Kiama, Australia News

The full impact wrought by BlueScope Steel's job cuts can today be revealed as costing the region 2567 jobs, $208 million in household income and wiping $743 million off the value of the Illawarra economy.

Business and civic leaders from the Illawarra will receive a sobering review of Tuesday's Federal budget when they meet in Wollongong today, to hear an analysis of the ramifications for the region.

The Gillard government's relentless pursuit of a surplus has left enough spare cash to fund just a handful of new projects in the Illawarra.

A plan to re-fit Illawarra government buildings to make them more energy efficient will save the State Government nearly $200,000 every year in electricity and water bills.

Donna Haigh, an office manager, and her two daughters, Maggie, who is studying a Bachelor of Performance at the University of Wollongong, and Caitlyn, who once was a model and is now working for local government, drove from Kiama, a two-hour drive from Sydney.

Lisa Pirnar rises at 7.30am, feeds her children breakfast and takes them to day care.