Wollongong Local Strategic Planning Statement 2020 June 2020 Wollongong Local Strategic Planning Statement Page i ADOPTED BY COUNCIL: 29 JUNE 2020 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY Wollongong City Council would like to show their respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Land, of Elders past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Wollongong Local Strategic Planning Statement Page ii Executive Summary In 2011 the community developed the vision included in the Community Strategic Plan “From the mountains to the sea, we value and protect our natural environment and we will be leaders in building an educated, creative and connected community”. Located between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Tasman Sea, the City of Wollongong has a population of some 218,000 people, who live in 85,000 dwellings. The narrow coastal plain is also the location of a Regional City, a State Significant Port, an international University, Coal Mines, a Steelworks, tourism activities and many other facilities that contribute to a combined Gross Regional Product of $12.15 billion. The setting also defines the City’s natural beauty. Over the next 20 years, the NSW State Government estimates that the Wollongong population will grow by 47,000 persons, who will require an additional 23,800 dwellings. These are dwellings that will be occupied by our children, and grandchildren, and others moving to the area because of its employment and housing opportunities and the great natural landscape. Wollongong is a Regional City in its own right, and is not part of Sydney, although has important links to Sydney, south-west Sydney and the future Western Sydney Aerotropolis. Land Use Planning plays an important role in guiding land use and development in the City. Council has prepared this Local Strategic Planning Statement to provide a 20-year land use planning vision for the City. It has drawn on the many existing strategies and plans developed, exhibited and adopted by Council. In many respects, Council and the LGA needs to continue on the current settings. There will be growth and there will be change. There will also be opportunity to change and review the current settings. The biggest challenges and opportunities addressed by the Statement are: • Employment opportunities; • Climate Change Resilience and meeting the Emissions Reduction Target; • Housing the additional 47,000 people in appropriate locations; • Creating great places; • Supporting the population with culture, recreation and social activities; • Enabling infrastructure and transport – both within Wollongong, and to the adjoining regions; and • Protecting the environment, which is also the backdrop and the attraction of the area. Wollongong Local Strategic Planning Statement Page iii Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................... iii 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Purpose of Local Strategic Planning Statement? ...................................................... 1 1.2 Legislative context .................................................................................................... 3 1.3 LGA introduction....................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Our Wollongong 2028: Community Strategic Plan (2019) ........................................ 7 1.4.1 COVID-19 ......................................................................................................... 10 1.5 Mega trends ........................................................................................................... 10 1.6 State context .......................................................................................................... 13 1.7 Regional context ..................................................................................................... 14 1.7.1 Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan (2015) ...................................................... 15 1.7.2 Other regional plans ........................................................................................ 16 1.8 Building the Statement ........................................................................................... 17 2. Jobs and Economic Growth ....................................................................................... 19 2.1 Informing strategies................................................................................................ 20 2.1.1 Economic Development Strategy .................................................................... 20 2.1.2 Creative Wollongong 2019-2024 ..................................................................... 21 2.1.3 Wollongong City Centre Planning Review ....................................................... 21 2.1.4 NSW Ports Master Plan for Port Kembla ......................................................... 23 2.1.5 University of Wollongong masterplan ............................................................. 25 2.1.6 Retail Centres Study ........................................................................................ 25 2.1.7 Employment Lands Study ................................................................................ 26 2.1.8 Western Sydney and Illawarra Shoalhaven Roadmap to Collaboration ........... 27 2.2 Vision and key actions ............................................................................................ 27 2.2.1 Tourism Accommodation Review .................................................................... 28 2.2.2 Draft Retail Centres Study ............................................................................... 28 2.2.3 Draft Employment Lands Planning Control Review ......................................... 29 3. Housing for all ........................................................................................................... 31 3.1 Informing strategies................................................................................................ 32 3.1.1 Housing Study .................................................................................................. 32 3.1.2 Wollongong City Centre................................................................................... 33 3.1.3 West Dapto Urban Release Area ..................................................................... 34 3.1.4 Calderwood Urban Release Area ..................................................................... 37 3.1.5 Tallawarra ........................................................................................................ 37 3.1.6 Farmborough Heights to Mt Kembla ............................................................... 37 3.1.7 Planning Proposal requests ............................................................................. 38 3.2 Vision and key actions ............................................................................................ 39 3.2.1 Housing Strategy ............................................................................................. 39 3.2.2 Character Statements ...................................................................................... 40 4. Inclusive and connected communities ...................................................................... 42 4.1 Informing strategies................................................................................................ 43 4.1.1 Creative Wollongong ....................................................................................... 43 4.1.2 Play Wollongong .............................................................................................. 43 4.1.3 Disability Inclusion Action Plan ........................................................................ 44 Wollongong Local Strategic Planning Statement Page iv 4.1.4 Social Infrastructure Planning Framework ....................................................... 45 4.1.5 Heritage Strategy ............................................................................................. 46 4.1.6 Sportsground and Sporting facilities Strategy ................................................. 49 4.1.7 Ageing Plan ...................................................................................................... 49 4.1.8 The future of our Pools Strategy...................................................................... 50 4.1.9 Public Toilet Strategy ....................................................................................... 51 4.1.10 Public Art Strategy ........................................................................................... 52 4.1.11 Town and Village Plans .................................................................................... 53 4.1.12 Cringila Hills Recreation Master Plan ............................................................... 53 4.1.13 Plan of Managements ...................................................................................... 54 4.2 Vision and key actions ............................................................................................ 55 5. Climate Action and Resilience ................................................................................... 56 5.1 Informing Strategies ............................................................................................... 58 5.1.1 Environmental Sustainability Policy and Strategy ...........................................