The much debated development proposal for West Dapto has been on and off the agenda for tonight’s Wollongong City Council meeting, but it has been confirmed it will be business item No 2 at the meeting.

My mail is that council’s administrators will back a report by the NSW Department of Planning Growth Centre’s Commission which recommends the West Dapto development proceed, but in a smaller scale than first envisaged.

The report also suggests that the controversial Fowler’s Road bridge project not be included in any development.

And it’s being suggested to me that a proposal by the former city council to take away the western end of Reed Park for housing will not get the go-ahead, which will be of considerable delight to those who use the oval and the hard working Reed Park Users’ Group that has waited patiently for some decision for quite some time now.

If what I’m hearing is correct, the cricketers, in particular, will be over the moon as their club teams and player numbers have gone through the roof and instead of losing two playing fields they may now be able to ask council for a third oval at the western end.

Let’s just hope what I’m hearing is correct.

Well done Katie   

She might not have won the 58th Miss World competition but our own Katie Richardson from down Albion Park way has been a wonderful ambassadress during her reign as Australia’s queen of beauty.

Of particular interest was her heavy involvement with the KidzWish Foundation which sometimes had to be seen to be believed.

All the best for the future Katie.

Mall debate rages on   

While business and property groups believe that maybe our controversial mall should be partly opened to traffic, there’s a group out there who want it left as it is with a few minor improvements.

The group purports to represent the local interests of cyclists and pedestrians and sees any moves to reopen any part of the mall to traffic as dangerous and the ensuing traffic fumes creating pollution problems.

They also argue that the mall’s ideal central location and its proximity to the beach and the railway station should make it one of the best in Australia.

Pity about the layabouts who still can make it an unwholesome place to be after 5pm.

And it’s certainly not a place to be when it’s cold and wet.

Clamp down on booze  

A friend of mine was somewhat staggered when he asked for a pernod at his local club and was told he wouldn’t be able to buy straight booze there any more.

Seems the police have firmly told all our local clubs that serving upper level drinks straight is no longer allowed.

It will be a blow to a few of my mates who love a straight scotch every now and then.

No cricket once again

I have to ask myself why cricket can be played after rain on grounds just to the south of us and yet the Illawarra association has all its games called off.

Sure it rained heavily here on Friday, but it also did so on the South Coast. That sudden burst of heat we had on Saturday dried up grounds well before any scheduled starting times, so why call all games off a day earlier?

This has been going on for too long and it’s time the Illawarra cricket heavies and the city council came to a sensible arrangement. It’s just another area where Wollongong is behind the times.

Buy up at Botanic Gardens   

The annual Wollongong Botanic Garden Christmas plant sale is on this Friday from 7.30am to 2.30pm, with plant prices starting at $4.50 and plenty of specials.

There will be lots of local indigenous, Australian natives and exotic plants available, but you must present a current rate notice when paying for your purchases.

You can take the kids as there will also be face painting and Santa. 

The botanic gardens can be found in Northfield’s Avenue, Keiraville next to the soccer fields.

What a year it has been   

Well, that’s it for another year, and what a 365 days we have had locally.

We lost our elected city council and three administrators, who continue to impress, came on board and while many people out there want to see new elections – and sooner rather than later – maybe we don’t need to rush things.

The city continues to stutter over much talked about items such as reshaping the mall and the future of Belmore Basin and Flagstaff Hill.

Then there’s been the fall off in the success of our sporting teams – the Dragons, Hawks and Wolves – with ongoing threats that the Hawks and Wolves might disappear from their premier competitions.

The St George–Illawarra Dragons have the highly successful coach Wayne Bennett as their new mentor, which should give rugby league a good kick start in 2009.

News about possible cutbacks at the steelworks and a decline generally in heavy industry is not good for the future, particularly on the jobs front.

And, of course, there’s the ongoing story of our train service being out of date and needing a boost.

To end the year we again missed out on necessary funding and infrastructure monies from the Federal Government for the Pacific Highway and other much used roadways, but then we have become used to being neglected by governments over the years, particularly Labor ones, which when you consider we keep re–electing Labor candidates Federally and to State remains another mystery.

Anyway, have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year - I’ll see you again 2009.