Community Newsletter, July 2012 - Wollongong City Council

We have planted, in collaboration with bush care groupsover the past year, about 3,650 native trees and shrubs inthree areas as part of the Caring for Our Coast program.Chris Edmond (front) from the Blue Diver Bush CareGroup with Council’s Natural Area’s Paul Formosa atTowradgi Creek.Council has been collaborating withgroups at:• Towradgi Creek estuary and dunes• Puckeys Estate North Wollongong• Wollamai Point Lake Heights.Working with selfless volunteers– Bush Care volunteers have put inmore than 4,000 hours – we have madegreat progress in removing weedsand planting these coastal areas withthousands of native trees and shrubsand restoring some of the ecologicalcommunities. At Towradgi Creek, thevolunteer bush care group has beenoperating for 18 years now. (If you arein the area, it’s well worth a walk alongside the creek. Take the southern sideand walk along the creek. You mighteven spot an Azure Kingfisher or a Greenand Golden Bell Frog.)These sites also contain ecologicalcommunities such as Swamp OakFloodplain Forest. They are also habitatfor native fauna such as the BarkingOwl, wading birds, Blue Wrens, and theGrey Headed Flying Fox.Council thanks the Southern RiversCatchment Management Authority for$71,180 in grant funds. We contributed$51,000. If you want to get involved ina bush care group, contact Council’sCustomer Service centre.IN THE CROWN STREET MALLAs part of the City Centre revitalisation,we will be installing Wi-Fi in the citycentre later this year.Council has completed communityconsultation on the Wi-Fi servicein Crown Street between GladstoneAvenue and Corrimal Street, the CivicPlaza and Globe Lane.Wi-Fi will allow users to accesstheir work, as well as social andpersonal information onlineand will be a natural way tocommunicate and conductbusiness in the City Centre.NORTH BEACHBATHERS PAVILIONWork on the next stage of the BlueMile project including the North BeachBathers Pavilion is continuing.When completed this precinct will bea delightful addition to a beautiful part ofthe city. And with a café in the Bathers, itwill be tasteful attraction for citizens andvisitors. Council expects the project toopen in September.COUNCIL ADOPTS COMMUNITYSTRATEGIC PLANAfter many months of publicworkshops, talks and kiosks, we haveadopted the community’s 10-yearvision for the city.The Wollongong 2022 CommunityStrategic Plan sets out a road map forthe city’s development and sets goalsand strategies to transform the city intoan educated, creative and connectedplace.Lord Mayor Councillor GordonBradbery said the plan was thecommunity’s vision.“We have worked very hard todevelop a blueprint for the city that willsee Wollongong become a vibrant andhappening place to live, work and play.“This plan is a reflection of thecommunity’s passion for this cityand its growth into the future. Wewant to become abustling, creativeand innovativeplace that drawsfrom our region’sstrengths ineducation,informationtechnology, andmanufacturing.Our community isincredibly diverse and we should beproud of the unique talents we have.”More than 1,300 people have beeninvolved in the consultation since theplans were placed on exhibition inApril. More than 800 people provideddirect feedback which has now beenincluded in the plan. A copy of the plancan be found on Council’s website.WARRAWONG TOWN CENTRE STUDYOver the past few months we’ve beenworking closely with the Warrawongcommunity to develop a vision for avibrant Town Centre.You may have seen us out and aboutin the suburb meeting with communitymembers. We’ve also spent time atlocal community centres and schools.The information collected will beused to develop a Master Plan forWarrawong Town Centre which willguide Council’s work in the area. Formore information, contact Council’sCustomer Service Centre.

KOONAWARRA BAY SHELTERNext time you’re in Koonawarra, makesure you check out Lakeside Park.This hidden gem is one of the bestmaintained parks in our area thanks tothe dedication of Neale Hurry – betterknown as ‘Chilli”. Chilli’s been lookingafter Lakeside Park for the past 15years, and has a great relationship withthe local community.He’s also been instrumental in anumber of improvements to the parkto counteract anti-social behaviour andsafety issues. Most recently he workedwith the infrastructure team on a newpicnic shelter completed in April.The new hidden gem at Koonawarra.Lord Mayor Councillor GordonBradbery encouraged all communitymembers to visit the park and makeuse of the upgraded facility.“Koonawarra is a beautiful part ofour coastline and this picnic shelteris ideal for a weekend barbeque orfamily picnic.”HELENSBURGHLIBRARYUPGRADEWe’ve upgraded Helensburgh libraryinstalling new shelving at thisessential community facility.This refurbishment will add tothe repainting, new carpet andinstallation of Wi-Fi computer accessthe Council has completed over thelast few years.Check out Council’s website forthe library’s opening hours. Or visitthe library website to download aneAudiobook, free music or an eBook.WHAT’S ONWOLLONGONGJULY TO SEPTEMBER 2012Council and its affiliates have manyevents, exhibitions and programsfor you and your family to enjoy.Brittany Anne-Lee Rayner,Fractured Family, 2011, photomediaWollongong City LibrariesFamily history weekWollongong City Library will celebrate FamilyHistory Week with afternoon tea and a series ofworkshops helping you understand your familyhistory.Entry with a gold coin donation.Level 9 Function Room, Council Admin Building,41 Burelli Street WollongongThursday 2 August,1.30pm for 2pmHSC EnglishWollongong Library will again host its successfultalk on Belonging, the key theme for the HSCEnglish exam. Check the website for information.Book WeekThere’s plenty on as part of Book Week, which istaking place from 18-24 August.Children’s author talk Join us for a visit by wellknown children’s author Stephen Herrick atWarrawong Library. Friday 17 August - 10amBill Condon at Thirroul The 2012 short-listedauthor, Bill Condon, will be speaking at ThirroulLibrary. Check website for date and time.Bill and Ben and the Talking Tree Suited to childrenin preschool, kindergarten and years 1 & 2.Warrawong Library, Tuesday 21 August - 11amBotanical Mechanicals This one is for children inyears 3-6 and will take place at Wollongong Library.Thursday 23 August – check the website for times.Bilingual Storytime Listen to stories in Englishand Mandarin at Wollongong Library. Tuesday21 August - 10am41 Burelli Street, WollongongPhone: (02) 4227 7428Web: www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/libraryWollongong City GalleryARTEXPRESSA selection of work submitted for the HSC VisualArts examination in 2011. It includes 15 students’works from the Illawarra and South Coast region.Until 19 Augustcelebrating commUNITYWorks by local Aboriginal artists for NAIDOC Week2012. Curated by Melanie Sharp this exhibitioncelebrates the spirit of unity and community pride.Until 12 AugustSquare OneSculpture, paintings, prints, and drawings drawnfrom the collection exploring the structure of the grid.25 August – 28 October20th Anniversary of Resident ArtistsThis exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of theResident Artist Program, 1992 - 2012.8 September - 18 November.Junior Art TrailCome and join us on a fun tour through the Galleryespecially designed for 3-5 year olds. Explore artworks through story telling, songs and games.Bookings essential on (02) 4228 7500. Second Fridayof every month.13 July – 14 December.School Holiday WorkshopThe Gallery has plenty of activities during schoolholidays. Check Council’s website for more information.Introduction to Pastels WorkshopAn introduction to chalk pastel using a variety oftechniques to create a still-life pastel painting.1 SeptemberCollage & Mixed Media WorkshopJoin Elspeth McCombe and create an artwork usingcollage.12- 4pm, 3 SeptemberWollongong City GalleryCnr Kembla & Burelli streets, WollongongPhone: (02) 4228 7500Web: www.wollongongcitygallery.comWollongong Botanic Garden“Our Backyard” FestivalWollongong Botanic Garden invites you to “OurBackyard” for the City’s biggest family friendlyenvironmental festival.Workshops, Local Produce, Market Stalls, RecycledArt, family entertainment, competitions, giveaways!Full details at www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/botanicgardenSaturday 29 September 2012 from 11am - 4pmFriends of the Wollongong BotanicGarden Annual Teddy Bears PicnicThe Friends of the Wollongong Botanic Garden inviteyou to a Teddy Bears Picnic.Bring the family and dress up as a teddy.For a small donation to the Friends, families canparticipate in Train Rides, Face Painting, PettingFarm, Games, and more!Sunday 14 October 2012 from 11am - 2pmBookings: Wollongong Botanic Garden Discovery CentreEmail: botanicgarden@wollongong.nsw.gov.auPhone: (02) 4225 2636