Talk that the housing development proposed for the old Corrimal Cokeworks could be reduced to 560 homes has been scotched by the woman behind the plan, who said the target is unchanged, still close to 700.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But most of the trees lining Railway St are now designated to stay, after negotiations with Wollongong City Council caused the landowner, Illawarra Coke Company, to move some of its proposed buildings back from the road.
Some residents held a meeting there last weekend and raised concerns about tree removal, traffic congestion and native wildlife habitat being lost.
Following this, Corrimal Revitalisation Action Group’s Paul Boultwood contacted the Mercury to say consultation had succeeded in reducing the number of dwellings planned to about 560.
He also said the plan to divert the path of the creek would be beneficial to nearby residents, as the creek would return to its natural course.
But Illawarra Coke Company director Kate Strahorn told the Mercury there had been no change to the number of dwellings.
“That’s a misunderstanding,” she said. “Our plan is still for some 700 dwellings.”
“ICC recently modified its Planning Proposal so that a portion of the property at the north east of the property, adjacent to Railway St, will not be rezoned or developed.
“As a result, only one two-story building is now proposed to face Railway St, so only about 20 per cent of the Railway St frontage will be affected by a building.”
Council is considering the application to rezone much of the land from industrial to residential.
Mr Boultwood said residents wanted to ensure the land was rezoned so it could not be re-used for heavy industry in the future.