NIRAG Quarterly Meeting Minutes, 7pm, Wednesday 12 Feb 2025
Bulli Community Centre (upstairs meeting room)
Present – Cr Jess Whittaker, Ross Dearden, Annette Jones, Susannah Cavill, Tony Horneman, Neil Walker, Kirk Bendall, Stephen Young, John Zaremba, Philip Clifford, Bruce White, Margaret Hutchison, Col McGuiness, Neil Hinds, and Bruce Storey.
Apologies – John Croker, Cr Richard Martin, Maryanne Stuart (Member for Heathcote), Jo Page (Dir Infrastructure and Works), Ian McKinlay, Jill Walker, Cr Andrew Anthony, Dave Beswick, John Corker, Kerrie Anne Christian, Michael Crighton, Will Tibben, Murray Jones and Edie Swift.
Minutes of last meeting: 13 November 2024: Moved Neil Walker, Seconded Susannah Cavill
Tony Horneman chaired the meeting which began with an Acknowledgement of Country and a Motion of Condolence:
“That the meeting acknowledges the passing of the Secretary’s beloved wife Margaret, and that the committee and members of NIRAG pass on their sincere sympathy.
Moved: Neil, Seconded: Susannah. Passed unanimously.”
Business arising:
1. Community Strategic Plan: At the November meeting Fiona Rudd, Corporate Research Coordinator, WCC gave a CSP (Community Strategic Plan) review presentation with handouts of the engagement process. The opportunity to contribute closed on Monday 18th November and NIRAG reviewed the Strategic Community Plan and sent in a submission to Council.
We also enquired about the status of the Integrated Transport Strategy that Council was conducting. Cr. Whittaker followed up and later confirmed later that this ITS is yet to be concluded.
2. Section 134 (5) of the NSW EP&A Regulation requirement for Private Certifiers to notify neighbours prior to issuing Complying Development Certificates. Private Certifiers in Wollongong LGA are currently not required to give notice to neighbours. Maryanne Stuart advised (1/5/24) that Paul Scully, Planning Minister is aware of this and considers it needs to change to be aligned with notification requirements for ‘Greater Sydney’.
Progress report was requested in August and a response is awaited.
3. Old Bulli Hospital Community Group (DA 2022/1364). Parking is still a huge problem. Maryanne Stuart arranged for 17 car spaces to be provided on land at the SE corner of the Memorial Dr roundabout. A letter from Minster Scully date 4 February advised NIRAG that 58 extra car spaces would be available along a widened access road on the site. Latest information is there will be 50 to 75 new homes – not exactly sure of the number.
The ground works have stalled as there is more remediation needed than originally anticipated, with the cost now rising by an extra $3 million. Not sure where it is at as there is no communication from Landcom. Suggested that the neighbours contact the EPA and SafeWork NSW to see if they can shed any light on the situation.
The concept plan looks good, however, the neighbours have heard that the plan may change with the blocks maybe sold off individually (requiring separate Das. Clarification is needed.
- Lot 303 (formerly the Ray Hannah land) approx. 7 ha east of Panmills Drive with access from Amy St Thirroul.
Ross advocated for support to ensure the land becomes public open space as an integral part of the Sandon Point natural environment. The majority of Lot 303 is C2 and flood prone, not able to be built on, but it is important habitat and culturally significant. More importantly this land would link the coast via the revegetated creek lines of Hewitts, Woodlands and Tramway creeks to the escarpment. It is proposed that this be considered as “wild” recreation open space similar to Puckeys Estate with potential for future tourism.
There was general agreement that acquisition was highly desirable and that a valuation should be the first step. Maryanne Stuart has been asked for State Government assistance. Councillors are also requested to make enquires for further discussion and innovative options for ongoing public access and community use. Stakeholders could include WCC, the developer, State Govt, Aboriginal Land Council, Destination NSW.
NIRAG will continue to push the ecological importance of this site. NIRAG has written to Council and Maryanne Stuart, with Maryanne sending a letter to the relevant Minister for their information and, hopefully intervention. Council has stated that it does not want the responsibility for the site.
ACTION: NIRAG to continue advocation for the land to become public space.
- Private Certifiers: A letter was drafted to Minster Scully repeating our request for Private Certifiers to be required to notify neighbouring properties in the Illawarra do not need to be informed about impending development next to them. This was endorsed by the meeting.
- Point St Footpath: At the August meeting a member requested that Council advise the status of the design progress and options under consideration for the Point Street footpath from O’Brien St to Southview St (north side) eg utility investigations, staging options and community input. As a minimum preliminary design options are requested so that Point St DA’s could have suitable accesses to facilitate the future path. (At the August meeting Cr Martin suggested that the request should be deferred until the November meeting, after the elections and when the Councillors have considered competing project priorities) so the request is resubmitted again.
- Cycleway Reconstruction from Bulli to Thirroul: Also status of redesign and program for the reconstruction of the Aragan Ct to Hamilton St widened shared path. Similar to the item above a status review is requested.
- LHD/Arthur St Thirroul: As recorded in the August minutes a follow up from Maryanne Stuart, MP is requested regarding concerns for traffic queuing at LHD/Arthur St Thirroul, recommending Council support a request for signs and linemarking to enable Fire and Rescue access across LHD. A roundabout at this intersection would improve the situation. A roundabout is shown on DCP 2009 (Chapter D12) and this has also been requested by NC3 in the past. ACTION: ACTION: Secretary to request Council Traffic Committee support.
- ATO letter 26 July Self Review for Not for Profit, NFP return Reference: 8012287732728. Response required by 31 March 2025. Advice is requested from John Corker, Stephen Young and Michael Crighton.
General Business
1. Telstra Building (Thirroul)
Graffiti continues to be painted on the building, Tony H submitted numerous complaints to Telstra to clean up the eye-sore. The site is private property and Telstra operate under Federal regulations. Therefore, the matter was escalated to the Federal Member of Cunningham, Alison Byrnes. Telstra responded with a concept of a mural to prevent further tagging of the wall. Progress has been made with Telstra consulting the neighbours and engaging a street artist.
2. Clean Up Australia – Monday March 3
Members agreed that NIRAG should be involved in this again. Ross to arrange a notice to members to participate on Monday (3rdMarch) at 9.30am. Meeting at Hewitts Ck at the Cycleway bridge.
3. Wollongong Development Control Plan
Review of Wollongong Development Control Plan 2009 Chapter A2: Ecologically Sustainable Development
Stephen has written a draft submission urging Council to phase out gas by proposing that all new builds should not have a gas connection. ACTION: Ross to submit a submission using this information.
4. Changes to traffic movement in Bulli Township
TfNSW has sent out the proposed traffic changes to Bulli Township. This includes the extension of clearways to both sides of the highway in the morning and afternoon as well as on southbound on Saturdays (11 am to 1pm). Other changes include implementing a dedicated right turn arrow at the Park Road intersection; modifying access to Station Street to make it left-in and left-out only no right hand turn to Railway Street when heading north, amongst other changes.
Concern was raised that the extension of clearways could adversely affect local businesses and that it might be best to delay implementation of the Saturday Clearway until the impacts of the other changes were known. In addition, concern was raised that Movement and Place has been overlooked by TfNSW when reviewing traffic solutions in Bulli and Thirroul.
ACTION: NIRAG to write to Maryanne Stuart and TfNSW about these concerns.
5. Woonona cycleway
Concerns that an accident is waiting to happen near Woonona SLSC. Suggested that humps are needed to slow traffic down so cyclists are not hit. It was mentioned that all intersections of the cycleway and traffic along the cycleway length need to be reviewed and made safe. Informed this was slated to happen earlier.
There is a Council budget workshop last Saturday where matters such as this can hopefully be raised.
Treasurer’s Report: ICU account 249065342 (General A/c)
Current Balance $255.71 (unchanged)
Notices:
1. Neighbourhood Forum 3 needs a Convenor; Since 2020 NIRAG has acted as the interim WCC community contact. Please contact the WCC Engagement Team on 4227 7060.
2. Thirroul Village Committee (TVC) meetings are held at the Railway Institute Hall in Thirroul. The next TVC meeting is 4pm on Sunday 23rd February 2025.
3. Our next NIRAG/NF3 quarterly meeting, will be Wednesday 14th May, 2025, at 7pm, Bulli Community Centre.
Meeting concluded at 8.25 pm
