After recommendations from Wollongong City Council some of the key changes in the plan by Legacy Property and Illawarra Coke Company were to reduce the number of dwellings from nearly 900 to 550, reduce their maximum building height to four storeys (15 metres) and increase their buffer around a grey-headed flying fox population. If successful the once industrial 18-hectare site will be repurposed for residential development, conservation and open space.

President of the Corrimal Community Action Group (CCAG) Anne Marett welcomed the changes but claimed there were still unresolved issues with contaminated waste, an emergency exit too close to a train crossing which could "put lives at risk", increased traffic causing congestion on Railway Street and the use of "outdated" traffic information which she said was misleading.

"The issue of greatest concern to the community is still the traffic this development will generate, all through one access point on Railway Street," she said. "This issue has not been dealt with."

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A spokeswoman for the developers was quick to dispute the claims and said detailed traffic modelling had been undertaken in consultation with council and Transport for NSW and was not out of date, while noting the plans also included the construction of a new roundabout access on Railway Street, plus upgrades to the Memorial Drive and Railway Street intersection.

In regards to the proposed emergency access putting lives at risk, the spokeswoman said it was "disappointing to see such an exaggerated claim".

"The development provides a primary access point on Railway Street, which will have extra width to provide greater flexibility in the event of emergencies," she said. "There are also two other points of secondary emergency access along Railway Street. Emergency access points are subject to traffic control in emergency scenarios to safely manage egress and ingress."

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Ms Marett said CCAG also held grave concerns for community health over contaminated waste which was a consequence from 100 years dealing with coal.

"Extensive contamination testing has been undertaken across the property with the number of sample locations exceeding EPA requirements by 24 per cent," a spokeswoman for the developers said.

"There is no evidence of widespread contamination with only 4 per cent of samples exceeding the relevant criteria. A comprehensive Remediation Action Plan has been prepared to address minor areas of contamination and this plan has been endorsed by an independent Site Auditor. All site works and remediation will be carried out in accordance with NSW EPA regulations."

The spokeswoman also said developers planned to plant more trees than would be taken out for the construction of the new roundabout, while a "flexible commercial and community space" would be part of the new "heritage precinct" at Corrimal station.

The general public can view the draft Planning Proposal, draft Development Control Plan chapter and draft Planning Agreement letter of offer via the Wollongong City Council website (or call 4227 7111 for further details) and can also provide feedback until August 31.

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