The city of Wollongong has no public voice - because it lacks an elected council. The decisions are made by three administrators - stooges appointed by the state government.
It seems that the main objective is to drive shoppers away from the CBD and the Mall.
What else can be assumed from the decisions to hike the price of council owned parking stations - and now a decision to install unpopular parking meters with an appetite for two dollar coins.
At the same time, years of study and argument on how to rejuvenate the Mall and improve the traffic flow that it disrupts have yet to be decided.
Every decision seems to increase the reason for shoppers to go elsewhere. Grocery shoppers find unlimited free parking at Fairy Meadow and Corrimal, and when it comes to a full service shopping complex the Mall pales into insignificance beside Miranda Fair.
Eventually the ban on elections will be lifted - by either this state government or the next - and we will again select our own representatives. What they will be confronted with is a regime of decisions made by an unelected body that may have struck a mortal blow to the financial health of the heart of this city.
The damage will be done. Those parking meters will be in place and the city will be stuck with a bill for their purchase. Not a chance of them being pulled out - and not a chance of more free parking - because once a money flow has been established it sticks like glue !
The city may as well spend a little more money and erect a few signs at the approaches to the CBD - signs proclaiming " Shoppers are not welcome ! "
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