Future West Dapto Centres

West Dapto has been established as a priority urban release area in various state and regional planning policies including the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2041 (NSW Government, 2021. The West Dapto Vision 2018 (Wollongong City Council, 2018) anticipates that the West Dapto Urban Release Area will provide around 19,500 dwellings and will house a population of about 59,000 people once fully developed over fifty plus years.

West Dapo Urban Release Area (WDURA) will be serviced by eight centres over time. Three new town centres known as Bong Bong, Darkes and Marshall Mount and five new village centres referred to as Wongawilli, Jersey Farm, Fowlers, Huntley and Avondale. The Town Centre Principles of West Dapto, which are embedded in Section 11, Chapter D16 of Wollongong Development Control Plan (DCP) 2009, are supported by an overarching statement: The town centres of West Dapto will fill diverse roles, functions and mixed uses. The key objectives of town centre principles is to help identify centre locations, function and existence. Configurations will reflect the town centre hierarchy with a focus on pedestrian priority. Supported with a decision process (zoning, neighbourhood planning, etc.), appropriate locations will promote the social and economic functions and outcomes sympathetic to character and 'place'.

To ensure the West Dapto Vision Centre Principles are met, the planning undertaken for our future centres needs to be holistic and not on an individual land holding basis.

On 11 December 2023 Council endorsed exhibition of the draft West Dapto Centres Master Plan package (Urban Design Report) for a minimum of 28 days.

What are the Master Plans?

A Master Plan is a long-term vision to guide development and land use. When we Master Plan, we think ahead to create a detailed plan showing how the area should develop and be organised in the future. We want to make sure it functions well for future residents by thinking about where the houses, shops, roads, footpaths, community spaces and bus routes are going to be located. We also want to make sure the centre doesn't negatively impact on existing centres, like Dapto.

What is on exhibition?

It is important that we hear your ideas for the future town centres. The current draft plans have been prepared by Urbis who were engaged by Council using funding from a State Government grant. The draft Plans were developed with input from landowners or their representatives, specialist planners and experts in flooding, transport and the environment. We want to hear your ideas so that we get the right balance for the future communities. On 11 December 2023 Council endorsed exhibition of the draft West Dapto Centres Master Plan package (Urban Design Report) for a minimum of 28 days (see the Council Report and its attachments).

Cultural Significant Sites

Various areas within the West Dapto area contain sites of Aboriginal significance. These sites are places deemed meaningful, spiritual and form a sense of connection by Aboriginal people based on their beliefs. Consultation with Aboriginal stakeholders will be undertaken during this project to understand how the development principles can enhance their connection to Country and reduce future development impacts on items of Aboriginal cultural significance.

What happens next?

Following public exhibition and consideration of any submissions, a report will be written that outlines the ideas and feedback from the community. The information provided in this report will help us develop the draft Master Plan package further. The final Master Plan package would then go to Council for adoption in mid-2024. This is where Councillors decide during a Council meeting whether to approve the Master Plan package. Once the Master Plan Package is adopted, we will re-engage with stakeholders and the community on many items, including likely amendments in the Planning Controls and Standards.

The Master Plan is on exhibition from Monday 5 February to Monday 4 March 2024 and can be viewed:

Please provide your feedback by 4 March 2024. For written, phone and emailed submissions, please quote: 'Future West Dapto Centres'. Any submissions become public documents and may be viewed by other persons on request. Please read Council's Privacy Policy before submitting your feedback.

Accessibility and language assistance:

If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. If you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service.