Climate Strike
More than 3000 people -- maybe 4000 -- filled central Wollongong on 20 September. We were led by the young people. We sang, we played music, we marched, we blocked a junction, and there were speeches.
There are lots of films and news reports, but this is way the best -- almost like being there.
We thought the council was on our side. But just 3 days later, Wollongong Council voted against setting a target to control its own emissions. Don't the views of all these people matter? Don't they care about science?
Snap protest at Wollongong Council
ABC Illawarra Report on the snap action in front of Wollongong Council, to protest the council's decision not to approve its own report on setting targets for carbon emissions,
How dare they: climate protesters hit out at Wollongong Council
Wollongong councillor Cath Blakey was frustrated and shocked that some of her fellow colleagues voted to delay setting an emissions target for the city.
Others protesting outside Wollongong City Council's premises on Thursday were angry at the "gall" of the council to take such action weeks after declaring a climate emergency and just days after thousands of people hit the streets of Wollongong demanding climate justice.
Chanting "listen in Mr Brown, keep that carbon in the ground", most of the protesters' frustration was aimed at Labor councillor David Brown.
It was Cr Brown who drove the deferral at Monday night's council meeting, saying he supported a council emissions target but wanted to ensure residents were supportive. Wollongong will now miss the deadline for setting an emissions target under its 2017 agreement with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy; it was required to set a "science-derived" target by August/September.
This has angered many in the community, including activists from the Youth Environment Alliance (YEA) and climate strike organiser Martin Cubby.
Read the report by Agron Latifi in The Illawarra Mercury, 26 September 2019.
Read moreConiston Football Club defends charging Illawarra Stingrays $12k to use fields
The president of Coniston Football Club has defended charging more than $12,000 a year for the Illawarra Stingrays women's club to use his team's fields. Speaking at Monday night's Wollongong council meeting, John Karayiannis addressed a number of issues which had been highlighted at the last meeting by Stingrays president Kathy McDonogh.
In her successful campaign to convince councillors to find a home ground for the premier women's team, Ms McDonogh told councillors that JJ Kelly Park, where the team plays most of its "home" games, was leased out by the council for just over $600 a year. This was then subleased, she said, to the Stingrays at a cost of about $12,000.
Mr Karayiannis confirmed that the Stingrays paid Coniston $12,454 per year, for five match days or 55 games per year.
At the previous meeting, Wollongong councillors had expressed surprise about the subleasing arrangement, which is allowed within the council's lease terms, and also said it was vital that the council take action to find the Stingrays a home ground.
In particular, Greens councillor Mithra Cox said there was "a ring of sexism" about the council's inaction over more than a decade, while Labor Councillor Janice Kershaw said she was "shocked" by the subleasing arrangement.
Read the report by Kate McIlawain, The Illawarra Mercury, 24 September 2019.
Read moreWollongong council stalls on setting emissions target despite global push for action
On Monday, Wollongong's councillors were due to set a target for the city to be carbon neutral by 2050 and reduce emissions by 2.7 per cent each year in the meantime. This would have helped to stretch out the city's remaining carbon budget - which will run out in 18 years with no action - and triggered development of an "emissions target reduction plan" in consultation with residents and industry.
However, after a long debate - which included questions from some councillors over whether humans are causing climate change - the majority, led by Labor councillor David Brown, voted that the target should be "deferred" pending an earlier round of consultation.
Wollongong will now miss the deadline for setting an emissions target under its 2017 agreement with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy; it was required to set a "science-derived" target by August/September.
Greens Councillor Mithra Cox voted against the deferral and said she was saddened and disappointed, especially after thousands of residents took to Wollongong's streets last week to demand action over climate change.
She noted emissions targets had been in development for several years, and that the council had signaled its intention to act on greenhouse emissions by declaring a climate emergency last month.
She said it was "absolutely imperative" the council consult with residents and businesses on developing an action plan for how it would achieve the targets, but that "consulting on these targets undermines the whole thing".
Read the report by Kate McIlwain, The Illawarra Mercury, 24 September 2019
Read moreProblems of dredging Lake Illawarra
A very thorough report on the management of Lake Illawarra is on public display. Dredging is not a part. But there has been a community push for dredging some parts of Lake Illawarra. This has been met with concern from wetlands scientists.The lake stores carbon in wetland soils helping mitigate climate change, and the scientists fear dredging could disrupt the ecosystem. Greens Councillor Cath Blakey is interviewed.
Watch the report by WIN News, 30 August 2019.
Greens councillor Mithra Cox urges council to look at ways to ensure that all new buildings are energy positive
Read the article by Brendan Crabb, Illawarra Mecury, 3 September 2019.
Read more
West Dapto Styrofoam pollution
Australia's love for cheap and quick to build homes is wreaking havoc on the environment in West Dapto. Tonnes of toxic waste is being blown from construction sites - Wollongong City Council today putting building companies on notice. Greens Wollongong Councillor Cath Blakey wants it stopped.
See the report from 9 News Illawarra,
No 'stunt', Wollongong councillor backs climate emergency motion
Ward 1 Greens councillor, Mithra Cox has welcomed a move by fellow Labpr Councillor Ann Martin for Wollongong Council to declare a climate emergency. Cr Cox said that Cr Martin's motion, set to be debated at next Monday night's council meeting, acknowledges the seriousness of the problem and encouraged other local councils to follow suit.
Cr Cox said while climate change has been "politically polarised for decades", now was the time for all to work together on solutions.
"This is an important motion that acknowledges the seriousness of the problem, and the short time we have left to take serious action," she said. "We don't have decades left to turn this ship around and gradually reduce emissions. We need to act now. This year, this month, today.
Read the article by Agron Latifi in The Illawarra Mercury, 7 August 2019
Wollongong council to trial Food Organics Waste Organics service
Wollongong City Council will shake up how residents throw away their household waste. The council will hold a food organics and garden organics trial later this year. FOGO aims to divert food and organic waste from landfill, via the red-lidded bins, and into compost, via the green-lidded bin.
last year the then Greens Ward 3 council candidate, Jamie Dixon, started a petition for a trial of FOGO, and now it is supported by Greens councillors Mithra Cox and Cath Blakey.
A council spokesman said the initiativwould increase the life of the Whytes Gully landfill facility and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases.
Read the article by Ashleigh Tullis in The Illawarra Mercury, 1 July 2019
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