The controversial Thirroul Plaza proposal is back with Wollongong City Council for the fourth time.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The developers have lodged a revised development application, after the Land and Environment Court granted permission to do so ahead of a late July hearing date.
The proposed development has had a chequered history, with council last year recommending the application be withdrawn rather than risk rejection.
In response the developer took the case to the Land and Environment Court.
Among the changes are the widening of a space in the middle of the building from seven to 14 metres and a reduction in the number of apartments from 82 to 77.
However, Save Thirroul Village spokesman Stephen Le Bas said the changes didn't come close to addressing the residents' concerns, which included traffic congestion, the size of the building and the loss of on-street parking.
"This is the fourth iteration of the DA - we're very frustrated," Mr Le Bas said.
"In essence the developers are changing nothing. They're still just maximising the utilisation of that block and they're taking absolutely no interest of any of the community concerns."
Mr Le Bas said the group wasn't opposed to something being built on that site.
"As a group we're not anti-development, we would just like to see appropriate development and this is such an iconic site in Thirroul," he said.
"That could have a really wonderful piece of infrastructure built on it that serves the community well."
The developers have said the plaza would generate $70 million in economic activity for Thirroul.
They said it would also support 100 permanent jobs through its retail component.
However, Mr Le Bas claimed there was no great increase in retail space compared to what is already on the site.
"The shop count is much the same," he said.
"It's not a mixed use - it's using the existing retail footprint to stick now 77 units on top and create massive additional density in the heart of Thirroul."
The developers for Thirroul Plaza were contacted but declined to comment.
To read more stories, download the Illawarra Mercury news app in the Apple Store or Google Play.
Sign up for breaking news emails below ...
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
