Community groups fighting for the future of Gleniffer Brae will speak out against Wollongong City Council’s plans to partially sell and lease the site at a public conference today.
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Representatives from five community groups, and the South Coast Labour Council, will hold a conference outside the Wollongong City Council offices at 2pm today, outlining their opposition to the planning proposal, which would see the University of Wollongong take control of the site.
‘‘[Today’s] joint event is an opportunity for key community and union groups to publicly state their position on the council’s current proposals for Gleniffer Brae, in preparation for the public hearing being conducted by the council at the Town Hall at 6pm on Tuesday,’’ Neighbourhood Forum 5 co-convener Felix Bronneberg said.
‘‘People have by now seen the University of Wollongong’s glossy presentations of their development proposals and heard their ads on the radio.
‘‘Now it’s time for key community groups to have their say about the loss of community land and the impact the proposed University of Wollongong development will have on the historic setting at Gleniffer Brae.’’
UOW put forward a proposal to lease Gleniffer Brae for 25 years after Wollongong City Council said it could no longer afford the upkeep of the manor house.
As part of the deal, UOW wants to buy land adjacent to the house and build a three-storey building to house its arts faculty and the conservatorium, which now uses Gleniffer Brae.
Representatives from the Illawarra Shoalhaven branch of The National Trust, Friends of the Botanic Garden, Gleniffer Brae Community Support Group, Reclaim our City and Neighbourhood Forum 5 community groups are urging the public to attend the public hearing tomorrow.
