Cooking smells !

Another Wollongong council fiasco !

It has been found that two up-market restaurant/coffee shops in Cliff Road have been operating without council approval - for six years. Construction was approved, but for some unknown reason Council never got around to signing the clearance for " day to day operations ".

Now nearby residents are demanding that they be shut , because - amongst other things - they object to " cooking smells ".

If that happens the proprietors of two viable Wollongong businesses will lose their source of living, a number of employees will get the sack - and those closed premises will no doubt attract the attention of graffiti gangs.

It seems strange that cooking smells should attract the ire of Wollongong council as a reason for closing cafes which are ideally placed to serve visitors to the famed " Blue Mile " that the council is building.

Several years ago a huge apartment building was constructed at north Wollongong, immediately behind a concentration of fast food outlets which included McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, Red Rooster - and at that time - Chillis.

That complex had no problems with cooking smells - but than again - it's residents were mainly University students.

Wollongong council is also in the process of approving an eight story Housing Commission apartment complex in Market street, close to a plethora of hotels, night clubs and restaurants. No cooking smell problems there either - but then would welfare people complain ? Much too grateful to finally get public housing !

It seems that if all comes back to who you are - and who you know !

And it helps to get a favourable decision if the apartment you live in costs well over a million dollars and has ocean views.

Pity the poor owners and staff - trying to make an honest living - and having their business virtually confiscated - because the council botched the approval process !