Bulli Ranting #2

Update on the Bulli Brickworks fiasco. Coz I know you're all SOOOOO interested in it.

From the Northern Leader 20/07/06:

The Bulli Village Voice on the lack of foresight of Wollongong City Council (WCC) in not providing the possiblity of further job growth in the Northern Illawarra:

Community group Bulli Village Voice (BVV) spokesperson Richard Robinson said announcement of the loss of 250 jobs at Port Kembla steelworks stresses the
importance of saving diversified employment land opportunities in the northern
suburbs.“Bulli has almost lost its entire stock of employment land in recent
times and the remaining sites are under threat from economically damaging
developments,” Mr Robinson said.“The proposed high density residential
development of the former Bulli brickworks site will only add to the traffic on
the F6 and the crush on the trains to Sydney.”Mr Robinson said the development
proposal put forward by the VBC would degrade the lifestyle of residents and
would add stress on local services and infrastructure.“It is up to Wollongong
City Council and the state government to show some strategic leadership on this
development…. What is the jobs plan for the northern suburbs… commute to Sydney?,” he said.“The developer claims its escarpment residential scheme will be flush with home office jobs. This is a joke when most of the western side of Bulli cannot even get Broadband Internet. If the developer has not done its homework on this crucial point how many others are miscalculated?

(My emphasis)

The Village Building Co. (VBV) on how the re-zoning of industrial land to residential will actually increase jobs:

“We will also provide more small-scale live/work apartments and home
offices, that reflect the changing nature of employment in the 21st century,” he
said.“Tertiary sector jobs are more likely to be viable and will be more relevant to the more educated work force now growing up in Wollongong. Once the estate is established its households will also spend millions of dollars annually in the local area – helping to generate many more jobs in local shops, schools and services.”

Ah, gotta love that trickle-down effect. And also love the way that locals are relegated to the service industry.

Maintain the rage etc etc.

(Probably need to admit that both MrB and I commute to Sydney for work. But it's not like we WANT to...)