Illawarra Greens. Social justice, environmental sustainability, peace and non-violence and grassroots democracy.

Federal government says no to Warrawong community centre library

27 January 2025

Greens Councillors Deidre Stuart, Jess Whittaker and Kit Docker have launched their petition calling on the Federal Government, the local MP Alison Byrnes and PM Anthony Albanese to fund the Southern Suburbs Community Centre and Library in Warrawong.

Wollongong City Council has applied for $15 million in essential funding for this project. The Federal government has rejected this fantastic centre for our wonderful southern suburbs from two rounds of the Commonwealth Growing Regions Program.

Cr Deidre Stuart said: “This callous decision by the Federal government shows the Labor government has no regard for the hard-working people of Warrawong and surrounding villages.

“This lack of funding makes it impossible for the community centre and library to be built.

“We're starting a petition to ask our federal member to represent the southern suburbs of Wollongong and help make it possible for the project to proceed.

“The Southern Suburbs Community Centre and Library is desperately needed for Warrawong and southern suburbs of Wollongong. Warrawong is one of the most disadvantaged suburbs in the state and this project holds so much promise to give people the ability to meet, to socialise, to enjoy a fantastic library and gain all they need to live fulfilling lives. The hard-working citizens of our southern villages deserve better, and we can build this. We need to help them grow and reach higher. Council has been planning and working hard to make sure that citizens have a community centre and library that people in central and northern Wollongong have been enjoying for years.

“Demolition and removal of the old Warrawong Community Centre is already underway, and some community support services have shifted to alternative temporary premises."

Cr Kit Docker said: “Instead of committing to this essential community centre, Labor is taking Wollongong for granted. This is unacceptable. Labor needs to find the funds and help fund a community centre and library for the Southern Suburbs.

“We cannot just leave Warrawong and other southern suburbs residents, waiting, in limbo. Libraries and community centres contribute to building communities, they enhance liveability and support local amenity.”

Cr Jess Whittaker urged residents across Wollongong to “sign the petition to demand funds be allocated to the Southern Suburbs Community Centre and Library in Warrawong, so that construction could begin.”

The petition is available on the Illawarra Greens website