Need to improve communication

A PUBLIC meeting facilitated by the Illawarra Community and Environment Connection (ICEC)last month was held “in response to major developments within the Illawarra, political donations, ICAC recommendations and planning reform implications,” according to ICEC co-ordinator Sonya McKay.

Outcomes of the meeting included the recommendation local councils undertake greater, genuine community consultation.

“Especially in the Illawarra where there is so much development,” Ms McKay said.

Other recommendations included the initiation of a Royal Commission into the planning processes of Wollongong and Shellharbour councils and a change of local government councillor numbers per ward from two to three, allowing more diversity in council, according to Ms McKay.

Another recommendation was a low cost ‘tribunal’ system that would allow the community to object to developments more easily.

The public meeting was attended by Greens parliamentarian Sylvia Hale, Dave Burgess from the Total Environment Centre, Frank Wallner from Healthy Cities Illawarra, South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris, Shellharbour councillor Geoff Rose, former Wollongong councillor Andrew Anthony and community members.