Reform Wollongong City Council

Here is an interesting one in light of the role former WCC GM Rod Oxley played in having our Council serve the needs of local business – and in light of the many millions of ratepayers moneys which have underwritten business in Wollongong over the years.

For a recent example, the many millions of our rates which have gone into the white elephant Gateway at Bulli Tops in the name of encouraging tourism.

The Illawarra Business Chamber is making another push to get WCC to commit funding for Economic Development Officers who would work to promote business opportunities in Wollongong. Reminds me of the former times when Rod Oxley had council officers out and about promoting development.

The IBC have released a paper “Economic Development in Wollongong – a way forward”

It states:

The IBC is also calling on Wollongong City Council to re-engage in economic development policy for the local government area (LGA).

They note:

“Unlike most Council’s in NSW, there is no longer a dedicated economic development office within Wollongong City Council (WCC). This Council function ceased when Administrators were appointed to the LGA. The Administrators have argued that WCC‟s contribution to this policy area is through planning instruments, rather than business attraction strategies.”

There does not appear to be any hard data from the Illawarra Business Chamber on actual costs vis-a-vis returns to ratepayers for funding this enterprise. There may be an argument that businesses contribute rates to the city, and some of this amount could be used to fund such an office in Council.

SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BUSINESS AWAY FROM CBD

The IBC also say:

“The Council recently appointed a City Centre Place Manager to revitalise the inner city area. The Place Manager‟s role will involve overseeing and prioritising key capital works in the city centre such as the refurbishment of the mall, Town Hall, Civic Plaza and Blue Mile. They will also be responsible for setting future direction, seeking out funding opportunities and engaging with different stakeholders to support and attract investment in the city. There is also an Advisory Committee attached to this position, which allows business and community input into the revitalisation process.

This role, while welcome, is clearly CBD focused and does not address business-attraction for areas outside the CBD.”

With some real costings and financial analysis to assist people to make sense out of a complex economic reality, this is the sort of policy area which could be discussed at Neighbourhood Forums. Who knows, the IBC may be right?

See the key recommendations and download the short paper at http://www.illawarrabusiness.com/resources/1069