FAQs

The Draft Wollongong Industrial Lands Review is a planning document that aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Wollongong’s industrial lands, uses and related controls.  

The findings of the Draft Review will inform strategic planning and future planning policy updates to a number of planning documents including the: 

Council needs to ensure that our planning controls in industrial settings are appropriate for our community, economy and to identify if they are creating any barriers to delivering sustainable employment outcomes under Council’s Economic Development Strategy 2019-29. 

Wollongong’s industrial lands were last reviewed by Council in 2006 through a study that informed the preparation of the draft Wollongong Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2009. This review formally supersedes that study and aims to inform future land use planning directions for industrial lands across Wollongong including within the forthcoming ‘Six Cities Region Plan’ and ‘Illawarra Shoalhaven City Plan’. 

At its meeting of 26 June 2023, Council resolved to exhibit the Draft Wollongong Industrial Lands Review to enable community and industry consultation. 

‘Industrial lands’ include all land within Wollongong Local Government Area zoned E4 General Industrial, E5 Heavy Industrial, E3 Productivity Support, W4 Working Waterfront and SP1 Special Activity and IN3 Heavy Industrial (at the Port of Port Kembla). Additionally, the RU1 Primary Production zone has been separately reviewed as it is associated with existing or former mining operations. 

Given the regulatory role of the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) - Transport and Infrastructure 2021 – Chapter 5 Three Ports over the IN3 and SP1 lands at the Port of Port Kembla, and the significant strategic planning currently being undertaken by the NSW Department of Planning an Environment, BlueScope and NSW Ports in this area, this Review does not seek to make detailed recommendations or duplicate the strategic processes already occurring. 

Although the draft review includes the Port land within the scope of its analysis (SP1 and IN3 zoned land), its focus with respect to recommendations is on the Industrial Precincts which are regulated under the Wollongong LEP 2009.  

The review includes analysis of existing planning controls for the Port in SEPP (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021 – Chapter 5 Three Ports. It also acknowledges and analyses the nationally significant economic role of the Port along with its strategic importance, transport links, potential future uses, recent development activity and demand. 

The Draft Review includes analysis of the six RU1 Primary Production zones associated with existing or former mining related activities and identifies actions for future Council investigation. The Draft Review acknowledges that Wollongong has an extensive history of coal mining of over 100 years which is utilised in local steelmaking at Port Kembla as well as elsewhere in Australia and overseas. However, the Draft Review also acknowledges that while mining operations are likely to continue in Wollongong for at least several decades, over the longer term, Council will need to collaborate with landowners to consider the eventual transition of each RU1 precinct upon permanent closure of mining operations. 

Detailed analysis of these six mining sites is provided at Chapter 6.4 of the Review (pg. 205). 

The draft review finds that demand for industrial land in Wollongong is high and whilst there is significant supply of zoned industrial land, challenges remain around unlocking undeveloped land to further support economic development outcomes. 

As of July 2022, there was 2,445 hectares of industrial land across Wollongong LGA, spread across 42 precincts. There is a further 228 hectares of RU1 Primary Production land among six precincts, four with operational mines and two non-operational. 

Since 2010, with the introduction of Wollongong Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2009 and Wollongong LEP (West Dapto) 2010, there has been a net increase in industrial zoned land (E4 and E5 zones) of approximately 85 hectares. Subsequent rezonings to date have increased this further by a net 6.4 hectares. Wollongong contains over half of the Illawarra-Shoalhaven’s zoned employment land and has a higher provision of industrial land per capita. 

This draft review finds that Wollongong’s industrial lands are adequately providing for ‘urban services’ which enable local residents to access everyday goods and services and support efficient supply chains. 

85% of Wollongong's Industrial Land is occupied with existing operations. The suitability of the remaining undeveloped land is varied and only a very limited proportion would be considered available for development in the short term. There are number of challenges to unlocking some of our larger parcels of undeveloped land such as those at Kembla Grange and Tallawarra. These include flooding, contamination, a lack of infrastructure servicing and coordination between landowners.

There is relatively little undeveloped industrial land in Wollongong LGA that is serviced. This is evidence that once land is serviced and ready to be brought to market there is strong demand for it to be developed. This was further supported by the feedback received during engagement with local commercial agents and businesses. In Wollongong, demand has been high across a range of industrial and logistics activities, however, it has been particularly strong demand for strata industrial warehousing, including a trend towards accommodating non-traditional industrial businesses such as those in leisure and lifestyle industries. 

The suitability of industrial land remaining for development is varied and only a very limited proportion would be considered available for development in the short term. There are number of challenges, primarily flooding, contamination, a lack of infrastructure servicing and coordination between landowners, that has to date prevented the ‘unlocking’ of areas of regionally significant precincts such as Kembla Grange and Tallawarra. 

There is also relatively little industrial land in Wollongong LGA that is undeveloped and serviced. This is evidence that once land is brought to market there is strong demand and further supported by the feedback received during engagement with local commercial agents and businesses. In Wollongong, demand has been high across a range of industrial and logistics activities, however, it has been particularly strong for strata industrial warehousing, including a trend towards accommodating non-traditional industrial businesses such as those in leisure and lifestyle industries. 

Detailed analysis of industrial lands throughout the LGA is provided at Chapter 3 of the Review (pg. 36). 

No. The draft Review recommends the adoption of seven planning principles to be incorporated into Council’s Local Strategic Planning Statement to guide future strategic planning of industrial lands within the Local Government Area.  

The draft review recommends that Council could investigate changes in relation to zoning, land use tables, development standards, and Development Control Plan controls. As such, further studies and analysis will need to be undertaken prior to any further decisions being made. This process would include a separate consultation process. 

Whilst the draft review makes recommendations regarding planning control changes to enhance the use and function of industrial lands, it also includes recommendations to better manage situations where industrial development interfaces with residentially zoned areas via recommendations to Chapter B5 (Industrial Development) of Wollongong DCP 2009.  

It is also noted that there are a range of existing controls located in Council’s planning controls to help manage impacts of new industrial development on existing residential areas, however, it is also acknowledged that many of the industrial and residentially zoned areas located within the study precincts of this review were developed prior to these existing controls being adopted. 

The NSW Government has recently introduced new employment zones through a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP). Business (B) and Industrial (IN) zones were replaced with five new employment zones (E) and three supporting zones. The changes came into effect on 26 April 2023. 

The new zones include: 

• Phoning 4227 7111 and ask for Council's Strategic Planning Officers.
• Visiting Council's Customer Service Centre, Ground Floor Administration Building, 41 Burelli Street Wollongong on weekdays from 9am to 5pm
• Emailing records@wollongong.nsw.gov.au  
• Writing to - The General Manager, Wollongong City Council, Locked Bag 8821 WOLLONGONG DC NSW 2500.

Feedback closes 11 September 2023. For written, phone and emailed submissions, please quote: 'Draft Industrial Lands Review 2023'. Any submissions become public documents and may be viewed by other persons on request. Please read Council's Privacy Policy before submitting your feedback.