In a tribute at this year's first council  meeting, Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery acknowledged those who have helped and been affected during the bushfire crisis. He spoke of the tragic loss of life, thanked emergency services and the praised the efforts of Wollongong council staff who had lent support to the surrounding fire-affected areas

Cr Bradbery says mayors of fire-affected councils deserve to be paid more than a "measly" mayoral allowance for their tireless work during the bushfires. He also named Bega Valley's Kristie McBain, Eurobodalla's Liz Innes, Shoalhaven's Amanda Findley, Wingecarribee's Duncan Gair and Wollondilly's Matthew Deeth for their "outstanding job".

Innovative new "rain gardens" could soon pop up along Wollongong's roads and in parks, as the city looks for ways to become more drought and flood proof. On Monday, at the behest of Greens councillor Mithra Cox, councillors unanimously agreed to develop guidelines to allow the swamp-style gardens - which other councils use to manage stormwater and capture water - to be built in Wollongong.

Residents of Port Kembla and surrounds are heading into what shapes as a long, hot summer with the suburbs's landmark pool out of action - with no estimate of an opening day in sight. Wollongong City Council has closed the pool because sand was clogging up the saltwater intake pipes, and the closure seems to likely to extend towards Christmas and perhaps longer.

Wollongong council set a strong target for becoming carbon neutral. The Lord Mayor and Councillors spoke passionately about climate change on Monday night, and agreed in a unanimous vote to "send a powerful message" about where the city stands.

Wollongong councillors have agreed to sell the city's shares in the regional telecommunications company Southern Phone, despite concerns from two councillors that the sale to AGL may be "fishy".

Wollongong is ideally placed to develop the kind of recycling plants that could ease the crisis in the recycling industry, Greens city councillor Mithra Cox said.

At next week's Wollongong council meeting, Liberal councillor John Dorahy will put forward a proposal to investigate installing light rail in Wollongong.  He will ask the council to deliver a report into the potential costs and benefits of light rail - as well as trackless trams - as well as a plan to drum up support from politicians, business leaders and other stakeholders.

Other councillors are suggesting there are other priorities when it comes to the city's transport.

Wollongong councillor Cath Blakey was frustrated and shocked that some of her fellow colleagues voted to delay setting an emissions target for the city.

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.

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.

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.

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.

After claiming to have been overlooked during plans for mountain biking on Mt Keira, more than 15 environmental groups have joined forces to ensure the protection of the Illawarra escarpment. The Illawarra Escarpment Alliance includes representatives from the Illawarra Greens, Native Plants Association, National Parks Association of NSW, Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council and Illawarra Bird Observers Group.

The groups decided to band together to ensure councils, governments and bodies know who to come to in the early stages of consultation.

Greens Councillor, Cath Blakey was one of the speakers.

The Greens brought an all-electric campaign vehicle to Wollongong on Thursday to show a renewable-powered future can be closer than sceptics think. While Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten are getting around the country in big buses, the Illawarra Greens' campaign chariot is a more modest retro bubble caravan - towed by an electric car.