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The Corrimal Chamber of Commerce doesn't care who scores the goals, as long as someone does and restores the northern suburbs back to their former glory.
Chamber president Paul Boultwood said working hand in hand with Wollongong City Council was imperative in ensuring long overdue work was carried out in Corrimal, Bellambi, Woonona and Bulli.
Mr Boultwood has long called on the council for better spending in the north and has now backed his words with an action plan, developed by the Corrimal Revitalisation Action Group (CRAG).
"We've sent our action plan to the council and Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery," Mr Boult-wood said.
"We want to work with them and encourage them to attend our meetings and speak to residents to find out for themselves what is needed to improve the northern suburbs."
Late last year Mr Boultwood said the $7.7 million from the sale of two large northern suburbs blocks presented the council with the perfect opportunity to show the northern suburbs some love.
He said the council should funnel $3.175 million from the sale of the Underwood Street car park directly into the suburb.
The 5254 square metre Corrimal car park sold at auction, along with a large block of industrial land at Russell Vale, which went for $4.6 million.
Mr Boultwood still feels the money should be used to revitalise Corrimal and other suburbs in the north.
"The action plan states some of the things we require in the north. A lot of these things are readily available in other parts of the city, such as the facade program the council offers to retailers in Wollongong. We’d love a similar program for Corrimal,’’ Mr Boultwood said.
‘‘Corrimal is the business hub of the northern suburbs but it doesn’t even have a yellow post box for express post, meaning business owners have to travel to Woonona or Fairy Meadow.
‘‘We’ve held countless surveys and the common response from our residents is that the place looks run down, which is not surprising considering there hasn’t been any real money spent in the northern suburbs for 25 to 30 years.
‘‘In our action plan we’ve sought assistance for the
Wonderwalls street festival, a new Memorial Park entrance and bus stop which makes best use of Luke’s Place [playground].
‘‘We’d love to have tables, chairs and barbecue facilities for parents to use while their kids play in the fully gated park.’’
Mr Boultwood encouraged the community to take part in a survey at surveymonkey.com/s/VJPXXZT which CRAG will forward to council.
He also reminded interested people to attend a chamber and a breakfast meeting (7am) at Corrimal Uniting Church, Russell Street, on Friday, February 20, with Minister for the Illawarra John Ajaka. Visit corrimalchamber.com.au or call 0418550080 for information.