Let sanity prevail !

Wollongong council is gnashing it's teeth and promising draconian measures next year to prevent visitors sleeping overnight in Stuart park.  Crowds from western Sydney as well as locals from distant suburbs congregate at this pleasant park to watch the New Year's eve fireworks - and it has become a custom to bring a pup tent and sleep on the grass until new year's day

It is against local by-laws to pitch a tent or otherwise camp in a park and that offence carries a $ 110 fine.  Council claims it was compassionate this year and issued no fines, but it is threatening to unleash a horde of rangers at the end of 2013 to make sure this does not happen again.

The bean counters and the nay sayers are missing the point.    The city spends public money to put on a big fireworks display to usher in the new year and we should be glad that this attracts visitors to our city.  Unlike the Sydney new year fireworks, there is little public transport to get people here home afterwards - and new year is a time when people celebrate with a few drinks.   Surely, it is preferable for people not to drive and for safety reasons sleeping in the park should be encouraged on this one big night of the year ?

Then there is the commercial aspect.   Those that stay overnight usually spend part of new year's day in this city - and that means spending money for breakfast, touring and the host of activities that keep the tills of our tourist attractions buzzing.

Council would do well to consider the up-side of this tourist influx.   In contrast, those staying overnight on the grass do no harm.   Like any holiday crowd, they leave behind litter, but probably little more than would be left by the midnight fireworks revellers anyway - and there is certainly no permanent damage to the grass or the park facilities.

Wollongong prides itself on being a friendly city that welcomes tourists.  In fact, we spend money trying to lure tourists here and our beaches have become the prime choice of western Sydney because of easy access - and because there are no draconian parking restrictions as apply at most of Sydney's overcrowded stretches of sand.

The police congratulated Wollongong new year revellers for their responsible behaviour and few arrests.
Family groups enjoyed the fireworks - and then settled on the grass in Stuart park to await the dawn and a new day.   They did that without causing any harm and now council is threatening to force them into their cars and make them drive out of the city - because what is perfectly legal in day light becomes an offence when committed in darkness.

The same people pitch the same tents to shelter from the hot sun while claiming a prime position to view that night's fireworks.    That seems acceptable, but the moment the fireworks end the council is hell bent on making them leave.

That attitude seems to lack sanity !