Local protests on the menu

Council’s plans to build a restaurant on Towradgi’s foreshore have met with opposition.

Local mum Larra Jones from the newly formed Towradgi Beach Action Group has accused Wollongong City Council of beefing up the size of the planned kiosk/café.

In the first week since being founded the group secured 1300 signatures from residents claiming they do not want the development to go ahead.

Council outlined plans to build a kiosk/café at Towradgi Park in 2005, as part of the Towradgi Park Masterplan.

The Development Application outlines plans for a 156-seat restaurant/kiosk with indoor and outdoor seating.

Ms Jones said the community was happy with the original idea of a small kiosk, but now feel the development planned is less about locals and more about tourists.

The plans include upgrading and relocating the site’s ‘substandard’ toilet and change room facilities to the same building.

Council’s Manager of Commercial Projects and Property Peter Coyte said what council has developed for the site is meeting the need addressed in the 2005 Masterplan.

“From my point of view all that was mentioned in the Masterplan was that there would be a kiosk/restaurant and that’s what we’ve developed,” he said.

Mr Coyte said a kiosk alone would not make any money but said the development proposed would attract tourists and provide locals with a food outlet on the point.

In another twist the leaflets put out by the Towradgi Park Action Group against the development have been met with pro-restaurant leaflets from an unnamed source- urging residents to email council in support of the development.

The Wollongong and Northern Leader also obtained a copy of an email circulating the community attributed to former Wollongong City Councillor Val Zanotto, asking people to ignore the “do gooders” protesting the plans.

“This is all part of what the community has wanted for a long time and finally we are going to be able to have it,” the email said.