The developer behind a controversial 42-home project in the escarpment at Keiraville hasn't given up on their plans.
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The Surewin Group based in the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe lists the project as "coming soon" on its website, despite being rejected twice by the Southern Regional Planning Panel.
Also, revised plans for the Cosgrove Avenue development have been lodged with Wollongong City Council as part of a listed case before the Land and Environment Court.
It comes as the council is moving ahead with plans to rezone 58 hectares of the escarpment.
The rezoning would include setting minimum lot sizes and building heights, to restrict housing in the escarpment and concentrate it where there is appropriate infrastructure and fewer natural hazards.
The rezoning would include the site of the proposed development.
"Currently, a planning proposal is on exhibition to make a number of amendments to the Wollongong Environmental Plan 2009 land zoning, minimum lot size and floor space ratio mapping for multiple lots adjacent to and in proximity to the Illawarra escarpment," a council spokeswoman said.
The new documents lodged with the council for the Cosgrove Avenue project do not show any change to the size of the proposed development, which still sits at 42 residences in the lower reaches of the escarpment.
The changes relate to some of the reasons for refusal by the panel in its November 2022 decision, which included insufficient stormwater infrastructure, concerns about biodiversity and the effects on koala habitat.
A report on water management stated the existing three catchments drain stormwater to the northeast, southwest and down to Cosgrove Avenue.
The stormwater management plan would change that so all water on the site drained down to Cosgrove Avenue.
"Before the pipes descend to the adjoining properties it will be detained in several onsite detention tanks," the report stated. "The onsite detention tanks will slow the peak flow from the development site."
Some stormwater would be captured and drained to freestanding water tanks for irrigation purposes.
A biodiversity report recommended hollow trees and logs cleared from the development site should cut into smaller lengths and repositioned to provide animal habitat, help prevent soil erosion and suppress weeds.
It also recommended deer exclusion fencing, weed control and educational signage highlighting the importance of the biodiversity area.
A new report on the koala habitat identifies the risk of koalas being hit by residents' cars or attacked by dogs.
To deal with that the report recommended the installation of a koala fence around the bulk of the development.
"The placement of koala exclusion fencing will facilitate koala movement around the perimeter of the development, maintaining access to the Illawarra escarpment and stopping koala access to residential areas," the report stated.
It also recommended that tree canopies near the fence are pruned back to stop koalas from climbing into the development and any fallen branches or vines on the fence be removed so as not to give the animals access to the site.
The revised development application is on public exhibition until October 16.
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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.
