The 3 September 2011 election will see 12 Councillors elected for three wards in the City, and the election of a Lord Mayor.
We have compiled information on the major projects, policies, governance, land management, services, facilities, and other areas that Council manages in the city. This information is provided to help candidates build better knowledge of Council's role, functions and services in the city. This information is provided in the fact sheets located at the bottom of this page.
Candidate Questions & Answers (Q&A)
This section provides a list of questions and answers submitted to Council from candidates.
Q) Could you please forward a copy of the Professional Conduct Coordinator job description and explain the responsibilties of this role? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 4.8.11
A) Please find attached a copy of the current 
Job Description for the Professional Conduct Coordinator role.
Additional Information
Additional information on the role of the Professional Conduct Coordinator can be found on the Professional Conduct Coordinator webpage.
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Q) Who are the current tenants at the Southern Gateway Centre? Alice Cartan, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 16.8.11
A) It is advised that the current tenants at this Centre are:
1. Wollongong City of Innovation Ltd (trading as Tourism Wollongong) - Gateway Visitor Information Centre
2. Midlink Australia Pty Ltd (trading as Altitude 1148 Restaurant)
3. Vacant - Expression of Interest advertised and Council is currently negotiating a commercial lease with a prospective tenant which will require approval of Council and the Minister responsible for Crown lands.
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Q1) The Wollongong Against Corruption website requests a series of document disclosures. In public interest and transparency of process, I request this information be made public by close of business 19 August 2011. Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 15.8.11
A1) The information which Wollongong Against Corruption (WAC) seeks access to would require the submission and consideration of an application made in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. Where an application is received, the requested documents would be assessed against the provisions of the Act. All relevant information concerning the Act, along with the appropriate application forms can be found on Council's GIPA webpage.
Q2) Has the DA 2010/1358 for a BWS Packaged Liquor License been transferred or requested to be transferred to a new applicant? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 15.8.11
A2) Council holds no record of any received Liquor License transfer or DA transfer request. DA -2010/162 was completed by Council on 9/12/2010 for BWS with regard to advice from the Office of Liquor and Gaming.
Q3) Please supply copies of all the submissions (except those identified as residents) to the DA 2010/1358 BWS application. Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 15.8.11
A3) To obtain copies of specific submissions and objections would require the submission and consideration of an application made in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. Where an application is received, the requested documents would be assessed against the provisions of the Act. All relevant information concerning the Act, along with the appropriate application forms can be found on Council's GIPA webpage.
Q4) What is the date and title of the Job Specification prior to the Professional Conduct Coordinator dated 11 August 2011? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 15.8.11
A4) The Professional Conduct Coordinator role has been in place since 6 September 2008. The roles and responsibilities of the role have been the same over the 4 year period. On 11 August 2011 minor administrative changes were applied, including a review date.
Q5) Has Council been notified or investigated explosions in the 2508 area both recently and around February – March this year? If yes, what was the outcome? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 15.8.11
A5) In early March 2011 and again in early August 2011, a Council officer from the Regulation and Enforcement Division contacted the DECCW Hotline regarding this matter, who advised that the explosions have nothing to do with Council as mines are a licensed premises and fall under the jurisdiction of DECCW. If you would like to contact the DECCW Hotline directly regarding this matter, the number is 131 555.
Q6) Please supply copy of drainage easements for Henry Halloran Park at Stanwell Park. Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 15.8.11
A6) Council’s records indicate there are no easements within Henry Halloran Park, Stanwell Park. Refer Attachments 6a, 6b and 6c.
Attachment 6a
Attachment 6b
Attachment 6c
Q7) At a combined Neighbourhood Forum (NF) /Administrator meeting, a request for DA lodgements to be emailed to NF conveners immediately the initial administrative recording process is completed, was positively discussed.
Has this been or when will it be implemented? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 15.8.11
A7) Information on all Development Applications is available through Council’s DA search webpages and can be sorted by date lodged, address or suburb. The webpages also provide direct access to the DA exhibition documents plus contact and other details for making a submission.
This online system is the one place interested parties can link to all Development Applications on exhibition. In accordance with the Notification Policy not all DAs are advertised but all are available on the website.
Some Neighbourhood Forums have arranged for a member to review the DAs and report back to their forum meeting.
Council has organised demonstrations of these online systems for Neighbourhood Forum Convenors in the past and can arrange these to be run again to help anyone interested in how to use the system effectively.
Other helpful information on Council's webpages includes online mapping which provides access to zoning information and aerial photography.
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Q1) Can Council provide the dissection of revenue by rates by postcode for year ended 30 June 2011? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A1) The rate revenue provided in Q1 Attachment A is based upon Council's Revenue Policy Rates 2011/12 financial year (see Attachment Q1 Attachment B). Residential and business rates including special rates are included in the figures provided.
Attachment Q1
Attachment B
Mining and Farmland rates are not included in the figures provided. This is referenced in the note at the bottom of the document.
Note that the estimated budgeted income for rates revenue is higher than that shown in the Revenue Policy. Additional revenue has been included for anticipated growth from new properties becoming rateable during the year.
Q2) Can Council provide the dissection of revenue by rates for residential and business for year ended 30 June 2011? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A2) See response to Q1 above.
Q3) Can Council provide the dissection of public works by postcode for year ended 30 June 2011? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A3) Council does not plan or record capital or operation expenditure by postcode. The determination of the capital works program is derived from asset condition, strategic plans and the availability of funds. Council is currently compiling a list of projects by suburb and will forward this information to you as it becomes available, hopefully in the next few days.
Q4) Can Council provide the number (and by category) of and amount of revenue received by way of enforcement fines for the years ended 30 June 2009/2010/2011? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A4) The number and category of fines issued by Regulation and Enforcement over the 2009, 2010 and 2011 are provided in Q4 Attachment A as per Council’s computer records.
Q4 Attachment A
Revenue received by way of enforcement fines is provided in Q4 Attachment B.
Q4 Attachment B
Q5) How much of section 94 funds (excluding Dapto) were received for the years ended 30 June 2009/2010/2011? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A5) See Q5 Attachment.
Q5 Attachment
Q6) How much of section 94 funds (excluding Dapto) were spent for the years ended 30 June 2009/2010/2011? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A6) Expenditure is not matched to income in a given financial year period, income and expenditure items can carry over from previous period as such the figures do not match. See Q6 Attachment.
Q6 Attachment
Q7) What was the break up by postcode of these section 94 funds spent? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A7) Council does not record this information by postcode area.
Some pre 2006 Individual Section 94 Plans operated in at least 1 or over a number of “Local Units” as shown in Q7 Attachment – Map 1. These 13 Individual Section 94 Plans were replaced by a single Section 94A Citywide Development Contributions Plan in June 2006. Section 94A expenditure is prioritised and allocated through Council’s Management Plan. This revenue is collected across the city and allocated across the city.
However a recent meeting of Neighbourhood Forum Convenors requested a calculation on the use of s94/s94a funds across the previously identified 10 areas. Table 1 in Q7 Attachment shows a summary of expenditure under the previous Section 94 Individual Plans and Section 94A between 2008-09 and 2010 11 separated into the former “Local Units”.
Expenditure from 2008-09 and 2010-11 under Section 94 Plan was limited to projects pre-approved when the 13 plans were replaced by Section 94A in June 2006. Table 2 in Q7 Attachment highlights the actual cost of infrastructure projects that had Section 94 or 94A as one of the funding sources. Other infrastructure projects that did not have any Section 94/94A funding are not included.
Section 94/94A is not a funding source for all infrastructure projects and is not permitted to be utilised for simple renewal projects.
In the previous 4 year period (excluding 2010-11) Council has committed over $191 million to capital expenditure of which Section 94 contributed only 10% or 19.3 million.
The current Management Plan and Capital Budget 2011-14 provides for expenditure on Capital of almost $186.7 million with Section 94 funding representing only 12% or $22.4 million. See Table 3 in Q7 Attachment.
Q7 Attachment
Q8) Are all Development Applications (DA) posted on the Council Website?
If no, for what reasons would a DA not be posted? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A8) Council’s notification policy is outlined in Appendix 1 of Wollongong Development Control Plan 2009 (see Q8 Attachment).
Q8 Attachment
All DAs that require notification in accordance with this appendix are posted on Council’s website. There is also a live DA tracking system which allows applicants and interested persons to monitor the program of a live application.
See Council's Development Applications website
Q9) What is the average time between lodgement and listing? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A9) Approximately one day as notification is done at back of house. However the date of commencement of any notification and the date of posting on Council’s web site is the same.
Q10) Professor Percy Allen reported a $192 million Council infrastructure renewal backlog in 2007. What was the figure in dollar terms at 30 June 2011? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A10) Backlog calculations as at 30 June 2011 have not yet been compiled. A copy of the Council report of 26 July 2011 on this matter is attached for information (see Q10 Attachment). It is highlighted that these calculations are complex and Council is continuing to collect additional information on asset condition and service level requirements to more accurately determine asset backlog.
Q10 Attachment
Q11) What was the amount for road pavements in dollar terms at 30 June 2011 that were below an acceptable standard (as defined by Professor Allen)? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A11) As at 30 June 2011, approximately 8% of Council’s roads were below a satisfactory standard. It is estimated that the cost to bring these roads to a satisfactory standard is $58M.
Q12) What is the Council infrastructure renewal budget for year ended 30 June 2012/2013? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A12) The total Capital Works Budget 2012/13 as per the Management Plan is just under $60M. It is anticipated that this will include approximately $35M to $40M in renewal works. It should be noted that renewal projects include some level of upgrade or enhancement to meet current standards and service levels.
Q13) In accessing a Development Application for a packaged liquor outlet (POL),
(a) What is the minimum distance before approval does Council require of a PLO to an existing:
1 School or Preschool
2 Community Centre
3 Church Service
4 Ambulance Station
5 Youth Centre
(b) What is the required number of parking spaces and what access to these parking spaces is required? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A13) (a) All property owners and occupants, who in the opinion of Council, may be adversely affected by a development proposal will be notified in writing in accordance with Appendix 1 of WDCP2009. Packaged liquor oulets are defined as retail premises which would normally require notification to adjoining and adjacent premises and a notice in the paper.
(b) Parking rates are determined in accordance with Chapter E3 of WDCP2009 see extract below:
City wide (excluding Wollongong City Centre B3 Commercial Core and B4 Mixed Use zones): 1 car parking space per 25m2 of GFA (gross floor area) – retail premises (applies to majority of Business centres, excluding Wollongong City Centre)
Zones B3 Commercial Core and B4Mixed Use in Wollongong City Centre (as per WLEP2009): 1 car parking space per 30m2 of GFA for ground floor level business or retail premises 1 car parking space per 50m2 of GFA for upper floor level business or retail premises (i.e. above ground floor level).
Access and manoeuvring should comply with AS 2890.
Q14) How many complaints have been received concerning uncovered railway wagons? How many were uncovered coal trains? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A14) Queries relating to uncovered railway wagons and uncovered coal trains are handled by the State Rail Authority, and the EPA are the regulatory authority (not Council).
Q15) How much was received from projects such as Metropolitan Colliery for road maintenance? Where was this money spent/ allocated and why? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A15) The first $100k of a promised $150K contribution from Metropolitan Coal was received in 2010/11 and is budgeted for expenditure as a contribution to the cost of constructing the new roundabout at the intersection of Parkes Street and the Princes Highway to improve intersection safety and access to and from Helensburgh. None of this money has yet been expended. The decision to use the money was based on improving road and pedestrian safety connected with increased volume of truck traffic.
Council has negotiated an annual contribution, based on the tonnes of coal produced of approximately $50,000 per year, which is proposed to be allocated to maintenance or improvement works on Parkes Street, Helensburgh. The annual contribution is based on levy per tonne of material trucked across the weighbridge
Q16) How much is the cost of the gateway centre at Bulli Tops per month to council? Has Council made representations to the RTA to change the access? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 18.8.11
A16) Annual costs for the Gateway comprise mainly:
1 Council rates - $14,560 pa
2 Cleaning contractor - $46,368 pa
3 Ground maintenance - $47,712 pa
These costs are shared equally between the tenants and Electricity and Water usage charges are separately billed directly to the tenants.
The only costs incurred directly by Council are building and air-conditioning maintenance, maintaining the Biolytic sewerage system, electricity charges for car park and security. A budget of $60k is provided annually to cover these items.
Council has not made any representation to the RTA to make any changes to the physical access to the site. The access to this site has been designed by a highly regarded and accredited traffic consultant using Australian Safety Standards in conjunction with the RTA.
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STATEMENT "Administrator Kibble stated to residents that the change of zoning from E2 to E3 4 days before submission to Council of the 7d lands review without community consultation on the Draft LEP was on legal advice." Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 29.8.11 sent at 11.26am
Q1) Who provided the legal advice? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 29.8.11 sent at 11.26am
A1) Council has reviewed its files, and does not believe legal advice was obtained in relation to the Draft LEP as it related to the 7d lands. It may be that comments attributed to former Administrator Kibble have been misunderstood.
Q2) In the interests of transparency, please provide a copy of the written advice? Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate 29.8.11 sent at 11.26am
A2) NA
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Q1) Has Council investigated complaints received regarding vandalism and decay of the Bulli Court House? Vicki Curran, Ward 3 Candidate 30.8.11
A1) Council received notification from a concerned resident in mid July 2011 that the old Court House had been left opened and had been broken into. Council contacted the owner and notified them of this advice. The owner subsequently secured the building and the Police were notified by the owner of the problems, as the owner was aware of a series of incidents.
Three further reports of the property being opened and subject to vandalism were received by Council over the last week. Council has notified the owner of each of these incidents. The owner has subsequently re-secured the property on several occasions but the property is understood to have been subject to four (4) incidents of illegal entry in the past 2 weeks.
The owner has also advised that the local Police have been notified of the problems and have agreed to undertake patrols of the property.
Q2) If Council has investigated what were the findings and what action has since been taken to ensure that the Bulli Courthouse is protected from further damage; restored and conserved? Vicki Curran, Ward 3 Candidate 30.8.11
A2) Council was contacted by a planning consultant, on behalf of the owners in July 2011, seeking an exemption to complete certain maintenance and conservation works to the property, with a view to getting the building re-occupied. An exemption to allow maintenance and conservation works was subsequently issued by Council’s Heritage Officer to the owner on 25 July 2011. It is understood these works will commence shortly.
On 20 August 2011 Council, following discussions with the owners, issued an Order to allow the owner to remove a burnt out, relocatable building from the rear of the property. This action was taken following a fire which had completely destroyed the structure and the building was considered a risk to public health and safety. It also posed a risk to the remaining buildings and structures on the site in the event of a further fire.
The owner of the building has responded to every request from Council and is understood to be currently working toward seeing the building repaired and re-used as soon as practicable. It is clear that whilst the building is vacant it will remain vulnerable to further incidents. The owner and Council are working constructively towards securing the building in the short term and ensuring its ultimate re-use to avoid ongoing problems.
Members of the community that notice any undesirable activity at the Court House are encouraged to contact the Police.
Q3) Considering the Aldi DA where they made a promise to retain and conserve the building, was declined do they still have a legal responsibility to protect and conserve the Bulli Court House? Vicki Curran, Ward 3 Candidate 30.8.11
A3) The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 does not provide any minimum maintenance standards for local heritage items.
Wollongong City Council has previously raised this as a matter of concern through the Local Government and Shires Association Annual Conference, and through a submission to the State Government’s review of the NSW Heritage Act in 2006. The suggestion of providing minimum maintenance standards for local heritage items was not supported by the Expert Panel’s Review of the NSW Heritage Act.
It is noted that buildings that are on the State Heritage Register, and which are therefore protected under the NSW Heritage Act 1977, do have minimum maintenance standards that are enforceable through this legislation. The old Bulli Court House and the adjoining Police Station and Residence are not listed on the State Heritage Register.
Even with available enforcement and compliance tools, Council considers that it is always more constructive to work with and support an owner of a heritage item, particularly where an owner is compliant with any requests made by Council.
Q4) If so, does Council have the responsibility to enforce the relevant Act or does Council refer these matters to the relevant Authority/Minister? Vicki Curran, Ward 3 Candidate 30.8.11
A4) As noted above, local councils have no power to force an owner to maintain or conserve a heritage building which is listed within the Local Environmental Plan to a particular standard.
Council can therefore only issue Orders to property owners to address issues relating to health and safety standards as allowed for under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and the Local Government Act.
Q5) Could you please provide me with detail of Councils future plans, action and commitment to ensuring that the immediate repair and conservation of the Bulli Court House? Vicki Curran, Ward 3 Candidate 30.8.11
A5) As indicated above, Council can only operate within its relevant powers under the available legislation. Council will continue to assist the ownertowards the repair and re-use of the property.
Council currently has the draft Wollongong Heritage Strategy 2011-2014 on exhibition and is seeking input from the community in relation to this draft Policy. This document, along with the accompanying Action Plan provides a clear indication of Council’s plans for the management of Wollongong’s Heritage in the coming three (3) years. Submissions on this draft Policy (which is available Council’s website) will be received until 16 September 2011.
Q6) Has Council reviewed its ruling in regard to Jill Walker and her access to Council information within the last 12 months? Vicki Curran, Ward 3 Candidate 30.8.11
A6) The most recent review undertaken was 24 November 2010 advising Ms Walker of the continued restrictions for a further 12 months of her contact with Council. These restrictions were "Council staff will only respond to one written enquiry about a particular subject matter each week." The letter requested that Ms Walker contact Council only in writing either by mail or email to the records@wollongong.nsw.gov.au email address. The original determination was made on 03 November 2008 and further reviewed on 26 September 2009, at which time Ms Walker was advised that in the previous 12 months she had contacted Council on 289 occasions by email and that most often emails had contained multiple questions. Accompanying this advice was a copy of Council's Customer Service Policy (see Attachment A6 below).
Attachment A6
Q7) If no review has been performed in this period; why not? Vicki Curran, Ward 3 Candidate 30.8.11
A7) An annual review of restrictions has been undertaken.
Q8) What is Councils policy that allowed such a ruling and what Council officers were responsible for the decision? Vicki Curran, Ward 3 Candidate 30.8.11
A8) This decision was based on Council's Customer Service Policy (see Attachment A6). Ms Walker received advice from the General Manager that "The intent of this process is to limit access to Council services to a reasonable level, thus enabling Council to balance the provision of information and services to the entire community." All communications with Ms Walker have been signed by Council's General Manager after an extensive and ongoing review of Ms Walker’s contact with Council.
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Michael Organ, Lord Mayor and Ward 1 Candidate 30.8.11
Following submission of my response to Mrs Walker’s email, I received an automatic response from the Records section at Wollongong City Council, with information in the subject heading in the following form:
“Automated Reply: Thankyou for your email. It has been received by Wollongong City Council and will be forwarded to the appropriate division”
Q1) Could I ask that such an automated response be allocated a number so that if there is a need for a future inquiry regarding this matter I can make reference to the number allocated to my response / submission? Michael Organ, Lord Mayor and Ward 1 Candidate 30.8.11
A1) When correspondence is received by Council via email using council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or records@wollongong.nsw.gov.au an automated message is generated which is to provide acknowledgement only to the recipient that the information has been received. Any correspondence received in this manner, does not get automatically entered into Council's Customer Service system, and therefore cannot be provided with a reference number. A reference number is allocated once a Council staff member is allocated the correspondence for actioning.
Alternatively, if a customer request number is required immediately, Council's website has an online customer request/feedback form “Online Requests & Complaints”. A customer request number is automatically generated once a form is submitted, which can be used as a reference by the customer in future contact with Council regarding that matter.
This online form is available on the following webpage.
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Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate
Thank you for your application made in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (the act), seeking access to documents from DA-2010/1358 - Fit out and use of an approved retail/outlet as a Beer Wine and Spirits (BWS) liquor store and associated signage. Your request is facilitated under section 8 of the act.
Please find attached copies of the requested documents:
A1) Submissions received - please note, personal information such as addresses, signatures and contact information, have been removed for privacy reasons (Attachment 1)
Attachment 1 - Submissions
A2) Copies of internal Council reports and meetings, including with the applicant and land owner
a) Section 79C Assessment report and Peer review (Attachment 2a)
Attachment 2a - Section 79C Assessment and Peer Review.pdf
b) Internal Referrals (Attachment 2b)
Attachment 2b - Internal Referrals
c) Communications with the applicant and/or owner (Attachment 2c)
Attachment 2c - Communications with Applicant.pdf
Outside of the requirements under the EP&A act, Council does not generally publish Development Applications to its website. Therefore, the Development Application may also be viewed in full by attending Council's Customer Service Centre, located on the Ground Floor of the Council Administration Building, 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong.
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Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate email of 29.8.11 sent at 6.15am
Q1) Referring to the “Review of 7(d) lands at Helensburgh, Otford & Stanwell Tops Final review of submissions”, dated 28/06/2011 “The preliminary report was exhibited for 2.5 months from 2 June 2010 to 16 August 2010. As a result of the exhibition, 19,395 submissions were received. A community information session (5-7pm) was held at Helensburgh Community Centre on 17 June 2010.
Q1a) Please explain why the review period was extended to 2.5 months and the maps initially released with the review were withdrawn at the Helensburgh “community information session?
A1a) The review period was extended to provide the community with additional time to comment.
No maps were withdrawn. At the community meeting, a number of inconsistencies between the Council resolution and the maps were identified by land owners / the community. An amended map was published on Council’s website and provided to Pauline Lacelles-Smith for Neighbourhood Committee 1 use.
Q1b) What was changed on these maps when they were subsequently released again?
A1b) Some land on the eastern side of Baines Place was shown as E3 not IN2 and E2, as indicated in the report.
The 8 small lots on Rajani Road were shown as E3 not E4, as indicated in the report.
Q1c) Please provide copies of the withdrawn maps and the rereleased maps?
A1c) See Attachment A1c – 1 and Attachment A1c – 2.
Q1d) Who requested the change at the 17 June 2010 Helensburgh Community Centre?
A1d) Land owners confused by the inconsistency between the maps and Council report / resolution.
Q1e) Which Council officer was the incorrect maps reported to?
A1e) Land Use Planning Manager (Acting)
Q1f) Please provide a copy of all council correspondence meetings and reports on the subject block/s that were changed as a result of the 17 June 2010 community information session?
A1f) The map was amended to reflect the Council resolution of 28/5/10 – see archived Council Business Papers and Minutes
Q2) For Planning Agreements entered into by or received and in part or fully considered/processed by Council, what planning instrument was the authority for any Planning Agreement, including Voluntary Planning Agreements, approved or processed by Council prior to 26 July 2011?
A2) The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act
Q5) The roundabout at the intersection of Old Princes Highway and Parkes Street Helensburgh is a capital project.
Q5a) Why has maintenance funds been allocated to a capital project?
A5a) No maintenance funds have been allocated to the construction of the roundabout. Helensburgh Coal/Peabody reached an agreement with Wollongong Council Under condition 18 of the State Government’s Major Project approval (MP-2008/149) to provide a one off amount of $150,000, payable via instalments within the 2010 & 2011 calendar years, toward the capital cost and construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Parkes Street and the Old Princes Highway.
Q5b) How many times did Council respond to Neighbourhood Forum 1 questions before Council advised the project was being funded by maintenance money from Metropolitan Mine?
A5b) No maintenance funds have been allocated to the construction of the roundabout.
Q5c) Was Council asked to provide accidents statistics for the Old Princes Highway and Parkes Street Helensburgh?
A5c) Yes.
Q5d) What was Councils response?
A5d) Council advised Neighbourhood Forum 1 that Council uses a number of criteria in determining its construction priorities for traffic facilities and the accident numbers are just one item; and that it preferred to not provide information on only one attribute.
Q5e) What are the accident statistics for this site?
A5e) Council is currently updating the accident database. At this time only accidents up to and including 2009 can be extracted from the database. Find attached an extract of reported accidents at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Parkes Street, Helensburgh (see Attachment A5e below).
Attachment A5e
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Greg Petty, Lord Mayoral Candidate and Ward 1 Candidate email of 30.8.11
Q1) For the period 1 January 2008 to 30 August 2011, what Development Applications (DA) have been approved without going to a council meeting for approval?
Please list DA number, applicant name, property / property location and council officer approving.
A1) During the above period approximately 1500 DAs were determined each year by council staff under delegated authority. During the period a further 109 DAs were referred to either Council or JRPP for determination. The IHAP Charter (see cl 9) identifies the triggers requiring DAs to be referred to IHAP and/or Council for determination. The IHAP was established in September 2008 and the Charter has been reviewed periodically by Council. Since April 2011 (following a Charter review by Council) DAs are only sent to Council for determination when there is inconstancy between the staff recommendation and the IHAP recommendation.
The JRPP came into effect in July 2009 and it has delegation for determining larger DAs as identified within the relevant State Environmental Planning Policy (Major Development SEPP). To date 29 DAs have been determined by the JRPP.
Q2) Who has the delegated authority to make such approvals?
A2) All Professional Planners and Planning Managers have delegation to determine DAs. This authority is delegated by Council and the General Manager. The delegations require compliance with IHAP Charter and all relevant Council policies, plans and statutory requirements. These delegations provide the authority for officers to make decisions, which would otherwise be made by elected representatives, and assist in the efficient operation of Council.
Q3) What is the extent of each delegated authority?
A3) DAs are determined by professional staff from the City Planning Division following peer review by a second Senior Officer, apart from those DAs requiring Council or JRPP determination.
A full register of delegations is available on Council's website.
Q4) What expenditure has there been on cycleways over the past 5 years?
A4) Detailed information is available for the past 3 years and this is attached (see Attachment A4). Note that cycleways and footpaths in some cases are the same asset.
Attachment A4 - Footpaths & Cycleways
Q5) What was the expenditure per project?
A5) Refer to attachment A4
Q6) Where did the funding come from per project?
A6) Details of the funding are not available on a per project basis; however the funding sources include RTA, S94 City wide and City Centre, RLCIP funding and Council’s own funding.
Q7) Was the expenditure included in the annual budget?
A7) Yes, the annual budget included expenditures for shared paths and cycleways. It should be noted however, that additional external funding is often introduced (from State/Federal) agencies. This then results in an adjustment being made to the annual capital budget.
Q8) What future cycleways are WCC planning, investigating, constructing?
A8) Cycleways and shared paths generally meet the strategies set out in the City of Wollongong Bicycle Plan, as resources permit. Council’s website contains details of bicycle planning.
Q9) What is the budget per project for these projects?
A9) Budgets for future projects will be established following more detailed planning and design of each project.
Q10) Where is the funding coming from per project?
A10) Generally the funding will be as per the arrangements as indicated above in the response to Q6.
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Fact Sheets
City Planning
Development Application
IHAP and JRPP
City Works
City Works General Information
Waste Management
Community, Cultural and Library Services
Access and Equity and Social Justice Principles
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Community Planning and Community Capacity Building
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Farmborough Heights to Mt Kembla Draft Concept Plan
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Wollongong Botanic Garden
Wollongong CBD Action Plan 2010
Finance
Financial Sustainability
Rates Management
Human Resources
Councillors Professional Development Program September to December 2011
Enterprise Agreement
Infrastructure
Infrastructure General Information
North Beach Bathers Pavilion
Organisational Strategy and Improvement
Community Survey 2010
Strategic Management Cycle
Property and Recreation
Aquatic Services
Beach Lifeguard Service
Council's Property Portfolio
Crematorium and Cemeteries
Inner City Parking Strategy
Parks, Sportsfields and Playgrounds
Recreation Business Operations
Tourist Parks
Regulation and Enforcement
Regulation and Enforcement General Information