Wollongong City Council has adopted a plan to allow for another 736 homes and a sports field to be built in the fast-growing West Dapto development area.
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The Neighbourhood Plan, supported unanimously by councillors of Monday, will allow a 75-hectare parcel of land off Hayes Lane and Iredale Road to become a new West Dapto neighbourhood west of Horsley and south of Wongawilli.
The plan sets out the details of new release land areas, and needed to be adopted before developers can lodge subdivision plans to be approved by the council.
It outlines details of the infrastructure, like the road network, stormwater and drains, footpaths, bridges needed for the area, and recreation spaces that will eventually be built in the precinct.
It also shows the proposed zonings for residential land, and indicates the allowable dwelling density and public transport, bicycle and pedestrian routes.
Development of the neighbourhood will eventually bring in more than $36 million for the council, which receives fees from developers for each house built. This money is then used by the council to pay for public infrastructure.
The adopted plan allows for the development of 13 hectares of Wollongong Coal land, as well as property owned by AV Jennings and Sundy Investments.
Originally, the new West Dapto neighbourhood was to include a further 750 homes, as well as a neighbourhood centre, a potential primary school site and two sports fields on a much larger part of Wollongong Coal land.
However, recommending these two plans be split in 2018, the council said it required more details before the plan for extra homes and infrastructure could be progressed. According to a report to this week's meeting, Wollongong Coal has not yet been able to address the outstanding issues.
Supporting the plan on Monday, independent councillor Dom Figliomeni said the plan had come out of a "very complex and difficult process" as it involved a number of different land owners.
"This is a good document, it sets out the processes that need to be followed and gives an idea of how the neighbourhoods should look and feel," he said.
He said residents and other stakeholders would be able to continue to have their say as the neighbourhood developed, through the council's development application process.
Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the plan gave certainty to developers and state agencies.
"This Neighbourhood Plan is another step in the development of the largest land area outside of the Sydney City area," he said. "Once complete the West Dapto area will house more than 55,000 people."
The latest West Dapto neighbourhood plan is the 13th to be adopted by the council, with the first adopted almost 10 years ago in December 2010. Many of these have since been constructed, and the area is set to get a major boost this month when the new Fowlers Road bridge finally opens to traffic.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
