A new West Dapto subdivision being developed by Stockland, which has been in the works for several years, is up for approval by Wollongong City Council.
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Located west of the Brooks Reach development between Bong Bong and Cleveland road, the subdivision would make way for 187 new housing lots on 107 hectares.
There would also be a sales information centre lot, an open space lot, two riparian lots and residue lots developed.
The development application also seeks permission for a proposed internal road network including pedestrian and cycle ways, services and stormwater drainage infrastructure, as well as tree removal, grading of the site, retaining walls, excavation and stockpiling of coal washery reject and street tree planting.
Originally, Stockland was hoping to have 1002 lots approved in the area known as the Bong Bong South neighbourhood under the council's development plans.
However, due to a number of outstanding issues relating to possible soil contamination with their 2018 plans, the council asked the development company to withdraw their earlier subdivision.
Now, the land will be developed in three phases, the new plans which are on exhibition with the council say.
The proposed subdivision of 187 housing lots will be "Phase A", the developer said, and the remaining lots will be the subject of later development applications.
Phase B incorporates the remainder of the subdivision of the land north of Reed Creek and an area to the west which has been identified for the future Bong Bong Town Centre, while Phase C will incorporate the land remaining to the south.
According to the developers, the site has been the subject of several site investigations which have revealed that there are four potential areas of environmental concern.
This includes an area of nearly 10,000 cubic metres of coal wash emplacement, which was placed on site from the 1970s from the operations of the nearby Avon Colliery and the Port Kembla Coal terminal. This will be excavated and stockpiled.
There is also a 170sqm area which is covered by lead ammunition from the adjacent former Illawarra Gun Club, and the concentrations of lead have the potential to pose a risk to ecological and human receptors, according to the plans on exhibition.
According to a remedial plan for the site, there is also up to 2.5 million tonnes of stockpiled coal wash material in the northern portion of the site, which will be considered under later development applications.
The plans for the subdivision are on public exhibition through Wollongong City Council's website until August 28.
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.
