Journalist Brian Kelly meets Mithra Cox, a Greens councillor for Ward 1, which covers the northern part of our city
It’s only fitting that Mithra Cox arranges to meet at a beachside cafe. All things cycling prevail, from the quartet of over 65s who defy the cold and sit outside to keep an eye on their steeds to the blind group being tandemed, it’s bike paradise.
Cox feels the cogs of change are definitely turning in terms of accepting the pollution-free, foot-driven wheel, even though some councillors remain somewhat hostile.
“My first motion to council was to make Wollongong a bike-friendly city and they laughed, like ‘Don’t be ridiculous’, but the tide is definitely turning and we’ve come a long way,” said Cox, a councillor since 2017 who rides to meetings when she can.
“But it’s a drop in the ocean. Things like (bike lanes in) Smith St are great – but they need to connect to places.”
Cox was raised in a politically engaged household in the verdant splendour of Kangaroo Valley, but it wasn’t until the Tampa incident in 2001 that she joined the Greens.
“It was one of those things – so morally wrong that it shocks you out of complacency – you feel you can’t just sit by and let that happen,” says Cox, who was beginning creative arts at Wollongong University around that time.
A short dabble with studying journalism ended when, entering The Lodge to attend a barbecue hosted by John Howard, she realised it was not her path. The bus she was on had to make its way through a sea of protesters: “I knew then I wanted to do something where I could have an opinion.”
A trip to Germany in 2009 opened Cox’s eyes to that country’s vibrant spectrum of left-wing politics and ‘healthy political disagreement’ and inspired her further – even to learn the language.
One of her more diversely subversive acts has been to play banjo in a band that sings about climate change. The Lurkers have been described as “subversive homespun bluegrass” and “proudly anti-authoritarian”.
Support for the long-mooted thought bubble of a Bulli bypass – a rerouting of Bulli Pass to connect with Memorial Drive – does not win Cox’s support.
“I know that it’s popular and people want it, but I think what would be far better is looking at the transport system as a whole, and the bit we’re lacking is public transport,” she said.
“To shift 40 per cent of cars into public transport mode would have the same impact as widening the road or getting rid of traffic lights in that you can reduce traffic, and it’s much more sustainable.
“In Wollongong, we have 95 per cent car dependency … then you look at bike-friendly cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam … people say ‘Oh, that’s culturally different’, but it’s infrastructure, and things are prioritised differently – it’s a matter of policy.”
Q&A with Mithra Cox
Which accomplishment as a councillor has brought you the most satisfaction?
What we have been able to achieve in terms of tackling climate change has been amazing, and has surprised even myself. From the start of the term where there were still councillors who were self-proclaimed climate sceptics, to having the council declare a climate emergency, set targets to get to net zero for Council’s operations by 2030, and for the entire city by 2050 (though we need to update this now!), and then seeing the real world actions that flow from this: going to tender for a company to pasture the greenhouse gas at the tip, rolling out FOGO, planting 5000 trees in parks and on streets, signing up for 100% renewable energy, changing streetlights to LED, buying council’s first fully electric fleet car… It’s amazing how far we have come in a short time.
Which council ambition/project was your 'one that got away'?
Council declared itself “Bike Friendly City” in the lead up to the world cycling championships this year. But it’s a bike city on paper only – facilities for bike riding in Wollongong are still really terrible. If I don’t feel safe letting my kids ride to school, we haven’t achieved it – and I think it’s a bit glib to give ourselves a label when we really are a very bike-unfriendly city in the way our streets are designed.
How often do you attend neighbourhood forums?
I have young kids and I find these weeknight meetings really difficult – and for the same reason I find they never have any other people my age there either. I always make an effort to attend meetings in the daytime with residents, and will meet with anyone no matter how much we might disagree on things – but I can’t do that at kids' bedtime as a general rule.
Where should council's priorities lie over the next five years?
We have made great progress on building new footpaths, and you can see the difference that makes for people. Now we need a really strong focus on putting in the pedestrian crossings to support them because crossing the road in Wollongong is much harder than it should be.
What were the best and worst things about your lockdown experience?
The worst thing hands down was home schooling while working. Best thing: so much less car traffic made it so much safer for kids to ride their bikes and walk to the beach or visit friends. I want that kind of neighbourhood all the time!
What's your favourite Illawarra beach?
Corrimal East – it’s got good surf, shade, toilets and food nearby – and it’s my local!