Groups support all-electric city centre plan
Electrify Illawarra and Healthy Cities Australia have welcomed a switch to all-electric homes in Wollongong's city centre
Last May, in Health concerns drive calls for new homes to be all-electric, the Illawarra Flame reported on an electrification rally outside Wollongong City Council chambers. It took place on the eve of World Asthma Day, with about 50 people gathering to call for 'No new gas for the Gong'.
A year on, new requirements to switch to all-electric buildings feature in a draft Development Control Plan chapter of the Wollongong City Centre Planning Review and council is inviting community feedback.
From June 30 this year, development applications must include all-electric provisions for new city centre buildings, unless this is "not technically possible or feasible".
The draft document also notes: "All electric buildings are more energy efficient, economical and healthier for occupants. All electric buildings reduce construction and operating costs through the elimination of gas pipes and metering and ongoing connection and usage charges. The combustion of natural gas in homes for cooking and space heating is linked to 12% of asthma cases in Australia (Knibbs et.al.,2018). Using alternative energy sources such as electricity improves indoor air quality and has enduring health benefits for occupants."
The transition supports the first goal of the Our Wollongong 2035 Community Strategic Plan: We are a sustainable and climate resilient city.
The Flame asked 2025's rally organisers for their views on the news.
An electrifying step forward
Response by Electrify Illawarra volunteer Denise Aubourg
It is a year since the community rallied to support electrifying new builds across the Wollongong Local Government Area, to reduce health risks, energy bills and emissions. Campaign organisers are welcoming Wollongong City Council’s latest Development Control Plan (DCP) revision, which includes new builds to be all-electric, saying it will benefit household budgets, and the public health of residents and workers. This is likely to be a staged approach starting with the Wollongong City Centre.
Electrify Illawarra has been one of several community groups supporting the move. Our president, Rachel White, welcomed the proposal.
“This is a positive first step,” Rachel said. “Cost-of-living pressures are unfortunately still with us, but recent months have highlighted the longer-term benefits of electrifying our homes, buildings and transport.”
Rachel, who grew up in Bulli, said the campaign is not over yet.
“We look forward to working with the community and Council representatives to roll out this sensible proposal across Wollongong’s residential and commercial developments.”
Next Electrify Illawarra meeting 3pm, 24 May, Centro Church Port Kembla.
Topic: Solar & Batteries.
Electrify Illawarra president Rachel White at home with her heat pump and Toby the pup. At right: Healthy Cities Australia's CEO, Kelly Andrews, and Alexander Brown, with Electrify Illawarra supporters in May 2025. Photos: Illawarra Flame, supplied
Changes will reduce 'risk to child health'
Response by Alexander Brown, asthma program coordinator at Healthy Cities Australia
Healthy Cities Australia welcomes Wollongong City Council's support for electrification in the draft Wollongong Development Control Plan 2009 - Chapter D13 Wollongong City Centre, currently on exhibition as part of the City Centre Planning Review.
The proposed changes to the DCP will ensure new buildings are built using all-electric appliances – the most energy efficient, economic, and healthy solution for cooking and water and space heating.
We know that asthma is a major contributor to illness in children and that gas cooking has been linked to 12.3% of Australia's childhood asthma burden. Ensuring new buildings are all-electric will improve indoor air quality and reduce this unnecessary risk to child health.
At a time of rising fossil fuel costs due to climate change and geopolitical turmoil, these changes will help guarantee our community's energy security and speed the transition to green energy. We hope to see them incorporated in other chapters coming up for review in the coming months, such as Chapter B01 Residential, to extend the benefits to a greater number of new developments across the LGA.
How to have your say
For more information and to share your views with Wollongong City Council, visit council's Let's Talk engagement page.
To provide feedback on "A City For People – Wollongong City Centre Planning Review":
- Complete the online form
- Email council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
- Or write to The General Manager, Wollongong City Council, Locked Bag 8821 WOLLONGONG DC NSW 2500.
Council staff will hold a drop-in information session at Wollongong Library on Thursday 18 June, from 5-7pm in the Library Theatrette.
Submissions close on Monday, 6 July 2026.
