There was one common theme coming through the first community information drop-in session for a proposal to dramatically change a residential precinct close to the University of Wollongong – "it's too big"!

At the Wollongong Senior Citizens Centre on Wednesday evening, local encouraged officers from Homes NSW and Wollongong City Council to go back to the drawing board.

In what's been described as the biggest urban intensification project in the region's history, the proposal would see several streets of mainly single-storey residential homes replaced with up to 1250 homes of up to six storeys. If approved, the population in the area would increase from several hundred to several thousand.

Many of the lots are already owned by Homes NSW (75 lots) while 56 lots are privately owned.

Addressing the housing crisis

Under the proposal from Homes NSW lodged with Wollongong City Council, planning controls will be changed in the precinct bounded by Irvine St, Madoline St, Wollongong Botanic Garden and Murphys Avenue. In an attempt to address the current housing crisis, half of the new homes will be social and affordable housing.

Council recently extended the public consultation by a week after a public meeting called by the Keiraville Residents Action Group (KRAG).

While KRAG welcomes the extension, its secretary, Yvonne Toepfer, says there are still too many questions left unanswered.

"It's devastating for the current residents. I'm curious about what happens in the time period they move people out, build the new homes and then move people back in," Yvonne said.

No community housing available

"There's no community housing available in Wollongong, so where are they going to put those people? Into hotels, which is a very unfamiliar environment? It's awful. They're sacrificing the lives of so many mainly elderly residents."

Bill and June Hayman, both in their 80s, have lived in their public housing home in Gwynneville's Hoskins Street, one of the streets to be impacted, for 54 years.

"We are the second longest living people in the street," June said. "We're not happy about what's proposed."

"We can't afford our own home, and I don't want to lose my veggie garden," Bill said. 

At this week's community drop-in session, the Haymans received some good news. "We've just been told we won't be put out of our home in our time."

Change is inevitable

Most locals The Illawarra Flame spoke with seemed resigned to the fact that some sort of redevelopment in the area was inevitable. It's the scale that worries them.

Doug Newton is a private homeowner, who has lived for 34 years in Sparing Parade, and while he's not opposed to changes happening in the area he feels the plans have progressed too quickly.

"I'm all for it. I feel there's a lot of wasted space in the area. It should have happened a long time ago." 

Not enough consultation

His key concern at the information session was about the lack of communication with those directly affected.

"My concern is that there hasn't been enough community consultation until now, but the horse has bolted," Doug said. "The proposal has been put together without any community input and I didn't expect it to be as big as it is. We would prefer to see something that's more moderate in size and sustainable."

KRAG committee member Felix Bronneberg is also concerned about the community engagement process.

"The consultation was too late for a proposal of this magnitude. Everyone wants to know what the future holds."

Felix was particularly critical of Homes NSW, which he said had treated the Gwynneville community very differently to those living in Bellambi who were kept much better informed about new housing plans there.

"My question is, why didn't they do that here? For the first time today Homes NSW are here to talk to their tenants who have so many questions for them."

Impact of roads and traffic

Another key concern raised at the information session was the impact on local roads.

David Blount has lived in the area for 35 years. "Traffic management is awful now and it's only going to get worse," he said.

Ian and Lynda Bray have owned their Spearing Parade home for nearly four decades and raised their concerns with officials at the drop-in session.

"It's too big. We have no idea of our future," Lynda said. "We're worried about the height of the buildings and the traffic. I've already got to leave for work half an hour earlier to get there on time."

'There is worse to come'

Arnold McLean said the way locals were being treated was "disgusting" and worse is to come.

"The transportation report does not consider construction traffic and demolition/civil works, and the new traffic integral with the university traffic. Then there is the Route 55 bus service, university student and staff pedestrian movements and pedestrian school movements," Arnold said.

"There is absolutely nothing presented in relation to the movement of school children to and from schools. It ignores paramount local infant and primary school facilities, including St Brigid's, Little People Early Learning Centre in Gwynne Street, Keiraville and Gwynneville Public Schools and Wollongong and Keira High Schools.

"There is no consideration of improving the Botanic Gardens visitor vehicle parking and likewise no consideration of construction worker parking requirements."

Back to the drawing board

Executive member of Neighbourhood Forum 5, Dr Philip Laird, suggested that given the scale and impact of the plans, Housing NSW and Wollongong City Council should start again.

"The proposal is too big, and should be withdrawn with a smaller proposal submitted with much more attention given to traffic and parking issues."

Wollongong City Council's General Manager, Greg Doyle, said Council was listening to community concerns and as a result had extended the seven-week exhibition period an additional week to Monday, 5 May 2025.

Lord Mayor Tania Brown said it was "important to hear from everyone... to ensure their comments and concerns are considered in the statutory process".

A second face-to-face community information session will be held at the Senior Citizens Centre in Gwynneville from 4.30pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday, April 29 when representatives from Council and Housing NSW will again be on hand to answer questions.

Residents can also share their thoughts via Council's Our Wollongong webpage.