Chris Williams, Wollongong

Residents of Thirroul, a suburb north of Wollongong, are outraged at plans to redevelop the Beaches Hotel site in the main street.

Wests Illawarra Leagues Club has submitted a development application to Wollongong City Council to replace the pub with a two-and-four-storey complex containing a hotel, restaurant, home units and car parks.

On February 7, more 300 people rallied outside the Beaches Hotel to oppose the development and the broader “corporate takeover” of Thirroul. Balloons were flown at the rally to indicate the proposed height of the development.

The Greens’ Jill Merrin expressed that party’s support for the community’s demands. Labor’s mayoral candidate Bob Proudfoot said he was “disappointed” at his Labor colleagues’ support for the development and promised to attempt to persuade them to change their minds.

“Wollongong council is in the pockets of the developers, so we must stop this ourselves — even in the courts if we have to”, said protest organiser Cate Wilson.

There are also plans to transform the Kings Theatre into a police station and to close Lawrence Hargrave Drive Residents fear that runaway corporate development will increased traffic congestion, block Thirroul's beautiful views of the Illawarra escarpment and result in a loss of open space.

From Green Left Weekly, February 11, 2004.
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