Threat to steelworks overblown, Cr Blakey said
The threat to BlueScope's steelworks should the Dendrobium mine not be extended has been overblown, Councillor Cath Blakey said. See the full news item.
Read moreWard 3 Candidate calls for free entry to Dapto pool
Greens' candidate for Ward 3 Jess Whittaker is committed to making Dapto pool free to enter if elected to Wollongong City Council.
Wollongong Council Passes Four Significant Motions
Listen to the ABC Illawarra interview in which Mithra Cox discusses the four resolutions. They are about:
1. Offshore wind farming off the Illawarra coast
2. Investigation into the installation of community electricity storage
3. Climate change adaptation plan
4. National response to reach net zero emissions
'Green industrial revolution' to eclipse coal jobs, NSW Treasurer says
Wollongong Greens Councillor Mithra Cox welcomed the strategy but said it must be based on green hydrogen - produced using renewable energy.
"The green hydrogen industry is particularly important to Wollongong, as it means that we could decarbonise steel production - and it also means a wealth of new jobs and industries," Cr Cox said.
"Wollongong has always been [based] on coal mining, steel making and manufacturing. We want to remain an industrial city - but using the technologies of the 21st Century and ensuring that our future is sustainable."
Business Illawarra executive director Adam Zarth said Illawarra industry was already transforming its energy generation.
Expected global temperature rise to cause extremely alarming sea levels
At Monday night's council meeting councillors will discuss the climate change adaptation plan, which includes an expected temperature rise of 3-4 degrees - something Greens councillor Mithra Cox said was "extremely alarming"
Investigation launched after 10 Norfolk Pine Trees poisoned at Towradgi Park
"What has happened impacts on the whole community. It punishes everybody just because of the greedy actions of a few." said nearby resident and Greens Councillor Mithra Cox.
Cr Cox said the fines were significant for destruction on such a scale and if anyone has any information that leads to a prosecution, that would send out the message that such vandalism is not okay and will not be tolerated by the community.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery has vowed to find those responsible for poisoning at least 10 Norfolk Island Pine trees in Towradgi.
Read more in the Illawarra Mercury
Wollongong council can help schools get solar powered
"Wollongong schools should be set up with solar power - with the help of council, according to councillor Cath Blakey.
The Greens councillor has a notice of motion at Monday night's council meeting to call for participation in the Solar My School program."
Greens call for low-income housing at WIN Grand
The $400 million WIN Grand development should set aside 20 per cent of its apartments for affordable housing, according to a Greens candidate for Wollongong council.
Read moreUrgent call to action
Australia will endure more serious and more frequent fires, floods, and droughts within ten years if carbon emissions aren't dramatically cut.The Illawarra will be impacted by rising sea levels, but our region also has the opportunity to be part of the solution.
Safer roads: Wollongong Councillor Mithra Cox moves for more pedestrian crossings
Wollongong Councillor Mithra Cox has a motion before Council on Monday night, that will enable Council to more easily install pedestrian crossings.
"For too long, cars have been prioritised over kids and in fact over anyone who is trying to walk to school, the shops or around their neighbourhoods.
Cr Cox said Wollongong's lack of pedestrian crossings had always been attributed to the fact that the city could never meet the "warrants" set down by Transport for NSW - strict guidelines that mean the Council cannot install crossings where there are too few or too many cars or pedestrians.
"Developing our own guidelines would enable us to put pedestrian priority crossings in much needed areas like school walking catchments and village shopping precincts," she said.