Constructive conversations were a key focus of a drop-in session held at Windang Senior Citizens Centre today, Friday 24 May.
From 1pm, community members were able to visit the centre and chat with staff who are subject matter experts from areas across Council as part of Let’s Chat Windang. Staff in the room included those whose work focussed on infrastructure delivery and maintenance, care and management of Lake Illawarra, natural areas as well as customer service.
“It’s really important to us as we continue to recover from April’s natural disaster that we’re continuing to have contact with our residents and hear directly from them about their experiences and concerns,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.
“What we’ve done with this drop-in session is provide an opportunity for community members from Windang and surrounds the opportunity to come and talk with staff one-on-one about their areas of interest.
“We’ve had people asking about the Windang foreshore playground and the coastal erosion around the lake as well as asking for advice around the NSW Government-managed jettys.
“This community-focussed outreach provides us the opportunity to have constructive conversations, share our knowledge and expertise and learn from each other.”
Today’s Windang event will be followed by Let’s Chat Thirroul on Friday 7 June at the Thirroul Community Centre and Library.
Staff from Reconstruction NSW were also in the room at the centre.
“At Council we’re faced with the challenge of working through an extensive list of impacted infrastructure and looking at how we can prioritise rebuilding and repairing those parts of our city that were significantly impacted by the rain and storm event,” Cr Bradbery said.
“We need to do this, while also managing Council’s business as usual. It’s a balancing act to use our limited resources for the greatest immediate benefit.
“The conversations we’ve had today, helps to keep Council and community on the same page as we work towards our collective goal of making Wollongong a great place to live.
