Council is seeking feedback, via the Neighbourhood Forums, of its review of the community consultation process – by Friday 7 May.

It is not at all at clear how this will work if your NF does not meet before that date.  It was suggested by Council that NF members be contacted by email.

The review has an internal report and a report from an external reviewer – click on highlighted text to go to document:

1. External review by Elton Consulting:

EC_Final_Consultation_Policy_review_1_04_10

2. WCC Internal statistical data report

Report

Also  the draft report for Council and some policy document amendments:

3. Draft report to go to May Council meeting

Draft

4. Changes to WCC community leaders meeting charter

Neighbourhood

5. Changes to WCC Community Consultation policy

Community

—————————————-

If you want to make comment via your local Neighbourhood Forum,  contact details are at:

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

WCC Media release: Tuesday, 27 April 2010

Have your say on Council’s direction

Wollongong City Council Administrators tonight endorsed the draft Management Plan 2010-13 for public exhibition, giving residents until 26 May to have their say on Council’s proposed priorities, major projects and budget for the next three years.

Infrastructure is a key focus, with around $35 million proposed to be spent on repairing and replacing local roads, footpaths, drains, buildings and other assets.

This includes starting work on revitalising the Crown Street Mall.A further $34 million will be set aside for new infrastructure projects, including a Wollongong harbour heritage walk, new roads and bridges in West Dapto, upgrades to Judbooley Parade in Windang and work on the Sandon Point Surf Club.

The draft Management Plan lists other major priorities Council will pursue over the next 12 months, including continual improvements to our governance and customer service to build trust in the integrity of Council.

Creating jobs in the city centre and planning for the West Dapto release will be priorities for Council, as well as improving environmental standards in waste management and planning for climate change.

Administrator Richard Colley encouraged the community to provide feedback on the proposed priorities and projects in the draft Management Plan. “The annual exhibition of the draft Management Plan is an opportunity for Council to consult with the community about the priorities and challenges we’re facing over the next three years,” Administrator Colley said.

There are a number of ways the community can view the draft Management Plan and have their say between 29 April and 26 May 2009. Copies of the draft Management Plan are available at Council’s Administration Building, all branches of the Wollongong City Library, and at www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au.

Council is also hosting three community engagement kiosks across the city to meet with residents to explain the Plan and collect feedback.

When: Saturday, 1 May, 9am to 12 noon Where: German Club Farmers and Craft Market, Kembla Grange

When: Friday, 7 May, 11am to 2pm Where: Crown Street Mall, Friday Markets

When: Saturday, 8 May 9am to 12noon Where: Thirroul Community Centre and Library

Council staff will be attending all Neighbourhood Forums during the month of May to discuss the draft plans and to answer questions. Submissions in writing can be sent to Council via mail to Council’s Organisational Strategy and Improvement Division, Locked Bag 8821, Wollongong 2500 or via email to managementplanning@wollongong.nsw.gov.au

Council Administrators tonight also adopted revised Strategic Directions, which inform the Management Plan by setting goals to guide Council’s budget, priorities and services over the next three years.

The Strategic Directions document for 2010-13 outlines Council’s longer term vision for an attractive and liveable city, viable and sustainable assets and services, and an innovative and progressive organisation. You can find out more and download Council’s Strategic Directions at www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au

Some months ago, and prompted by a You Tube video, I posted my views on the change of the Board at VOX here.

In light of various extra bits of information I received as a result, it is clear that there was a lot more going on than I was aware of. While it is still not clear to me what did take place, I consider that there was a degree of  serious  error in what I wrote.

I apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

As a consequence I have removed the two postings from reformwcc.info.

Bruce Reyburn

27 April 2010

Wollongong council slug on ratepayers: $77

BY NICOLE HASHAM

22 Apr, 2010 Illawarra Mercury

“Wollongong ratepayers will shell out an average $77 extra next year as the city embarks on a renovation blitz of its ageing infrastructure. Wollongong City Council’s draft management plan released yesterday reveals it will splash out $70 million on capital works over the next year, much of it to redress decades of underspending on infrastructure and to spruce up the city’s assets.”

full story http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/wollongong-council-slug-on-ratepayers-77/1809514.aspx

And while reading the full story take the time to vote in the online Mercury Poll about whether or not WCC is justified in increasing the rates.

For people who consider being democratically represented at all times a basic human and civil right, we need to keep in mind there is a Federal election coming up this year.

The Australian Constitution does not recognise local government, let alone a secure right for people to be democratically represented on our local Councils at all times. Sacking a Council has to be a measure of last resort, not the sort of easy ‘fix’ which can be implemented by a state government in terminal crisis.

Local government is the most important level of government in terms of its closeness to the everyday matters where we actually live. In seeking to get the issue of local government onto a discussional agenda for the coming Federal election we can ask some well-formed questions of our present Federal representatives regarding their silence in relation to these matters over two years.

State governments represent a cluster of vested interests which have coalesced since the very first days of the British colonies. They are most reluctant  to change. NSW is a classic case.

We need to turn to the Federal Parliament, and reform of the Australian Constitution, to protect our rights to be democratically represented at the Council level at all times. The F4ederal election provides an opportunity to put these matters into the mix.

Healthy communities are as important as the health issues presently being debated at the State and Federal level.

And in arguing for Constitutional recognition, the 21st century model of local government we must promote is one which has – and protects – properly resourced Precinct Committees (or their equivalent) as part of the new form of organisation.

Don’t expect the present Federal members to act on this. It is up to people to get the movement necessary for the democratic reform of local government.

Bruce Reyburn

18 April 2010

“Future of Gong is in our own hands

BY LAUREL-LEE RODERICK

Illawarra Mercury 17 Apr, 2010

Wollongong is emerging from under a cloud of smog and industrial haze as the city embraces new industries and rebrands itself as a tourist destination.

But what sort of city do the residents who live here want to see?

What makes a successful city? And are we doing enough to turn the dream into a reality?

City leaders have identified the expansion of shipping at Port Kembla and the growth of the University of Wollongong and its Innovation Campus as key elements that will drive the city forward.” (emphasis added – BR)

full story and link to your comment: http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/future-of-gong-is-in-our-own-hands/1805227.aspx?storypage=0

Over the last two years I have been campaigning for our democratic rights (to be represented by our chosen representatives in our local Council) to be restored.

Normally, after getting the usual fob-off by a NSW ALP Government Minister (via one of their staff) I would frame a reply and send it back.

This time, however, I am not going to do this. My reason is that it really is time for a much wider movement of people to add their voice to the fundamental issue of the sanctity of our democratic rights.

It is time for something new – these professional politicians and professional bureaucrats are past masters of ignoring the lone voice. A much wider movement for community democracy is required if we are to get the message through to those who make decisions at the State government level.

SOME POINTERS FOR REPLY

1. Write directly to Premier Keanelly, not to Ross Woodward. (Once you have got to the top of the command chain, stay there.)
2. Thank her for her interest in this matter of vital importance to the people of Wollongong
3. Cite the reply from Division of Local Government, and include the reference number and a copy of the Woodward letter.
4. Raise the following counterpoints:

4.1              No Wollongong City Council Councillors have been subject to criminal charges in relation to governance matters prior to the ICAC inquiry.

4.2            At all times, the people of Wollongong have been capable of electing new Councillors to replace any individual Councillors found to be unfit for office.

4.3            There is no planning document which supports the claim that the cultural and administrative reforms resulting from the ICAC inquiry, in relation to the elected Council,  need to run to September 2012.

4.4            It is deeply insulting to the people of Wollongong for our democratic rights to be evaluated by her Government in financial terms at any time and in any circumstance. This is a matter of our human and civil rights.

4.5            It is completely wrong of Ross Woodward to invoke financial costs to the public when we – as taxpayers and ratepayers – have already been denied a scheduled Council election in 2008. They owe us one.

4.6            Ross Woodward provides no statutory references or legal authorities to support his interpretation of the Local Government Act (that is, he says it is not legal possible to have  both Administrators and an elected Councillors for an interim period to bed down any reforms).

4.7            The Premier should seek an opinion on this matter of statutory interpretation from the Attorney General.

4.8            If the Attorney General upholds the Woodward interpretation then she needs to consider other ways in which the people of Wollongong can have an elected Council to represent us and the State government to oversee the reforms (either by amending the Local Government Act or perhaps dismissing the Administrators and replacing them by monitoring WCC by the Department of Local Government).

4.9            There may be some other key points to add.

5. The Premier should act immediately to restore the democratic rights of the people of Wollongong by arranging for a Council election by September 2010.

6. Request to be informed of what action the Premier will take in relation to the matters raised, especially 4.9

Having already said, on Australia Day, that it is unAustralian to deny the people of Wollongong our democratic rights, with ANZAC Day coming, I would add that people from the Illawarra have sacrificed their lives for a democratic society in which all citizens and residents are treated equally. Date and send letter on April 25.

NSW ALP – unAustralian and now contra the spirit of ANZAC – State elections in 2011? Where is the Opposition?

Oh yes, copies of letter to Opposition Shadows and the NSW Greens.

Cheers

Bruce R

15 April 2010

NEW SERVER

As i had to change the web server for reformwcc.info i shifted over to WordPress.com.

The old style (Chess orange) was not available, so i moved to one which is similar, but not quite the same. The information should all be the same, just the look and colour is different. Please let me know if something which formerly worked no longer does.

I also had to set up a new email system, but managed to keep my old email address brucer[at]reformwcc.info which saves a lot of hassles.

MY GAME PLAN FOR 2010

My game plan for 2010 is to ease back on my involvement in local (Wollongong) City Council reform matters, so i have tried to keep the material on reformwcc.info as a sort of record of the last two years.

Reformwcc.info was set up in early 2008 when we had an elected Council and we expected to have a Council election in September. Of course, as is well known, the State government (acting on advice from ICAC) unilaterally abolished our elected Council and appointed administrators until September 2012.

My initial aim was to help get the issue of proper  WCC Precinct Committees on the community’s discussional agenda for the September 2008 council elections.

I also tried to encourage the State government to have a transition period between 2010 and 2012 where we have both Administrators and an elected Council. The NSW ALP, presently in chronic crisis,  lacks any capability for creative solutions to life’s problems.

SOMETHING NEW

My feeling now is that it is time for something completely new.

The community empowerment movement which is forming around John Hatton is one promising line of change. When i get better details of what they are doing, i will post them here.

And the monthly Neighbourhood Forums continue to provide the best means of local community participation in local government matters.

cheers

Bruce

Tuesday 13  April 2010