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Neighbourhood

Forum 5

Wollongong’s

Heartland

Coniston, Figtree,

Gwynneville, Keiraville,

Mangerton, Mount

Keira, Mount St

Thomas, North

Wollongong, West

Wollongong,

Wollongong City.

Agenda for meeting on Wed. 6th April, 2016, Town Hall Ocean Room

1 Presentation WCC draft Annual Plan, Kerry Hunt, Manager Community, Cultural

& Economic Development and Fiona Rudd, Corporate Research Coordinator

2 Apologies

3 Minutes of meeting of 2nd March 2016 and matters arising not on the agenda.

4 Comments from residents and/or Councillors:

5 Responses Parking for foreshore events: see p.6

City Centre Light Rail: see p.7

Keiraville/Gwynneville Access Study: see p.8

6 Reports Annual Plan: see p 8.

Mount Keira: see rec p. 8

Illawarra Room: see rec p. 9

Complying Development: see rec p. 10

Boarding Houses: see p.10

Valuing our Heritage: see p. 11

7 Projects Keiraville/Gwynneville: see p. 11 & rec p.12

City Centre: see rec p.12

8 Planning Development Applications: see recs pp. 12 & 13

9 General Business

Next Meeting: 7.00 pm on Wed, 4th May 2016, in the Town Hall Ocean Room.

Current active membership of Neighbourhood Forum 5 : 336 households

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Neighbourhood

Forum 5

Wollongong’s

Heartland

Coniston, Figtree,

Gwynneville, Keiraville,

Mangerton, Mount

Keira, Mount St

Thomas, North

Wollongong, West

Wollongong,

Wollongong City.

Minutes of meeting on Wed. 2nd March, 2016, Town Hall Ocean Room

21 member present

1 Presentations Martin Berg was thanked for his update on Wollongong Harbour.

Robert McGauran and colleagues were thanked for their presentation

on the University Master Plan process.

2 Apologies were accepted

3 Minutes of meeting 2nd March 2016 were adopted. There were no matters

arising.

4 AGM The minutes of the meeting of 1st April 2015 were adopted.

The Annual Report was received and noted and it was agreed to seek

comments on it from Ward Councillors together with an annual round

table meeting to discuss issues and improve communications.

The Forum Policies were endorsed.

The Locality Plans were endorsed.

5 Comments There were no comments from residents or Councillors.

6 Responses It was noted that no further action will be taken on 394-6 Crown St.

It was noted that ambiguous wording in the Annual Plan will be

changed.

7 Reports Botanic Garden

It was agreed that Council be advised that the Forum believes that:

1 The revised PoM should include a provision for a specified

date/time period for its next review to remain relevant.

2 The Values should include more about the service,

conservation and educational role of the Botanic Garden.

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3 The tourism potential of the Gardens should be better

documented in current tourism campaign, noting that Trip

Advisor rates Wollongong Botanic Garden highly.

4 There should be more operational and capital funds to improve

the Botanic gardens as they are a significant tourist asset.

5 Links to other areas such as Mt Keira (Walk from Mountain to

the sea), via Robson Road gate, should be acknowledged

6 There should be better linkages with Gleniffer Brae and the rest

of the Botanic Gardens, a paved loop track would be useful.

7 Pave the existing desire tracks from the entrance gates on

Murphy’s Avenue.

8 Parking needs to be addressed in the revised PoM as it is

important to retain the nose in parking along Murphy’s Venue

for the use of the visitors of the Botanic Garden, it would be

useful to sign post all this parking as two hour only.

9 Parking should not be extended within the Gardens, as it is

more important to have extensive park/garden areas.

10 A temporary, pop up, café near the playground would have

merit to see if a more long term café would be financially

viable, when a coffee cart was there, it did not quite provide the

right mix of sale items.

Gleniffer Brae

It was agreed that Council be advised that the Forum believes that:

1 Gleniffer Brae should remain in public ownership.

2 Returning the manner house and the Sorensen gardens to more

of its original state should be a goal of Council.

3 Original buildings linked to Manor house should be preserved.

4 It is important that Gleniffer Brae is accessible to the public.

5 Weddings and functions should be in an appropriate scale for

the location/historic setting (ie smaller rather than large).

6 The views from the manor house have heritage value and it is

likely the use of marques as part of function events could harm

this value.

7 The manor house could serve as a residence for visiting

dignitaries.

8 Council should not incur large costs to enable a commercial

function centre at Gleniffer Brae, smaller scale event proposals

may be cost neutral and worthwhile.

9 The PoM should list subleases as well as lease holders.

10 The school buildings detract from the heritage value of the

manor house and the Sorensen gardens and should not be

extensively renovated to prolong their existence on site.

11 The Conservatorium of Music would be better served in a

purpose built facility in another location.

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12 The manor house be kept distinctly separate from the skegs

buildings, and that the report done a couple of years ago on the

structural status of the skegs buildings be used to help

determine the future management of those buildings.

Mount Keira: meeting at 4pm Tues 8th March at Council noted.

University Master Plan

It was agreed that the University be advised that the Forum welcomes

the approach being taken particularly the linking of the University to

the City and the continuation of 4-5 storey academic buildings, hopes

for on-going discussion as the project proceeds, and considers that the

Masterplan ought to:

1 continue the heritage of a green dominated, low key character,

sensitive to the environment and to people;

2 provide for a gradual change in character between the

University and the residential development and Botanic

Gardens to the south;

3 include a staged land-use plan identifying potential sites for

buildings (including notional heights, footprints and intensity

of use);

4 include a landscape Masterplan for open space areas (including

car parks) and giving preference to local rainforest species,

especially to large trees;

5 provide for a relatively specialised campus, with a faculty such

as performing arts, in the City Centre, perhaps in association

with the Conservatorium of Music;

6 incorporate a long-term access plan which minimises impact on

local streets;

7 include a parking management plan which reduces the current

use of local streets;

8 identify goals for reducing car dependency and further

improving public transport;

9 identify desirable radial pedestrian routes and cycleways;

10 incorporate procedures to integrate/facilitate/create

communication between the University's and the community's

ethnic and religious groups.

11 limit retail/commercial components to increases in floorspace

at a rate less than increases in full-time equivalent students on

this campus.

Community Consultative Committees

It was agreed that:

1 A submission be made objecting to the role of the proponent in

the selection of the Chairman and Committee Members for

Community Consultative Committees and seeking a far more

and independent process managed by the local Council if the

Department does not have the expertise, local knowledge or

resources to do so itself.

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2 The submission support the proposed changes other than those

relating to 1 above.

3 Wollongong Council be requested to make a similar

submission.

Market Street Footpath: noted.

8 Projects Keiraville/Gwynneville:

Meeting 4pm on Fri 11th March on Desired Future Characteristics.

City Centre

It was agreed that Council be requested to prepare a brief report on the

perceived costs and benefits of light rail in Wollongong.

9 Planning Port of Port Kembla: Planning Proposal submission in due course.

Waples Road, Figtree: It was agreed to lodge an objection to any

variation from the Farmborough Heights to Mt Kembla Concept Plan.

DA 4 storey units Market Place: agreed to lodge an objection.

DA 13 storey units Kenny St: agreed not to make a submission.

10 General Business Blue mile -it was agreed to authorise exec to make strong

representations to Ward Councillors.

Council Mergers

It was agreed that the Forum's submission be appended to the minutes

and given wider circulation.

Crown Lands

It was agreed to circulate the petition opposing the State Government's

proposal to abolish trustees for Crown Lands.

Wollongong Harbour

It was noted that there is to be a public protest meeting at the harbour

at 10am on Friday 5th March about mooring leases.

Next Meeting: 7.00 pm on Wed, 6th April 2016, in the Town Hall Ocean Room.

Council on Annual Plan.

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5 Responses

Parking for foreshore events

"1. Events at WIN Stadium/W'gong Entertainment Centre.

There are 3 traffic management plans approved by Council for traffic

management for events at this venue, depending on estimates of crowd

numbers and the time of day the events are to be held. The events

where in excess of 20,000 people are expected have special rail and

bus services, and include park and ride options. For smaller events

patrons have a range of parking options in the vicinity of the WEC

which have proven to be adequate. It should be noted that members of

the public are free agents and may choose options for transport which

suit their individual needs; such choices occur regardless of the

advertising they may receive with the tickets. With respect to traffic

movements the WEC set out advance warning messages on the RMS

overhead system and install a number of trailer mounted units to direct

traffic to the best routes in and out of the CBD.

2. Wollongong Council Events.

There are just two of these each year, Australia Day and New Years

Eve. Council advertises widely about the preferred options for

transport and the results are reviewed after each event, as numbers of

Council staff are involved on the day. The traffic arrangements for

subsequent years are adjusted accordingly.

3. MS Sydney to the Gong Cycling Event.

Council meets with the organisers to manage the movements of

cyclists and others after the event. In this regard special rail services

are available from North Wollongong. Due to its large scale and the

large number of local government areas involved, this event is

approved by the NSW State Government, and not Wollongong

Council.

4. Other Major Events. The requirements for parking and traffic

depend on the timing and crowd numbers for single events. The scale

of each event also determines the type of Council approval required;

this ranges from a simple park booking to a full Development

Application.. Where appropriate detailed traffic management plans are

required, which are assessed by Police and NSW Roads & Maritime

Services staff, in addition to Council staff. These events are reviewed

by Council, Police and RMS staff subsequently through a regular

major events meeting. None of these events are large enough for

separate park and ride services to be funded by the organisers but

where appropriate organisers are given the option of funding additional

Gong Shuttle services. While some of these privately

organised/community events are sponsored by Council, specific

funding for park and ride services are not normally available from

Council resources.

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5. Multiple Small Events.

These are the events too small for Council to require any form of

approval and aggregated together they form the basis for another busy

day for the public to enjoy out-doors. Council has no plans for special

arrangements for parking or transport apart from the major events

discussed above.

In conclusion, Council has limited powers to direct the public in the

choice of transport and parking arrangements, and as noted above

attendees at Council beaches, reserves and other entertainment

facilities are always free to make their own decisions in this regard.

While Council exercises those powers appropriately as set out above,

there will be some inconvenience for residents close to the popular

facilities."

Lindsay Dunstan

Comment

The reply by is appreciated and the various arrangements for foreshore

events within the limitations of existing infrastructure noted. However

it is obvious that additional parking is essential. For example in recent

months parts of the public’s passive recreation area at Stuart Park have

been used for overflow parking. Also Council’s obviously outdated

Blue Mile Master Plan proposed new “Multi Deck Public Carpark” at

Stuart Park and “Proposed Underground Carpark” at Lang Park.

Recommendation

NF5 request WCC General Manger to advise what additional parking

is planned along the Blue Mile foreshore area, at what cost and when

will it be provided.

John Riggall

Light Rail in the City Centre

"The provision of light rail has not been included in Council’s Access

and Movement Strategy. Nor has it been identified in any NSW

Government Department strategy, including the Department of

Transport. As such, we have not done any business planning for light

rail, including work to identify costs and benefits. Should NH5 wish to

conduct any such investigation, I would be interested to see the

results."

Peter Nunn

Keiraville/Gwynneville Access and Parking Study

Gareth Ward MP has forwarded a response from Hon Duncan Gay

MLC who advises that neither Roads & Maritime Services not

Transport for NSW is able to provide funding for the Study at this time

as it does not meet funding guidelines.

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Also, the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Plan, which includes a focus

on the development of the University of Wollongong, is to be overseen

by a co-ordination and monitoring committee whom we might like to

contact when established.

Recommendation

That Gareth Ward MP be thanked for making representations to the

Minster but Express disappointment that apparently Transport for

NSW cannot currently see its way clear to provide relatively minimal

funds to supplement joint funding with WCC and UoW for traffic

studies to inform investigations re urgently needed improvements to

traffic and parking in the NSW Government’s regionally critical UoW

Education precinct.

That we acknowledging progress made in joint discussions with

RMS/UoW/WCC and NF5 over recent years and seek his support for

advancing RMS funding in 2016/17 for a joint traffic & access study.

Contact: Ms Renae Elrington Regional Manager Southern RMS

6 Reports Annual Plan

42 submissions were made on the 2015-6 Annual Plan of which only

two were unequivocally accepted. However a good few of these seem

to be included in the draft 2016 - 17 Plan. These will be reported to

the May meeting.

Four were set as priorities:

Increase job creation resources - response not known;

Community Plan for Keiraville/Gwynneville - adopted;

Review plans for Stuart Park and Blue Mile - rejected, but now

scheduled for 2018-9;

Set criteria for footpath priorities - ambiguous response.

Mount Keira

A few people met with the consultant. Essentially we were asked and

responded:

1 What are values we see of Mount Keira?

an iconic natural feature for the city;

a place for panoramic views of the city;

a low-key recreation area;

a focus for understanding nature.

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2 What do we wish it to be like in 20 years time?

be a forested view from the city;

provide panoramic views of the city;

maintain and explain the flora and fauna;

provide for picnics and informal recreation;

include a restaurant and low key wedding facilities;

act as a focus for ecological education;

be the hub for walking and other formed trails.

3 What will be different from today?

it will be properly maintained and managed;

vegetation will be appropriate and not butchered;

there will be far more activities and visitors;

services will be environmentally sensitive.

4 What should not happen there?

anything which mars the view from the city;

any form of residential accommodation;

any significant buildings, other than the restaurant;

a cablecar;

anything that could cause erosion or pollution.

Recommendation

That the Forum adopt this as their formal response.

Illawarra Room

There has been for some time a proposal to use the middle level of the

annex to the Town Hall (above the visitors centre) as "The Illawarra

Room" and to build the bridge which was proposed to link this to the

Town Hall balcony.

The idea is for the room to be tastefully lined with dark timber

paneling and the walls hung with top quality photographs of our

region, with particular emphasis on the rainforest, and various

borrowings from the Art Gallery featuring scenes from the Illawarra.

Then with a tastefully furnished coffee shop and a collection of high

class memorabilia of the Illawarra for sale (we do have some first class

books on the region), we have something to show off to the

discriminating visitor with an encouragement to take in some of the

ambience of our region.

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Recommendation

That a submission be made to Council to provide for The Illawarra

Room.

Expanding Code for Complying Development

The State Government is seeking comments on a proposal to medium

density development on much smaller and narrower lots than is

currently possible in all residential zones. Even acknowledging that a

number of height, setback and other standards have to be met, this

must have a significant adverse impact on the character and landscape

quality of great number of streets in low density neigbourhoods. It

makes matters worse that these can be approved by the developer's

certifier (a fundamental conflict of interest) with discretion as to the

impact on the existing streetscape.

A submission has been made objecting strongly to the application of

this proposed code to R2 Low Density Residential Zones in the belief

that it will have a potentially dreadful impact on our residential

neighbourhoods and streets as well as encouraging extra travel.

However, the submission also indicated that if the proposal is to

proceed, some non-discretionary requirements must be included - as a

minimum all dwellings adjacent to a street must have the appearance

of detached dwelling houses facing that street- and it should restrict the

provisions in R2 zones to those areas within 400m walking distance of

a Business zone.

Recommendation

That the submission be endorsed.

Boarding Houses

After 3 years Council have finally got around to adopting changes to

the Boarding House Chapter in the DCP. It is gratifying that most of

our suggestions and recommendations have been accepted. However,

there are two major items outstanding. Council ducked the issue of

definition so it seems that if the applicant thinks it is a boarding house,

it is, and if not, not, so they continue not to apply and Council

abrogates its responsibilities. This is notwithstanding the Boarding

House Act which requires registration of premises which accommodate

five or more paying residents (regardless of to whom rent is paid) who

are not members of the family. One would have thought there were

significant health and safety issues involved, quite apart from amenity,

and potential suing if things go wrong.

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The second is frankly bizarre. Council retained a parking standard of

one space per 5 beds (ie per 5 to 10 lodgers depending on how many

double beds there are) which is based on car ownership by indigent or

otherwise homeless single people, in part because it was suggested that

most students had a car so it did not matter what the standard was -

despite a survey indicating 60% had cars!

Valuing Our Heritage and Cultural Landscapes

Dr Julie Nimmo will discuss the importance of Valuing our Heritage

and Cultural Landscapes by providing a contemporary reinterpretation

of heritage and cultural landscapes for their ongoing protection.

7.00pm - 9:30pm Wednesday 27 April 2016 at The Old Court House.

University Master Plan

Residents who attended the UoW Masterplanning workshop at

Keiraville school on 15 March 2016 certainly appreciated Mr

McGauran’s presentation, which included 7 Guiding Principles.

It is recognised that UoW website re the Wollongong Campus Master

Plan process mentions that key considerations include: “Our

relationship with surrounding neighbourhoods and communities”, and

that engagements between UoW staff and NF5 representatives

continue to be productive.

However it was raised that UoW recently released Strategic Plan 2016-

2020 does not include one of the Values listed in the previous UoW

Strategic Plan 2013-2018, ie:

“Community partnerships and mutual development”

Therefore it was suggested that a further MP guiding principle be

added, for example along the lines of:

“Ensure the UoW development and operations do not detract from the

quality of life of Keiraville & Gwynneville residents, but rather

provide opportunities to enhance it”

John Riggall

Recommendation

That the University be advised accordingly.

7 Projects Keiraville-Gwynneville

The group met with Council staff and as a result revised "Desired

Future Characteristics" are proposed.

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Recommendation

The desired future character statements for the Keiraville/Gwynneville

suburbs (see page 13) be adopted as a basis for further discussion with

Council staff.

City centre

It is understood that the Public Spaces Public Life Report is proposed

to be submitted to Council in June 2016, following 2 years of intensive

work and various consultations. A recent public workshop was well

attended and focussed on actions in the six project areas of Rail

Arrival, Western Crown St, Mall, MacCabe Park, Arts Precinct and

Foreshore.

Recommendation

Council allocate adequate funds in the 2016/17 budget to enable a

positive start on implementing PSPL key recommendations.

8 Planning DA-2016/178: 7 storey mixed development Thomas/Keira Sts

23rd March This is a proposal for 84 units on

Thomas St over a 2 level basement car

park commercial behind it and on Keira

St all in a Mixed Use zone. It complies

with the major controls for floor space,

height and car parking but has minor

infringements of a number of other

requirements. The site includes two

heritage listed buildings, to be retained,

and adjoins two others. The Heritage

Impact Statement concludes that "the

proposal is sympathetic to the heritage

values of the place and the heritage

items in the vicinity."

.

Recommendation

The submission of support be endorsed.

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DA-2016/198: 6 storey mixed development 38, Ellen St

1st April

This is a proposal for 12 units over

commercial and a 2 level basement car

park in the Commercial Core zone. It

complies with the major controls for

floor space, height and car parking but

does not quite comply with building

separation not with deep soil planting (a

questionable requirement in this zone)

Recommendation

The submission of support be endorsed.

DA-2016/222: dual occupancy 17 Foley St, Gwynneville

11th April

This is a proposal on a lot between

Foley St and the Basketball stadium to

build a second dwelling behind an

existing house to create a dual

occupancy. It complies with all Council

requirements and the

Keiraville/Gwynneville Locality Plan.

Recommendation

That a submission of support be sent.

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Desired Future Character: Gwynneville

Areas in Gwynneville dominated by dwelling houses will remain as such with gardens, in an

environment free from commercial and noisy or ugly activities and buildings but with some

admixture of other dwelling types provided they are of similar density, form and appearance

from the street as dwelling houses. Non-residential uses or forms of residential development

which are not dwelling houses are located in areas which do not flood, and are less than 400

metres from the neighbourhood centre, the University, TAFE or North Wollongong station.

The Botanic Gardens, Beaton and Wisemans Parks will be areas of regional recreation and

environmental importance. East of the railway, higher density residential development over

a commercial ground floor will contribute to the northern gateway to the city. The village

centre is to retain its current character.

Desired Future Character: Keiraville

Areas in Keiraville close to the escarpment will retain a low density leafy environment.

Those areas dominated by dwelling houses will remain as such with gardens in an

environment free from commercial and noisy or ugly activities and buildings but with some

admixture of other dwelling types provided they are of similar density, form and appearance

from the street as dwelling houses. Non-residential uses or forms of residential development

which are not dwelling houses are located in areas which do not flood, and are less than 400

metres from the neighbourhood centre, the University, or TAFE.

The Botanic Gardens and the adjoining escarpment will remain areas of regional recreation

and environmental importance. The green corridor from Mount Keira to Stuart Park will be

reinforced. The village centre is to retain its current character but could have low rise

housing over commercial.

Desired Future Character: West Wollongong

Areas of West Wollongong dominated by dwelling houses, will remain as such with gardens

in an environment free from commercial and noisy or ugly activities and buildings but with

some admixture of other dwelling types provided they are of similar density, form and

appearance from the street as dwelling houses. Non-residential uses, or forms of residential

development which are not dwelling houses, are located in areas which do not flood, and are

less than 400 metres from a neighbourhood centre or 100 metres from Crown Street.

Desired Future Character: Mount Keira

Areas in Mount Keira will retain a low density leafy environment. The areas will be

dominated by dwelling houses with gardens in an environment free from commercial and

noisy or ugly activities and buildings, but with some admixture of other dwelling types

provided they are of similar density, form and appearance from the street. Development

closer to the escarpment should always be at a lower density than that on sites below it.