Minutes

Tuesday 2nd August 2005
Austinmer Bowling Club

Present: John and Frances Vander, Bob and Fran Grover, Rebecca Border, Margaret and John Groom, Greg Watts, Scott Smith, John Greenwood, Quentin Field, Warren Wade, Pat and John Cranston, Rod and Jennifer Maher, Linda Marquis, John and Tracey Noonan, Rosemary Goldman, Cheryl Herrman, Gail and Mike Brennan, Barbara and Barry Allen, Sue Barnett, Leila Visser, Darryl Bromley, Pauline Smith, Ronda Collins, Steve Montgomery.

Apologies: Shelley and Steve Melchior, John Hine, Peter Doak. Meeting commenced at 8pm with a self-introduction by all present.

President's Report (Darryl Bromley)
1. Darryl began by bringing to the meeting's attention various items of correspondence from Lord Mayor Alex Darling since his attendance at the NICC July 5th meeting, including:
a) a letter to BiLo headquarters in Melbourne re BiLo (H'burgh) membership of NICC;
b) identification of clubs and organisations involved with the ad hoc signage along the Parkes St. entry to H'burgh, and correspondence with them concerning the proposed new signage;
c) an invitation to NICC to apply for $150 funding available from W'gong City Council towards our Christmas Party;
d) a traffic survey to be carried out at the H'burgh town centre roundabout (contact person Greg Watts,H'b Post Office Shop).

2. Has invited Greg Binskin (Tourism W'gong) to speak at a NICC meeting and awaiting a reply.

3. Enquiry to Jay Stricker (RTA) re LHD bridge opening celebrations: nothing decided as yet, but will inform Darryl when a decision made. 4. Re Cocktail Party on 12th August at Cliffhanger: very poor response so far from members. Indications of interest required immediately.

5. RSVPs to Barbara for attendance at general meetings still not adequate for catering purposes.

6. Re internet skills training: being already involved in running such courses at Wollongong Council Library, Darryl is willing to run a basic and a more advanced training session for interested NICC members, possibly using H'burgh Library, on a mid-week evening. Small per head charge would apply (say $2). Indications of interest required by next meeting date.

7. Darryl will attend Bulli Rotary Club meeting on Tues.21st August as guest speaker, to talk about NICC. Bulli Rotary may join as a member.

8. Darryl suggested that at next meeting, another brainstorming session should be held to follow up on "Wish List"

Membership Report (John Vander)
1. Welcome to new members Thirroul Newsagency, Commonwealth Bank Engadine, and Pass and Pause B & B.

2. John exhorted all members to network together, and to encourage other potential members.

3. Noted that 15 of those present have joined Austinmer Bowling Club.

Media Liaison and Webmaster's Report (Scott Smith) Re updates to nio.net.au, new members have been added; July minutes posted.

Correspondence Secretary's Report (Leila Visser)
Correspondence IN: Various cheques for membership fees; advertising material re buying and selling businesses; newsletter from Energy and Water Ombudsman re water and energy use; newsletter from W'gong Hospital Cancer Appeal seeking donations. Correspondence OUT: Letter to Lord Mayor re Parkes St.signage; forwarding of Lord Mayor's letter to BiLo, Melbourne, re BiLo(H'burgh) membership of NICC.

Treasurer's Report (Bob Grover) Balance last meeting: $20,904.14; July Receipts: $1925.12 (Meals 1025.00, Membership 900.00, Interest 0.12); July Payments: $1178.55 (Meals 1102.90, Postage/stationery 52.65, ATO (GST payment) 23.00); Balance this meeting : $21,650.71.

Other Business
Pauline Smith raised the subject of discussions with NPWS concerning the opening up of certain bush tracks; NPWS has an environmental consultant working on ways to link up a series of walks starting from the Royal National Park and progressing down the South Coast. She would like this consultant to come to a meeting to explain what is happening.

Pat Cranston responded with some background to the closure of the Sublime Point and Bulli Tops/escarpment walking tracks, pointing out the importance of these tracks to tourism in the Illawarra. Pauline suggested all members install racks to display other members' brochures. It was noted that NICC Membership Directory is intended to be used among members for promotion of other members & businesses. Darryl also reminded members to take their brochures to the Tourist Information centres for display.

Scott reported on the development of the signs for H'burgh entrances: proposed to be 2.5m wide, and will be respectful of H'burgh's heritage. He will be meeting with the united sports groups next Wednesday to discuss removal of existing signs. Scott has also been holding negotiations with artist Terrance Plowright re public sculptures in H'burgh town centre. Funding to be sought for this.

John Cranston suggested that NICC should take a page of the local paper (H & D News) each month showcasing NICC.(Say, all member businesses around outside, and featuring a central "business of the month").

Scott reported that he has begun to promote NICC, its events and website in H&D News.

Guest Speakers

Linda Marquis - Manager, Northern Wollongong Business Development Project. Linda introduced herself to the meeting with a description of her role which is, in a nutshell, to make sure affected businesses survive the LHD closure and are still alive when the new bridge opens. Employed by Illawarra ITeC, her position is funded by the Federal Govt.through the Regional Partnerships plan, and by the State Govt.through its Mainstreet program, with a small amount from the RTA, and her 15 month contract will end in July 2006. Taking up her position on 2nd May, Linda began by cold-calling all the businesses in the Thirroul, Austinmer and Coledale area, and instituting a series of traders and meetings (5 have now been held) for businesses to get together to discuss their problems and develop some strategies/projects. Linda is also now available and working with businesses up in the 2508 area . One emerging factor for example has been the difficulty some businesses are experiencing in keeping up with tax payments, BAS returns etc. Linda went to Canberra to lobby for help and has obtained an amnesty for affected businesses in the 2515 and 2508 areas: Linda collects ABNs and trading names, and an ATO representative contacts businesses to work out a payment program, with exemption from penalties for late payment etc. Linda is also trying to organise a series of postcards on the Northern Illawarra, featuring walks between villages and towns; NPWS has supplied her with maps of walking tracks and info on some soon to be reopened. Another project is a brochure on the northern villages, with the Loop Road to be featured. In summary, she is here to be our "arms and legs".

Steve Montgomery - RTA Supervisor Steve began with a few interesting facts about LHD, especially noting some of the large rockfalls which have occurred since its opening in the 1860s, including a 200 ton fall in 1879, and a fatal accident in 1963 when a car ended up in the ocean after driving onto the gravel shoulder at a particularly unstable spot due to a previous slippage. He reminded us that geological problems have been the main concern. We were then shown photographs taken at different stages of the construction, and given an overview of the first stage, the northern bridge, constructed using the "incremental launch" method. The second stage, the southern bridge, is currently under construction by the "balanced cantilever" method, with four major piers. The aim of the project is to be 100 years maintenance free. The only remedial work being done on the existing road is the widening of LHD on the northern approach to allow trucks and buses to pass each other, and to allow for a cantilevered walkway along that section.Once the bridge is opened, all superfluous roadway, service roads etc.must go; this will be achieved through use of rocks, terracing and landscaping with native shrubs etc. One of only four bridges in the world which stand above the ocean and parallel with the coastline, this will be a unique and spectacular tourist attraction in Australia.

Meeting closed at 9.35pm.