On the eve of World Asthma Day, about 50 people rallied outside Wollongong City Council’s Burelli Street offices. Their goal: to urge council to make new developments all-electric, with research showing gas stove use is estimated to cause 12% of childhood asthma in Australia. Full story here.

Will Council use its planning powers to ensure new developments in Wollongong are all-electric?

On 7 May 2025, a Wollongong City Council spokesperson issued this statement to The Illawarra Flame:

"Building a sustainable Wollongong is a core objective for Council. This includes consideration of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) principles when making decisions relating to new development.

"The revised draft Chapter A2 that was placed on 28-day public exhibition from February 3, outlines ESD focus areas and objectives to be considered and addressed in applications for new development. As an introductory chapter to the whole DCP, Chapter A2 provides examples of potential measures for consideration. It does not include development controls as it is not the purpose of this chapter.

"The review of draft chapter A2 seeks to implement recommendations from recently adopted sustainability strategies, including our Net Zero Wollongong Climate Change Mitigation Plan and Urban Heat strategy.

"The implementation of these strategies is underway along with other initiatives such as the Community Batteries roll out in partnership with Endeavour Energy, a Community Renewables program soon the be launched in partnership with ISJO, supporting EV charging infrastructure delivery in Wollongong, and capturing more gas emitted by our waste facility.

"It is proposed that individual chapters be reviewed over time to ensure the timely integration of key controls related to electrification, local renewable energy production, reduction of urban heat, and EV charging requirements.  

"Development controls relating to sustainability, including all-electric development, will be considered in subsequent reviews of relevant DCP chapters. An updated schedule of planned DCP Chapter reviews is outlined in the report tabled at Monday’s (5 May) Council meeting.

"The revised Chapter A2 was placed on exhibition following a resolution of Council on 16 December 2024. At this meeting, Council also resolved to request the General Manager write to the relevant NSW Government ministers seeking an expansion of its consideration of ESD in State planning instruments, and to clarify their position on banning the use of gas where alternatives such as electricity are available.

"The community feedback received from the Chapter A2 exhibition process has informed development of the letters. The response from State Government ministers will be considered by Council when reviewing subsequent chapters of the DCP."