Developers behind a controversial push to build 16 new houses on "the last remaining large contiguous parcel of residential zoned land in Wollongong's northern suburbs" have signalled that they hope to move ahead with their proposal despite opposition from residents and the council.
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Wombarra Vista Pty Ltd has recently lodged extra information with Wollongong City Council, addressing some of the outstanding concerns about their plan to develop vacant land between the railway line and Lawrence Hargrave Drive, next to Coledale Hospital.
First lodged in late 2019, the plans angered residents, who said they "shows a startling insensitivity to the character" of Wombarra.
The development application is listed as "under appeal - pending court" on the council's website.
According to the original plans, developers hope to divide the land into lots ranging in size from 455m2 to 3,500m2, and construct a new public road off Lawrence Hargrave Drive.
Large retaining walls will be built to allow for development on the steep block, and an earthworks operation will involve the removal of 40,000sqm of fill from the site, the plans said.
The developers said their plans will help relieve "housing pressure" in the northern suburbs.
"The 1.9ha site is well serviced by local amenities and facilities and presents a unique opportunity to provide additional home sites in an area under increasing pressure for more housing stock, but with very little capacity to deliver same," the development application says.
This presents a unique opportunity to provide additional home sites in an area under increasing pressure for more housing stock, but with very little capacity to deliver same.
- Developers
However, residents strongly objected to this, with hundreds signing a petition to say that the "tiny coastal village" could not support the extra residents.
In particular they were concerned about how the northern suburbs infrastructure would cope with more homes.
Now, the company has submitted a long list of new documents to the council, addressing outstanding issues like traffic, access for large vehicles, flooding, retaining walls, vegetation, earthworks and utility services at the site.
In response to concerns raised by the council throughout 2020, that the proposed subdivision is "out of character with the local area" and won't conform to the city's development controls, the developers have submitted documents saying that the homes will fit in with the winding escarpment environment.
"The proposed subdivision and ensuing dwellings comply with the aspirations of the Wombarra desired future character by providing single and two storey contemporary dwelling houses in a low-density manner," the documents say.
The new documents are on public exhibition through the council's website until January 12.
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.
