However, a final decision on the project’s future remains in the hands of the Joint Regional Planning Panel, which will meet at the Shellharbour Club next Monday afternoon, to determine the application.

Shellharbour City Council received 88 individual submissions – 84 objections; four in support – during the exhibition period, plus a petition comprising approximately 11,500 signatures objecting from the Stop the Hub community group.

The hub was also the subject of a heated ‘‘public briefing meeting’’ in August where more than 25 speakers vented their frustration at a lack of consultation on the $57 million project, telling the southern region JRPP the proposed hub was too expensive, too extravagant and against the wishes of the community.

The 97-page assessment report from urban planner Helen Mulcahy identified a number of issues with the proposed development, including non-compliance with height, a deficiency in on-site parking provision, non-compliance in terms of car park design and issues associated with the management of stormwater.

‘‘Having regard to the merits of the proposal, it is considered that the City Hub development represents a well-conceived response to all the relevant planning controls and the constraints and opportunities presented by the site and is worthy of approval, subject to conditions,’’ the report concludes.

‘‘It is considered that the parking shortfall is unlikely to be an issue in the immediate future.’’

On Tuesday night, Shellharbour councillors will meet behind closed doors to consider a multimillion-dollar offer for a council-owned residential development site, between the western edge of Albion Park and Tullimbar Village, which has development approval for 284 housing lots and three super lots.

The land at Tullimbar and the sale of the council’s administration building, Lamerton House, and adjoining land, have been forecast to raise more than $30 million for the project.

The proposed City Hub, to be built on the corner of College and Cygnet avenues in Shellharbour City Centre, comprises new council chambers, administrative offices, meeting rooms, auditorium, library, local history museum, cafe and small retail premises; basement parking and loading facilities and a civic square.