Councillor calls out 'inadequate' CBD high-rise process

Independent Wollongong City Councillor Andrew Anthony has slammed the NSW Government for rushing through plans for the biggest development in the history of Wollongong’s CBD.

Cr Anthony says the plans from developer Level 33 were poorly publicised and many locals, including members of Wollongong Council, were not aware they’d been placed on public exhibition.

He has also joined with members of Neighbourhood Forum 5 in calling for the plans in their current form to be rejected because of their lack of community amenity and benefit. The NF5 objections were reported in The Illawarra Flame earlier this week.

“If this plan gets approved in its current form, you might as well rip up the Wollongong LEP (Local Environment Plan),” Cr Anthony said.

Cr Anthony’s criticism of the State Significant Development process for this big CBD project is provided in full below.

The Illawarra Flame has asked the Lord Mayor and other Ward Two Councillors if they share any of the concerns raised by the community. To date there has been no response. We have also asked Wollongong Council if it lodged a submission before the shortened 14-day exhibition period closed last Friday. Council hasn’t responded. The Flame also asked Council if the elected councillors had been formally notified prior to the exhibition period ending late last week. We are awaiting a response.

Cr Andrew Anthony’s submission follows:

I wish to make a submission regarding the proposed South House - Mixed Use Development (Infill Affordable Housing), Crown Street, Wollongong commonly known as the “WinGrand” project.

This site already had approval under the previous development consent as one of Wollongong’s largest mixed-use projects, with building heights already exceeding the limits set out in the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan (LEP). The elevation of this development to State Significant Development (SSD) status has dramatically altered both the process and scale, sidelining local planning controls and limiting public participation.

I am not opposed to appropriate development of this site, which represents an important opportunity for investment and renewal in Wollongong’s CBD. However, the way in which this revised proposal has been handled raises serious concerns regarding transparency, community engagement and the erosion of public benefit. 

Consultation Process
The consultation process has been inadequate and poorly publicised. The exhibition period was extremely short and not promoted through Wollongong City Council’s website or standard community engagement channels. Residents living in proximity to the site have informed me they were not notified. This raises serious questions about how the community was expected to participate in a process that directly affects them. Limited engagement of this nature undermines confidence in the SSD process and effectively excludes local voices. 

Community Benefit and Project Intent
The previous WinGrand proposal emphasised community benefit with “green” credentials and the creation of an inner-city community hub. That design included amenities such as a public cinema, a swimming pool and open green park space.

The current SSD proposal removes these key community features while increasing the overall scale of development. This represents a substantial shift in intent from a balanced, mixed-use precinct to a more commercially driven project that prioritises developer profits over community outcomes.

Infrastructure and Local Impact
Wollongong is already experiencing significant pressure on roads, parking, and local infrastructure. If current and proposed CBD high-rise developments proceed as planned, it is reasonable to expect up to 20,000 new residents within a one-kilometre radius of the city centre by 2030. This will generate thousands of additional vehicles and place an urgent demand on existing infrastructure.

The decision to declare this proposal State Significant effectively overrides Wollongong’s Local LEP and dismisses local strategic planning work. Local planning controls exist to ensure development aligns with the city’s vision and infrastructure capacity. Allowing developers to bypass these controls undermines public trust in the planning system and the role of local government.

Environmental and Amenity Impacts
I am disappointed with the proposal’s overshadowing of adjoining properties and MacCabe Park, a significant public open space enjoyed by the community. The proposal fails to adequately consider infrastructure and transport impacts and will significantly exacerbate traffic and parking issues in the area.

Conclusion
I support responsible development that enhances Wollongong’s economic vitality and provides housing diversity. However, this revised SSD proposal:

• Reduces community benefit features, removing public amenities;
• Increases scale without adequate consideration of local infrastructure capacity;
• Undermines local planning controls and community trust;
• Negatively impacts surrounding properties and public open space.

For these reasons I urge the Department of Planning to reject the proposal and work collaboratively with Wollongong City Council to ensure development aligns with local planning objectives and the long-term interests of the Wollongong community.