Three years ago, the Department of Planning rejected plans for more intensive residential development as "inconsistent" with the Illawarra Regional Strategy and the planned development of West Dapto.

Now, a substantially revised rezoning proposal has been made public for comment.

HTT Huntley Heritage bought the 480ha site off Avondale Rd in 2001.

The company lodged a development application, for a $27.5 million 18-hole international standard golf course, clubhouse and 60 "stay and play" golf lodges, with Wollongong City Council last August.

It is yet to be determined by the Joint Regional Planning Panel.

Meantime, the residential component of the development has been on hold since the Planning Department flagged concerns with its intensity, its proximity to the Avondale Heights village centre and inconsistency with planning policies.

Under a revised concept plan - on public exhibition until July 23 - the number of residential homes proposed has been cut from 600 initially to 491.

The plan includes a mix of low-density residential, private recreation, tourism, E4 environmental living, E3 environmental management and E2 environmental conservation zones.

Its biggest changes include a reduction in large rural lots from 136 initially to just 21, reflecting the lack of support for development on environmentally sensitive areas at the foot of the escarpment.

Residential development west of the West Dapto urban release area has been scaled back from 234 dwellings to 160, but within the West Dapto boundaries has been increased from 230 homes to 310.

The number of golf chalets has been halved from 10 to five, the proposed village centre scrapped.

But developers will need to convince the council and the Department of Planning the project should be allowed to go ahead, years before other development at the southern end of the West Dapto urban release area.

Stages three and four of the West Dapto LEP, gazetted earlier this year, is not expected to begin for decades and the rezoning of that land has been deferred.

Planning consultants TCG Planning declined to comment yesterday.