Earlier this year, the aged-care provider submitted a plan to rezone about 10 hectares south of the CBD to create a high-density ‘‘south-eastern gateway precinct’’.

The proposal was designed to increase the height limits up to 24metres and allow larger floor space ratios for all land bordered by Corrimal, Swan, Kembla and Glebe streets. This would make way for a high-rise seniors complex of serviced apartments to be built on Warrigal-owned land at Corrimal and Beach streets.

But Wollongong City Council staff said ‘‘there [was] insufficient justification’’ to support this rezoning, as the Warrigal proposal did not contain an assessment of the economic implications, urban design outcomes and effects on employment.

Instead, they said a ‘‘South Wollongong precinct study’’ should be prioritised in the council’s annual plan and budget for next year.

They acknowledged aged care and seniors development was needed, but said an ‘‘independent living seniors development of the scale proposed’’ would be better located in a residential zone closer to the city.

The council officers referenced various planning and economic strategies which stressed the ‘‘vital role of the CBD’’ and said more studies were needed to ensure a rezoning did not affect ‘‘the supremacy of the city centre’’.

There was also a risk that allowing higher residential buildings in the ‘‘enterprise corridor’’ employment land could push existing businesses and industries elsewhere.

Warrigal has been trying to build its two-tower high-rise block for the past eight years and has been knocked back several times.

It has approval from the Land and Environment Court to build a three-storey 120-bed high-dependency unit, but says the serviced-apartment complex is necessary to make this facility financially viable.