‘It’s going to get worse’: Wollongong mayor Gordon Bradbery warns of dire outlook for council coffers

Wollongong Council has adopted a plan which will lay the groundwork for the next decade of infrastructure spending, however, mayor Gordon Bradbery warns ratepayers will be disappointed.

Wollongong mayor Gordon Bradbery sounded an ominous warning as the council passed through its 10-year strategic plan on Monday night, while taking aim at the NSW government for not supporting local governments.

The council unanimously carried the plan dubbed ‘Our Wollongong Our Future 2032’ on the back of 350 submissions from residents critiquing it on issues such as sporting fields, active transport and open space and natural area management.

But despite the hopeful submissions, Cr Bradbery warned that Wollongong Council’s financial position was “extremely challenging, and it’s going to get worse”.

The mayor labelled the divvying up of the city‘s $112 million capital works funds as “carving up a very small pie” with the council simply struggling to ”keep its head above water”.

“All I can say is this community has great expectations,” he said.

Gordon Bradbery has a gloomy outlook regarding Wollongong Council's purse. Picture: Business Illawarra

“Unfortunately, we don’t have the budget to meet those expectations.

“[The community] is going to be disappointed because there is no way council will be able to deliver on the problems.”

Cr Bradbery also admonished the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal for making the council “beg cap in hand” for an applied rate variation of 1.8 per cent (around $12 per resident) after it had initially set the figure at 1 per cent.

“A rise of 1.8 per cent is pathetic when we were expecting even 2.5 per cent to keep abreast of all the inflationary costs,” the mayor said.

“It should be heading north of 4 or 5 per cent, but 1.8 per cent is nothing really.

“We can’t meet expectations because of the economic climate and challenges … not least the attitude to the state government towards local governments – we’re working with one hand tied behind our back.

“We had to go beg cap in hand for a mingy amount of money.

“We’re in for an interesting ride to be a financially sustainable council.”

The Illawarra Stingrays have had to hire JJ Kelly Park, Coniston’s home ground, for years. Picture: Adam Rozmus

The overwhelming majority of public feedback (71 per cent) related to sporting fields with a particular focus on homeless National Premier League Women‘s football side the Illawarra Stingrays.

Nadine Page, the club’s vice president, addressed councillors during public access where she asked why “nothing of substance has happened” regarding an increase and improvements to the region’s footballing facilities.

Ms Page “reminded” the council that football was the most popular participatory sport in the LGA and slammed previous feasibility studies on the topic being ”ambiguous at best”.

Ms Page also claimed the Illawarra was losing talented athletes to Sydney suburbs with better access to facilities and asked councillors to “consider what image it portrays when people see the relatively poor facilities in this region”.

Illawarra Stingrays vice president Nadine Page speaking during public access on Monday night. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Russell Vale Junior Football Club president Daniel Hunter speaking during public access on Monday night. Picture: Dylan Arvela

The president of Russell Vale Junior Football Club, Daniel Hunter, also spoke during public access in support of the Stingrays as well as his club’s need for better drainage and facilities at Cawley Park which is yet to host a game this season.

The Stingrays, who had nearly 20 players and volunteers at the meeting, were able to secure a couple of small wins on the night with council staff set to have a briefing with the club about a way forward as well as an amendment to the motion seeking to “progress the planning and development of a home ground for the Illawarra Stingrays”.

Councillor Mithra Cox, an over-30s footballer with Figtree Football Club, expressed her sympathy for all local sporting clubs who were struggling to get on the park this year.

“I know it’s a very difficult time for sport,” the Greens councillor said.

“It’s been three difficult years. Coming on the back of Covid, kids who were really good soccer players three years ago are now maybe not so good and I am worried about losing a whole generation of kids.

“It’s time to draw up a new priority list for sport.”