Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery has expressed his disappointment and anger at the inequitable treatment shown to Wollongong over the lease of Port Kembla’s port.
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He moved a motion on Monday night that the council write to the state government to express consternation over the distribution of proceeds from the lease, with $100 million to be shared across five local government areas for infrastructure projects.
Newcastle has been allocated $340 million from the lease of its port, which Cr Bradbery said was hugely disproportionate and inequitable.
Per capita, the allocation represents $520 per Wollongong resident, compared with $2289 per Newcastle resident.
He urged the council to seek an urgent meeting with NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and Treasurer Mike Baird to seek a similar proportion of funds to Newcastle.
‘‘This is a slap in the face of the greatest order,’’ he said.
‘‘From my perspective it’s something we need to be cohesive on as a council.’’
Cr David Brown expressed his support for the motion, describing the funding allocation as a "black handed treacherous rip-off".
The city’s councillors were also tonight due to vote on the making of formal submissions to secure a slice of the $100 million allocated to the Illawarra from the sale of the city’s port.
During tonight’s Wollongong City Council meeting, Cr Bradbery outlined three priorities for funding, with the $45 million Fowlers Road Bridge and road connection at the top of his list.
After considering several options over the past 15 months, councillors voted unanimously in March to build a new road from the intersection of the Princes Highway and Fowlers Road to Fairwater Drive.
Under the plan, which forms part of the West Dapto Initial Access Strategy, a bridge will span the rail line and Mullet Creek, and link up with the new Fairwater Drive roundabout.
The route would provide direct access to the F6 and be less likely to flood in heavy rain.
The $5.8 million Bald Hill upgrade and stage one of the Grand Pacific Walk, at a cost of $5 million, were also flagged as priorities.
The council voted in support of writing to the state government and to making formal submissions to the infrastructure fund for the three projects, with the motion passed nine votes to four.
