updating the web site

I have put up a clearer presentation of policy and commitments now at www.shoalhaven2020.net

Do let me have comments!

Dennis

NOT SO MUCH WRITTEN HERE, BUT LOTS HAPPENING!

I confess I've been running and building pages of commitments and things to be done in a new kind of council, over at www.shoalhaven2020.net

Do go have a look. 

East Nowra Sub-Arterial Road

I made clear at a meeting at the council last night, where the council was presenting its traffic management plans for the extension of the Stocklands shopping complex, that putting traffic through this community was simply unacceptable. This council has allowed the east Nowra community to slip, over thirty years (Mayor Watson first presided over our local government in 1978), to a situation of social disadvantage comparable with western NSW. I have placed background information on East Nowra including links to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' Index of Social Disadvantage among papers supporting my 100 Days document.

This means in practice that the Council should abandon the $4 million pork barrel of election enhancing projects it secretly put in the budget at a councillor 'briefing' two weeks ago. It also means a timing adjustment for the North Nowra Link Road. On the ABS's Index of Social Index the Shoalhaven overall scores 964. North Nowra scores 1004, Bangalee, Tapitallee, Cambewarra 1093. East Nowra scores 826... Only two local government areas rate below Nowra's score — in the far west of NSW - Brewarrina 764 and Central Darling 821. I get this information via the Shoalhaven Council web site. The council knows this situation, it has allowed this situation to develop, it has allowed the Stocklands project to roll forward having in mind simply that they can roll traffic through the most vulenrable community we have. Unacceptable, appalling, I will have no part of that. 

I live in North Nowra, I do drive and walk Illaroo Road in peak times. The problems of traffic demand more fundamental adjustments, including 

• the highway bypass to the west, as soon as possible after Berry to Bomaderry.
  
• another bridge

In that context, the provocative North Nowra Link Road over Bomaderry Creek (not mentioned in the mayor's ridiculous brochure assurances that he a is true greenie) is a ticket to ride to the polls, not to anywhere important to long term design. It will, with increased southbound traffic funnelled from further north onto the highway, irritate people coming from Bomaderry and Bolong Road - their entry will be made more diffcult. Short term, where are the solutions to the traffic jam at Princes Highway-Bridge Road? That traffic jam is what blocks the Illaroo Rd-Princes Highway corner. Where is the right turn traffic going? Is it going beyond the CBD. If so, let's calm the traffic going that way, to encourage vehicles to stay on the highway and turn right further south. 

Dennis