It is one of a number of objectives in the draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2041 that focuses on environmental issues, which also include water security, clean energy and even increasing tree cover in urban areas.

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The draft plan also looks to develop the Wollongong health precinct, the education and research sectors and placing new housing in existing suburbs.

It also includes the usual aims that have featured in previous government plans, such as developing the port of Port Kembla and reducing rail travel times to and from Sydney.

On Monday the NSW government released the draft plan, which outlines the areas for growth, housing and jobs to ensure the various levels of government are on the same page.

One of the objectives is to work towards making sure the region can reach net zero emissions by 2050 - though the plan acknowledges that won't be easy.

"In the Illawarra Shoalhaven, the energy and transport sectors contribute the bulk of emissions due to the region's energy-intensive industrial processes such as steelworks and manufacturing, and the increased movements of people and goods as the population increases," the plan stated.

Part of that approach would see the region positioned as a clean energy hub, which included the development and use of hydrogen, pumped hydro and biogenic gas (the use of decaying organic matter to generate power).

When it comes to jobs, the plan identifies seven "regionally significant employment lands" from Port Kembla in the north down to HMAS Albatross in the south.

It estimated that these areas could create up to 45,000 jobs.

Through to 2041 the Illawarra Shoalhaven region would need to fill the demand for 58,000 new houses.

Wollongong, Shellharbour and Shoalhaven have been identified as having enough housing supply to meet that need.

While growth areas of West Lake Illawarra and Nowra-Bomaderry are focuses for new housing, the plan states it can be cost-effective in terms of infrastructure to look to place new houses in existing urban areas.

That would mean increasing densities in places like Wollongong, Corrimal - through the development of the cokeworks site - Dapto, Oak Flats, Kiama and Gerringong.

To read the draft updated Regional Plan and leave feedback visit the website at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/ISRP.

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