Well, we’re into 2009 and already the rumours are flying around about this and that which seems to indicate that a certain part of our lives will continue down its usual path.

It’s hard to predict at this early stage what the year will bring for Wollongong but judging by what I’m hearing there is strong ratepayer dissatisfaction out there and the call for us to be allowed to re–elect a new city council is likely to be stronger than ever.

And most of the people I’ve been speaking with want real action on the long running sagas of what is to be done with our city mall, what’s going to happen at Belmore Basin, and when will we see some real leadership emerge to get the city up and running again?

The message I’m getting is that most of us say leave the mall alone and Belmore Basin too, and let’s be able to re–elect a new city council.

Not everyone’s cup of tea  

Already there is some doubt about the viability of a major new land development proposal involving West Dapto and its implementation might not be as plain sailing as those behind the scheme believe it should be.

The proposed development close to Dapto township will include the construction of a teaching and training centre on Bong Bong Road, the raising of the road adjacent to the development, a new bridge over Mullett Creek and an elevated roadway over the existing rail crossing.

A project by Connectland with the assistance of the local branch of Cardno Forbes Rigby, this multimillion dollar development will also tackle flooding problems in the area including the rehabilitation of Mullett Creek.

I was privy to a meeting with those behind the development and from my point as Chairman of the Reed Park Users Group I couldn’t see any problems for the park, but I was concerned about Station and Hamilton Streets.

At the first of two community information days my doubts were quite strongly raised by a Hamilton Street resident who, she tells me, has seen and heard about such proposals before.

She has grave concerns about the effect on traffic movement into and out off Hamilton Street and is still doubtful that the new proposal will really solve water problems.

I also believe another person at the community information day suggested to the planners involved that they take a good look at a plan prepared for BHP some years ago which, he suggested, provided far more factual data about flooding in the area..

There remains some concerns, too, that any elevated crossing of the railway in Bong Bong Road might shut off access to nearby Station Street which would anger many motorists.

It might just be that the developers might have to re–look at the information provided to them from the city council.

A second community information session will be held at Dapto’s Ribbonwood Centre this Saturday between 9am and 1pm.

Wiggles cause a stir   

The visit before Christmas to Wollongong by the world famous Wiggles caused a stir when people tried to find adequate parking at or close to our entertainment centre and were forced to park in unauthorised spots only to be booked by an eager bunch of city council rangers who, some people tell me, were sitting waiting for the event to happen.

What those booked are unhappy about is the failure of our city council to provide adequate parking in and adjacent to the entertainment centre, and many tell me they won’t be paying the fines.

It certainly wasn’t a Merry Christmas present from the council.

Buses go missing  

Many leagues clubs attendees were also up in arms on Christmas Day when they went to go home from their local eating and meeting place to find there were no club buses running that afternoon.

Again, another case of a not very happy Christmas.

Problems off air  

And I’m also told there are problems with some rugged in–fighting among members of the community radio station VoxFM.

Seems that the police had to be called on at least one occasion and an arrest was made.

On the move  

There’s also a strong rumour going the rounds that one of the three administrators appointed to help run our city council is about to move on to a bigger and better position in Canberra.

Gabrielle Kibble is being mentioned, which would be a pity as she seems to have gained the confidence of many ratepayers.

Christmas shopping boom   

It seems that locals returned to the inner heart of our city in droves at Christmas with the Crown Central complex returning fantastic sales figures.

Maybe it had something to do with Kevin’s $1000 boost for families, but the late rush made most shopkeepers more than happy.

And on the subject of Crown Central, I’m led to understand that its expansion plans are temporarily on hold and it will be 2010 before we will see this work get properly under way.

They can’t help themselves   

It doesn’t seem to matter to many of our highly paid directors that the nation is supposed to be in recession with the latest news that the boss of Telstra Sol Trujillo and 10 directors plan to fly on an all expenses paid trip to Las Vegas for a board meeting.

The sad thing about it is that our Federal Government doesn’t take any action where these people are concerned.