Wollongong Precinct Masterplans Under Scrutiny

Two major masterplans for Wollongong are under the microscope as the city prepares for growth.

The first, the Wollongong Station precinct draft masterplan, seeks to create an “inviting, high quality and well-connected rail arrival which provides an attractive place for the community”. 

It highlights “opportunity sites” around the station, acknowledging that land around the station is “highly valuable”. 

The plans aim to make the station a centralised gateway by improving access to Crown Street, which it has previously been “disconnected” from, according to the report. 

A new public plaza off Crown Street is proposed to encourage future and existing adjoining developments to activate the space with ground floor retail, it said. 

There is also potential for midrise, mixed-use gateway development over the rail reserve, according to the NSW Government.

At the Gladstone Avenue gateway there is potential for future proposals to re-envision the commuter carpark site as “an activated mixed-use development” with a modified one-way road network. 

The draft plan identifies the biggest opportunities for development in the area south of Lowden Square, as well as the Gladstone Avenue carpark.

▲ An artist’s impression of the station precinct.

“Development in these areas would assist in creating dynamic 24-hour spaces around the station entries, that are rich with public life, activation and movement,” the plan said.

The NSW Government is also seeking feedback on the proposed Wollongong Health Precinct that it wants to turn into a “world-class healthcare centre”.

The Draft Strategy outlines strategic planning directions to inform public and private investment, and identifies the type of housing, public open space, health and education spaces the Government wants in the precinct. 

It wants to attract mixed-use buildings with cultural, educational or school, health and community facilities as well as residential and commercial uses for the precinct.

Social and affordable housing, high and midrise housing were also appealing, it said, to encourage housing opportunities for key workers and students.

▲ An illustration of the Wollongong Station Precinct's Crown Street gateway.

“Our forecast housing projections … advocate for delivering higher percentages of three to four-bedroom units in the precinct,” it said.

NSW health minister Ryan Park said that Wollongong Public Hospital was the region’s major hospital. 

“It is running at near capacity and strategic upgrades will be required to ensure it continues to meet the healthcare needs of the Illawarra now and into the future,” he said. 

Planning minister Paul Scully said that the population of the Illawarra Shoalhaven region was projected to grow by 36 per cent to 575,000 from today’s 422,000 by 2041.

“Making sure there is alignment between future plans for the health precinct and the future plans for the station is important so they are working together in the best interests of the future of the city,” he said.