WCC media release: Tuesday 28 February 2023

Council has a range of plans and strategies that guide our work.

But did you know we regularly check in and report on how we’re tracking against the goals and targets within our diverse strategies and the big ticket documents – the Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Program and Operational Plan?

Last night, the Quarterly Review Statement December 2022 was adopted by Council.

This document provided an overview of our achievements in October, November and December last year, against some key priority areas, and outlines where we stand in our operational and financial performance.

While the document is available online for everyone to see here are a few key outcomes for the quarter:

Overall

• Completion of the extensive refurbishment of outdoor netball courts at Fred Finch Park (stage one) and opened for community use
• Delivery of New Year’s Eve community event and fireworks
• Council’s Aboriginal Engagement Framework was recognised by winning an International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Australasian Core Values Award
• The free Luminous Culture Fest was held in October 2022, showing local artists and creatives
• Animating Wollongong – Public Art Strategy 2022-2032 was adopted by Council in November 2022

Localised suburbs and places

• Children and young people helped create Tiny Forests in Dapto, Tarrawanna and Wollongong Botanic Garden.
• Children from Cringila Public School participated in building a Gunyah or traditional Aboriginal hut at Cringila Hills playground.
• As part of the Artward artist in residence program a mosaic was installed at Windang Senior Citizens Centre.

Sustainable Wollongong

• Council signed a power purchase agreement in November 2022 with the city’s streetlights and 17 largest facilities are operating on 100% renewable energy.
• Community engagement was carried out to inform the development of the draft Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2023-2027.
• The Seaside Scavenge Event was held in partnership with Shellharbour City Council at key locations around Lake Illawarra with some 4,162 pieces of litter collected.

Active Transport and Connectivity

• Cycling and pedestrian counts were collated at key locations to inform usage and future priorities.
• Council continued to work with Transport for NSW to participate in the NSW E-scooter Shared Scheme Trial.
• The Safer Routes to School program and education program with schools to promote walk to school was held at priority schools.

Business and Investment

• The buy local campaign, We Shop the Gong, was relaunched to encourage community to support local businesses and the local economy.
• Council’s business newsletter was released bi-monthly to share information and opportunities with local businesses.
• The Invest Wollongong end-of-year event was jointly hosted by Council and Mercer. Event featured a wrap up of Invest Wollongong’s 2022 initiatives and a Q&A panel.

West Dapto

• The proposed new suburb of Stream Hill was endorsed by the Geographical Names Board.
• The draft West Dapto Social Infrastructure Needs Assessment was endorsed for public exhibition by Council.