The South Coast
Jay Fletcher, Wollongong
In Wollongong and its surrounds, development is a major issue. The building industry is booming, yet community organisations are frustrated by the lack of control that people have over their environment.
The South Coast Labour Council organised a public forum on April 21 for developers and community campaigners to come together and discuss these issues. Five key areas were addressed: the North Wollongong Pavilion, the Illawarra escarpment, Sandon Point, Neighbourhood Committee 6 and East Crown Street.
The North Wollongong Pavilion is a landmark situated on the beach and was established in 1938. Change rooms and a kiosk were later added, then a continental pool. Despite it being recognised as part of Wollongong's history and culture, it has faced years of neglect. The council claims that it can't restore the building and so its fate has been left up to private input. Community activist Ganelle Thomson argued that public areas should not be compromised by private competitors, and claimed that the council has not adequately consulted the community.
The development proposal for the area includes three cafes and restaurants, a function centre and enough seating for around 500 people at any time. The existing cafe seats around 70 people, and already there are problems with rubbish disposal in the area. These would be greatly exacerbated by the expansion. The Illawarra Chamber of Commerce claims that there is "too much emotion" in regards to the pavilion and its conservation.
As in the case of the pavilion, the development of the Illawarra escarpment area is promoted under the pretext of job creation. June Pronk, a long-term campaigner for the conservation of the Illawarra escarpment, rejected this claim.
Pronk said the Illawarra Escarpment Coalition is pushing for long-term environmental stability, sustainable employment and job creation as well as the preservation of the escarpment and its heritage. The escarpment is a heritage site and Wollongong needs planning, management and protection for its unique natural environment, she said.
Thomson argued that Wollongong is "not protected by development but is in fact under attack by it — the plans of developers are unsustainable." She said, "Developers reap profits" and the community faces the costs.
The draft of the Illawarra Escarpment Management Plan has been around for more than seven years and all the issues have been addressed and resolved. But its implementation has been delayed by developers, under the guise of "community consultation".
The Sandon Point picket is heading into its fifth year. Laws, such as flora and fauna guidelines, are being ignored by the multinational corporation Stocklands in its push to develop the area into prime real estate. Sandon Point contains important species and habitat diversity, which are protected by current legislation.
There is extensive evidence of ancient Aboriginal artefacts, indicating that the site is a sacred place. Yet this is being jeopardised by Stocklands' ongoing disregard of preservation laws.
According to Len Fares from Wollongong's Neighbourhood Committee 6, development agreements are pushing neighbourhood committees aside in the rush to take advantage of rising demand for land and private ownership. "There is no development control plan", he said, adding that amendments to agreements "are going through during the Christmas holidays, when no-one is going to be checking them". Fares said that there is not a level playing field between council and the community, because "information brings power" and the community is lacking the opportunity to be informed.
Jo Abrantes from the Save East Crown Street campaign and owner of Perey's Bookshop, which has been forced out of the street to make way for the high-rise development proposed for the site, called for people to "unite and fight" against the worrying bias and rapid movement of council and developers.