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Can you help Active In-Betweens?

Active In-Betweens program is an after-school healthy living and resilience program for children aged 8-12. Social inequities in childhood affects health and development and Active In-Betweens seeks to address this. It is based at five locations in the Wollongong and Shellharbour LGAs. Healthy Cities Illawarra is always looking for financial support and volunteers for this worthwhile program. If you’d like to help, phone 02 4283 8111 or email admin@healthycities.org.au

– Michelle Barry, Healthy Cities Illawarra

Bring on the Festival fun

It’s just about here again – the Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival that brings you art, entertainment, great food, market stalls, and competitions.  This much-loved event will run on the weekend of Friday evening, 2 June to Sunday, 4 June 2023.

Friday’s official opening will highlight the Art Prize Exhibition and prizes. Come to Thirroul Community Centre for the presentation night, doors open at 7pm, just $20 for refreshments.

On Saturday, 3 June, Thirroul township comes alive with art displayed in local shops, great food, and boutique shopping. On Sunday, 4 June enjoy a full day of family entertainment at Tangara Park, our magnificent seaside park near Thirroul Beach.

The festival has been made possible for over 30 years by the Austinmer/Thirroul Lions Club and volunteers. All funds raised are donated back into our community. Go to our new website thirroulfestival.com.au for more information.

See you at the festival!

– Lynn Read, Austinmer

No to new developments

Community groups have resolved to oppose development of new hospitals, schools and seniors/people with disability [developments] in Thirroul and the Northern Villages as unreasonable
disaster risks.

Lawrence Hargrave Drive’s congestion in Thirroul is notorious and expected to worsen with land releases in South-West Sydney.

Community groups in the Northern Illawarra, the Northern Illawarra Resident Action Group and the Thirroul Village Committee, have long-standing grievances on the impact of Lawrence Hargrave Drive on access for emergency services to Thirroul and Northern Villages. Emergency services have callout stations only and Lawrence Hargrave Drive is the ONLY way in and out.

Community groups have reiterated their concerns that Lawrence Hargrave Drive means there is no resilience against disasters like an escarpment bushfire.

Even if Transport for NSW invests in a new rail bridge, a bollarded emergency-only route and/or reconfigures Lawrence Hargrave Drive in Thirroul to provide more reliable traffic flow; Lawrence Hargrave Drive would still have slow travel times because Thirroul is a planning destination not an arterial route. “Seconds count”.

Community groups have challenged the State Government and Council that loopholes in planning processes appear to ignore these risks and allow development of new hospitals, schools and seniors/people with disability [developments], despite their need for evacuation of masses of vulnerable people.

Limiting high risk land use gives emergency services a fair go by reducing the need for mass evacuations in disasters.

Community groups have noted a major new seniors/people with disability development has
just been lodged for Macauleys Headland in Thirroul – a remote dead-end with convoluted difficult access.

– Neil Walker, Thirroul