Jane Davenport, 33, Artist
Illawarra Mercury
Tuesday June 7, 2005
INTERNATIONALLY renowned photographic artist Jane Davenport, 33, moved to the Illawarra because of its proximity to Sydney, natural beauty and the ability to have a garden full of parrots, butterflies and bandicoots.
"I would only leave if the region became an outer suburb of Sydney!" she said. "I love the natural aspects of the region. "I have built a business that can be run electronically from my home amongst the gum trees, even though it is very difficult in the northern suburbs with limited broadband service and terrible mobile coverage."The Illawarra offers a quality of life that is hard to beat so I expect that the brain drain will have a boomerang effect."Ms Davenport said she believes the lifestyle factors will encourage more innovators to move to the region."Maintenance of our natural assets, specialist schools such as the performing arts high school, and quality services will attract more talent to the region. We should be more popular as a tourist destination," she said. "When Lawrence Hargrave Rd reopens there will be incredible opportunity to grow tourism-based businesses as people come to enjoy what will be one of Australia's most spectacular drives. We need to be ready for it."Although high-density housing will become increasingly necessary with population growth, strict zoning will be important to limit the impact on natural areas. "I would like to see greater importance placed on remnant urban bushland and greater maintenance of those natural areas with weed and feral species control," she said. "Properly considered, sustainable, low impact, high quality development, adequately financed and supported urban bushland management and the maintenance of high quality public spaces are essential."The Wollongong Botanic Gardens are a credit to the region and all of our public spaces and bushland areas should be treated with the same respect and quality of care. These aspects will become increasingly important in the future and would help grow tourism-based businesses and maintain our quality of life."Ms Davenport said that although Wollongong grew out of support for a large business, it is all the small businesses here that make it a place of opportunity."I would like to see continued improvement of small business infrastructure," she said. "Community and government support of small business initiatives is paramount. Innovative initiatives need infrastructure, seed capital support and practical assistance in getting their message outside the region.She said the Illawarra also has a vibrant art community, which is supported by Wollongong council."I would like see the cultural initiatives in progress to grow in popularity and strength and the community audience to grow," she said.
© 2005 Illawarra Mercury
