m sure they meant foul.