“The next ROC Meeting will be held next Tuesday
21 April at 6.00pm
at Old Court House Wollongong .

Agenda

1. Wollongong Harbour announcement
2. Wollongong Harbour Committee Recommendations
3. Wollongong LEP

Arthur Rorris
Secretary”

“Nuclear waste opponents want Wollongong support
BY BRETT COX Illawarra Mercury 14/04/2009

Opponents of the idea to use the Northern Territory for nuclear waste dumping will seek support for their campaign in Wollongong.

Following the high-profile transfer of spent nuclear fuel to Port Kembla last month, the organisers of a public forum at the Illawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre are hoping they might find sympathy for their cause in the Illawarra.

The public forum will be held on April 22 at 6pm and coincides with the World Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference, a major industry event being held in Sydney.

Traditional land owners from the Muckaty land trust in the Northern Territory will speak at the forum.

full story
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/nuclear-waste-opponents-want-wollongong-support/1485119.aspx

—————————————————-

April 22 public meeting
6pm Illawarra Aboriginal Land Council, 22 Kenny Street, Wollongong
Photo exhibition: We are not no-one, this is not nowhere
Film: Nowhere, here in the middle

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
Dootch Kennedy-Illawarra Aborginal Land Council Secretary
Dianne Stokes and Mark Lane (NT) -Muckaty Traditional Owners fighting the radioactive waste dump proposed on their country
Arthur Rorris -South Coast Trades and Labour Council Secretary

Supported by the Sydney Uni Environment Collective and UTS Environment collective.

Contact: Natalie Wasley 0429 900 774, Holly Creenaune 0417 682 541, Liv Nigro 0401 955 405

www.beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com

Mr David Farmer
General Manager
Wollongong City Council
Locked Bag 8821
Wollongong 2500

For attention: Land Use Planning Team. – File no. SU23594.

Dear Sir,

WOLLONGONG CITY COUNCIL LOCAL ENVIRONMENT PLAN 2009

This is a brief submission on the Wollongong City Council Local Environment Plan. While brief it is based on almost two decades of experience in local matters in relation to Wollongong City Council.

Many of the matters touched on require far greater expertise than I possess in regard to how they interface with the details of the WCC LEP 2009. Accordingly, I recommend that Council seek competent expert advice in relation to some of those matters.

1. RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND WCC LEP 2009

On Friday 3 April 2009 the Australian Government officially endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN DRIP) – copy attached. This sets new international standards for all forms of Australian government to comply with.

Read the rest of this entry »

From Department of Lands website

“The Wollongong Harbour consultative committee’s report on plans to revitalise the harbour is now available to the public.

The committee has delivered its report on the revitalisation of the harbour area to the Minister for Lands, Tony Kelly, who is considering its recommendations.

The committee’s report can be downloaded Wollongong Harbour Consultative Committee – report to Minister Kelly (PDF 4.76 mb)

The report provides advice on how issues such as building heights, development footprints and land uses should be addressed in the next stage of the revitalisation/redevelopment of the harbour.

There will be further opportunities for public consultation throughout the harbour revitalisation process.

Successful proponents will be required to consult with the community in preparing to submit development applications.

In addition, the normal statutory consultation requirements will apply to the planning and assessment process for any developments.

Community survey

Lands is conducting a survey on the consultative committee report and members of the community can contribute their views.

The survey responses will be used in conjunction with the committee report to help frame a call for development proposals in coming months.

The survey can be completed online and will be available on the Lands web site until Sunday, 26 April 2009. “

for more see
http://www.lands.nsw.gov.au/crown_land/commercial_opportunities/wollongong_harbour_and_foreshore

On Friday 3 April 2009 the Australian government, on behalf of Australia’s people, endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

And top marks to the Rudd government for doing what the Howard government found to be inconsistent with their 1950s vision for Australia!

The question now is -

“How does the Australian government’s recognition of Australia’s First Peoples rights affect local government in Wollongong and the Illawarra?”

We need to hear Koori voices answering that one. What are their needs and how can these needs best be met?

And should WCC Neighbourhood Forums (like Council meetings) begin with an acknowledgement of country?

Meanwhile see:
http://www.jennymacklin.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/jennymacklin.nsf/content/un_declaration_03apr09.htm

and, for all you need to know about the UN DRIP:

http://www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/declaration/declaration_QA_2009.html

Wollongong City Council – Neighbourhood Forum 5

Media Release

Neighbourhood Forum 5 met for the second time last night since its formation by Wollongong City Council. The meeting elected the following office bearers:
Felix Bronneberg was elected Chair.
Les Gapps was elected Co-Chair.
David Winterbottom was elected Secretary.

At the meeting the Chair, Felix Bronneberg, expressed a view that:

“it is totally unacceptable that an unelected Council attempts to push through a new LEP that significantly increases height and density limits in a broad brush manner for the entire Council area. There is a need for the LEP proposal be postponed until an elected Council is restored to oversee this process”

Neighbourhood Forum 5 has called on the Wollongong City Council Administrators to:

1. Withdraw the draft Local Environmental Plan and resubmit it once there is an elected Council.
2. To prepare and publicise a direct comparison, in lay terms, of the provisions of the existing and proposed Local Environmental Plans.
3. Hold a Public Hearing, chaired by an independent person preferably with qualifications in town planning and law into the provisions of the exhibited Local Environmental Plan.
4. Extended by at least six months the exhibition period for the Plan to enable the Community Forums to work with Council, and other Community Groups, to improve the draft Local Environmental Plan.

Neighbourhood Forum 5 has forwarded a detail submission to the General Manager, David Farmer, outlining the Forum’s concerns.

Felix Bronneberg
Chair – Neighbourhood Forum 5

See:

http://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/contactus/neighbourhoodforums.asp