Wollongong City Council will host the first of two Community Drop-in Information Sessions today to discuss a planning proposal for Gwynneville's Irvine Street development that's currently on public exhibition.
The drop-in sessions will be at the Wollongong Senior Citizens Centre in Gwynneville from 4.30pm to 7.30pm today, April 9, and on Tuesday, April 29, with representatives from Council and Homes NSW on hand to answer questions.
Homes NSW has lodged a proposal with Council for a change to the planning controls in the precinct bounded by Irvine St, Madoline St, Wollongong Botanic Garden and Murphys Avenue, so the area could have up to 1250 homes, half of which would be social and affordable housing.
Council recently extended the public exhibition period by a week after a public meeting called by Keiraville Residents Action Group (KRAG).
In a statement, KRAG said, "Our concern over this proposal is simply that there is no opportunity provided for reasoned and detailed comment on a proposal which has significant connotations for future development in Wollongong generally, given the changes are to be embedded in the LEP."
About 80 people attended last week's meeting at the Senior Citizens Centre, including Ryan Park, MP for Keira; Greg Doyle, General Manager of Wollongong Council; and Tania Brown, Lord Mayor of Wollongong.
KRAG reported that attendees expressed concerns about the proposed development’s scale and density, inadequate consultation, traffic and parking impacts, as well as flooding risks and the absence of dedicated active transport links. Additional concerns were raised about the existing traffic congestion, particularly related to the University of Wollongong.
“We have been listening to community comments and concerns about the complex Planning Proposal for the Gwynneville precinct, including at a resident-coordinated meeting held in Gwynneville on Tuesday night [April 1]," WCC General Manager Greg Doyle said.
“In response, the seven-week exhibition period for this Planning Proposal will be extended by an additional week to Monday, 5 May 2025. This is to provide people more time to consider the detailed documents associated with the Planning Proposal, has organised two Council-organised community drop-in sessions for interested residents to ask questions. The first will be on Wednesday 9 April.’’
Lord Mayor Tania Brown said, “The voices of those who live in Gwynneville and Keiraville are important to us as we look at this proposal and consider whether Council would support this change to the area’s density.
“It’s important to us we hear from everyone – not just those who are already highly engaged in Council. It’s also essential that people take the time to provide their feedback directly to Council, to ensure their comments and concerns are considered in this statutory process.’’
As well as the two face-to-face sessions at the Senior Citizens Centre at 192 Gipps Road, residents can have their say via an online form at the "Planning Proposal – Irvine Street, Gwynneville Precinct" webpage at Our Wollongong. Documents relating to the proposal can be viewed at Customer Service in Council’s Burelli Street Administration Building and written or emailed submissions are accepted. Call on 02 4227 7111 to speak to the Land Use Planning Team or email council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au.
The seven-week exhibition period runs until Monday, 5 May.