This looks good!

The Spirit of the Lagoon festival

Coomaditchie Lagoon

Saturday 24 from 2 pm

see poster and slow-to-load but worth the wait short video promo at

http://www.lakeillawarramap.info/Southside_Festival:_Spirit_of_the_Lagoon_08_Promo/Coomaditchie_2008.html

We should seek to dedicate and pool  the small amount of funds which were paid to Councillors to pay for either part-time positions or a contract for services in each Ward – to fund a Council-community liaison officer whose duties would be to assist and enable the work of the Local Area Meetings in dealing with the extra workload which results from the loss of the services of our hard working elected Councillors over the 2008-2012 period.

These Liaison Officers should be actually located in each Ward, not in the Council building in Burelli Street – and serve as a contact point for Council in our Wards.

Council, working in close consultation and partnership with the LAMs in each Ward , should draft a duty statement for these positions, advertise them, and with representatives from the LAMs, select suitable candidates for these Ward based positions (or successful tenderers for the provision of services).

Council would need to provide support services for the Ward Council-community liaison officers by way of office accommodation, internet services etc.

OR

Contracts should be drawn up for the provision of these services.

WCC advises:

“Thank you for your email dated 8 May 2008.   You may   be aware that Council resolved on 23 April to review its current Engagement Framework, Policy and Options and implement a number of interim engagement options whilst the review is taking place…. please note that we are currently convening two community forums that you would be welcome to attend, with the details as follows:

Dapto Ribbonwood Centre
Tuesday 13 May 2008
5.00 to 7.00pm

Corrimal District Library and Community Centre
Tuesday 20 May 2008
5.00 to 7.00pm

These sessions will provide information on the review and seek feedback from the community.  This will include a workshop style session with the opportunity to complete a survey.  All interactive sessions will be the same in format.  Anyone can attend these meetings.”

All community are invited to attend the community forums and I encourage you to distribute this invitation to your networks.

Joanne Gould
Communications and Strategy
Wollongong City Council
4227 7059″

Discussion paper from WCC (some original formating altered by blog software.)

“Wollongong City Council is constantly working to improve the way we engage and communicate with our community.

In the past, Council has used a number of communication methods (as outlined in Council’s Community Engagement Framework, Policy and Options) including: kiosks, community planning sessions, mail outs, newspaper advertising, Ward Councillor Forms and Local Area Meetings.

Recent changes in Council, in particular the appointment of three Administrators to undertake the role previously performed by the Lord Mayor and elected Councillors, as well as a shift from Neighbourhood Committees to Local Area Meetings, mean that some of the ways in which the community previously communicated with Council have changed.

In April, Council resolved to review its Community Engagement Framework, Policy and Options.

As part of the review process we want to hear from you about

- how you want to receive information from Council

- how and when you want to be able to provide feedback to Council

- how you would like to communicate with Council’s Administrators?

We also want your feedback on

- how we should define community engagement

- what our principles and standards should be

- what you think the purpose of community engagement is.

How can you be involved?

Read the rest of this entry »

WCC advises “The preparation of the Management Plan 2008-12 and the review of the Engagement Framework, Policy and Options report will be undertaken within a very similar timeframe.

Submissions on the Management Plan will close on the 23 May, likewise submissions on the Engagement Review will close on the 30 May 2008. Both will be reported back to Council at the June 2008 meeting.

Whilst the Engagement report will include the proposed Framework, Policy and Options and will recommend an exhibition period, it is anticipated that the broad content of the Management Plan will align with the Engagement Review. The draft Management Plan includes the strategy relating to engagement . .

Strategy (1.1.5.1) – Review Council’s Community Engagement Framework and consultation options.

Any comments on the draft Plan of Management will need to be forwarded to Corporate Planning and Business Improvement.”

Hands off our Harbour, Picnic in The Park

11am, Sunday 18th May – Belmore Basin, Wollongong

If you care about our beautiful harbour, send a strong message to the Government that it is not for sale.

* Our harbour is a playground for our kids – Not just a mooring for the yachts of the rich and famous

* Flagstaff Hill needs our protection – Not another ‘tourist attraction’

* We don’t need another cosy land deal with developers – Our harbour belongs to the community, lets keep it that way!

Authorised: Reclaim Our City Campaign Committee C/- Lowden Square Wollongong.

For more information please ring 4229 2888