Feedback for the council

The Council has today extended the time frame for submissions on the draft Local Environment Plan, or LEP.

This draft has been on exhibition since the 24th of November last year; regulations require drafts to be open for public submission for a minimum of 28 days.

The LEP guides land use and development. It addresses land zonings and determines what land can be used for. It also controls the scale and density of development and lists heritage items.

This LEP excludes the West Dapto release area and the Dapto Town centre which have their own separate draft LEP.

The LEP draft can be found online at the council website or you can contact the council.

The council is also asking for feedback on the Plan of Management (PoM) for the Stanwell Park Beach Reserve and Bald Hill area.

Possibilities of extensions and refurbishments are proposed in the Plan of Management draft for the Stanwell Park Kiosk and the Surf Life Saving Club.

This draft will be on display until the 29th of May and open for feedback. There will also be a public hearing to discuss the draft Plan of Management at Stanwell Park Surf Lifesaving Club on the 14th and 16th of May.

All details can be found on the council website.

Wollongong Zine Fair

Zines are small self published mini magazines. Usually created by hand and printed with a photocopying machine. As a part of youth week, a Zine Fair will be held this Sunday at the Wollongong City Gallery starting at 12pm. This is the second year running for the event and its popularity is anticipated to grow.

Maddy Phelan is one of three organizers of the event and spoke to crossfire about the event.

The Wollongong Festivity Flicks Short Film Festival

Film enthusiasts are being given the opportunity to showcase their work and compete for the title of Wollongong’s best short film for 2009.

 

Wollongong City Council’s Youth Services is encouraging film makers between the ages of 12 and 24 to cubmit their short flicks into the Festivity Flicks Short Film Festival. Contestants must work, go to school or live in the Wollongong Local Government area.

 

Music videos, Narrative pieces, documentaries and everything in between are welcomed but they must be under ten minutes in length. 

 

Films must be submitted by 5pm the 23rd of March. Screening of the films and judging will be on the 30th of March at the Wollongong youth centre. Four winners will be awarded prizes on the night. 

 

For more infomation: youthservices@wollongong.nsw.gov.au

Or contact the youth services team on 42 265969

 

An interview with Youth Services Coordinator, Megan McKell, can be heard here:

 

 

 

World’s Greatest Shave… IS THIS WEEKEND!

Colouring or shaving your hair can help raise money for a great cause. Each year the Leukemia Foundation run the World’s Greatest Shave to help raise money to provide care and support for patients and their families affected by the disease. The money will also go towards finding a cure. So join in and colour or shave at many events held around the Illawarra.

– Cooneys Tavern, 234-236 Keira St Wollongong, Thursday 19 March 7:00pm-12:00pm (you must be over 18) Contact: Summah Mckinnon on 0432 536 442

-Bunnings, Lot 205 Gipps Street Wollongong, Saturday 14 March 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Contact: Tara or Julia on 02 4225 2611

– Westfield Warrawong, Corner King and Cowper Street, Saturday 14 Mar 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Contact: Centre Management on 02 4276 1566

– South Coast Portuguese Association Ltd, 127 Flagstaff Road Warrawong, Saturday 14 March, 5:30 PM Enjoy a three course meal (entrée, dinner and dessert) and feel free to have your hair shaved on the night to support the Leukaemia Foundation. Adults: $30.00 and Kids: $5.00 (then $1.00 for each year of age to 16 years) Contact: Joe Alves on 0412 105 302

– Corrimal Bowling Club , 47 Francis Street Corrimal, Sat 14 March 6:00 PM, Contact: John on 0419 287 108

– Bellambi Bowling Club, Corner Pioneer and Rathery Roads, Sat 14 Mar 5:00 PM Contact: Susan on 02 4285 9444

-ALbion Park RSL, Cnr Tongarra & Hamilton Road, Fri 13 March 7:00 PM, Contact: David De Rosa on 02 4256 1200

-Warilla Bowls & Recreation Club, Jason Ave Barrick Heights, Sunday 15th March, 2:00 PM Contact: Kim on 02 4295 9595

There are so many venues to choose from so go along and give a small donation because every dollar counts.

Meeting called to discuss transportation of nuclear waste

A public meeting was held last Tuesday to discuss the possibility of transporting nuclear waste through the Illawarra region. Representatives from The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO), members of the South Coast Labour Council and local MPs attended the event. I spoke to the Secretary of the South Coast Labour Council, Arthur Rorris about the items raised at the meeting and whether Port Kembla is the definite destination for the nuclear waste.

Ban on stem cell funding lifted in the U.S.

Barack Obama has signed an executive order reversing predecessor George W Bush’s ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Obama stated that lifting the ban will “restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost.”

Former president George. W Bush argued that using human embryos for scientific research, which often involves their destruction, crossed a moral barrier and during his time in office urged scientists to consider alternatives. However many scientist believe that stem cell research would help find treatments for grave diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes.

President Obama warned that because of the ban scientists were deserting the U.S. for other nations. The president also made it clear that, unlike his predecessor, he believes that science and morality can mix. “When government fails to make these investments, opportunities are missed. Promising avenues go unexplored,” he said at a White House ceremony attended by legislators, religious leaders and scientists.

The President helped to ease the mind of opponents who argue that stem cell research is a slippery slope that leads to non-reproductive cloning and devalues the worth of a human being, by vowing that he would not permit stem cell research to stray into the wilder bounds of science such as human cloning, which he said “has no place in our society, or any society”.

Despite this assurance there was expected opposition by Republicans and religious leaders. House of Representatives Republican leader John Boehner said Mr Obama had undermined “protections for innocent life, further dividing our nation at a time when we need greater unity to tackle the challenges before us”.

US Catholic Cardinal Justin Rigali also opposed Mr Obama’s announcement, calling it “a sad victory of politics over science and ethics.”

50 years since Dalai Lama exiled

Tibetan exiles have gathered all around the world to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Tibetan uprising that forced the Dalai Lama into exile.

Rallies are expected to be held all around the world, including the northern Indian town of Dharamshala, where the Dalai Lama now lives in exile.

There have been calls around the world for China to end its repression of Tibet, and today a US lawmaker has introduced a non-binding resolution before Congress that would urge China to end its “repression” of the Himalayan region.

The US Congress was to vote Tuesday on the resolution. The bill, authored by Democratic Representative Rush Holt, also urged China to respond to initiatives of the Dalai Lama to find a lasting solution on Tibet.

China has initiated dialogue with the Dalai Lama but brands him a separatist. The 74-year-old monk, who preaches non-violence, says he is only seeking greater rights for Tibet within China.

Not everyone seems to be concerned with the anniversary however. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in Beijing that concerns about Tibet and other human rights issues would take a back seat to working together in areas such as fighting the global economic crisis- a position the Tibetan demonstrators demanded she renounce.

Cosmetic tattoos at Booth 88

Hundreds of people wandered through the maze of colour, ink, needles and piercings over the weekend at the Sydney Tattoo & Body Art Expo.

155 artists from Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia and other worldy body art arenas came to compete and showcase their works at Sydney Showground to the hardcore tattoo fans of Sydney.

 

Burried among the booths of coloured skulls and tongue rings was a different kind of tattooist. Val Glover-Hovan is  cosmetic tattoo specialist and educator who has been colouring the lips and eyes of men and women since 1985.

‘Wake up with Make up’ is the slogan ot booth 88 at the three day expo, and at Vals’ studio in Sydney where she consults and tattoos clients needing everything from eyebrows to medical scars covered up. The trend is popular and growing, but also an unusual one to those who may not ever have considered taking such an extreme measure to have permanent make up.

Val at booth 88 at the Sydney Tattoo & Bodyart Expo

Val spoke to crossfire while at the expo. Listen in to learn more…

Road closure in Balgownie

Residents and visitors of Balgownie will have to detour around the intersection of Dawsons and Dymocks St while new drainage is installed by Council. From Monday the 9th of March this road section will be closed between 6.30am and 4pm. For the next twelve weeks traffic will be interrupted. Work is expected to continue over 12 weeks both full time and intermediately.

Clean up Australia day a success for Wollongong

Clean up Australia day beings thousands of Aussies out each year to help pick up the trash cluttering our beaches and park leands. The Illawarra had its own success on Sunday when 1100 people turned out to help clean up more than 30 sites from Helensburgh to Dapto.

 

 Environment Education Coordinator for Wollongong City Council, Mike McKeon, says plastic bottles, glass and cigarette butts make up the majority of the trash collected. 30% of the garbage collected is recyclable. The council is still consolidating and sorting garbage but so far the Illawarra’s collection count is up to 12 tonne.

 

 

Australians have long been conscious of the need for a clean environment, especially in an age where global warming is already showig its effects, but more needs to be done do help reduce waste. Taking simple steps

such as using reusable coffee cups or photocopying double sided can help in reducing the amount of trash filling our landfills.

 

 

In agreement with Mr McKeon, The Clean Up Australia group says cigarette butts and tobacco related products are Australia’s biggest litter issue. Almost 50% of the trash collected from urban areas is cigarette butts.

 

Two United Diver Clean up Australia Day participants emerge from the harbour

 

Waterways are a primary focus of the Clean Up Australia Day, an estimated 7 billion tonnes of rubbish enters the world’s oceans each year, Wollongong harbour was no different. On Sunday the University diving club and United Divers scoured the Harbour floor picking up rubbish.

 

Des Peros of United Divers says everything from plastic to fishing robs can be found under the water. Marine debris is not only a pollution problem is also kills up to 1million sea birds a year along with thousands of other types of marine life.

 

 

The United Divers team on Sunday after cleaning up the Harbour

 

Listen to the report…