New social housing approved for Bulli but locals not impressed

Controversial plans for a new social housing project in suburban Bulli have just been approved, but locals aren’t happy.

Last year, protests from the Northern Illawarra Residents Action Group (NIRAG) and representation from Member for Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart, forced a review of the original three-storey proposal on Southview Street.

Objectors said the plans to replace three single-storey homes with 16 apartments were incompatible and out of character with the current R2 zoning which has a two-storey limit.

At the time, NIRAG’s Ross Dearden said “this may be our last chance to demonstrate to Home NSW that Bulli should remain a two-storey R2 area. We need to show Homes NSW how important it is to have social housing that is well integrated with existing homes.”

After Housing Minister Rose Jackson confirmed the original plans would be reviewed, this week Homes NSW announced the approval of construction of 13 new social housing homes in a mix of two- and three-storeys.

Announcing the news, Homes NSW said its “priority is to deliver more social housing to make sure more people have access to a home”.

'We are concerned this is a test case'

Ross Dearden said while locals recognised the need for social housing renewal, “we believe the additional social housing can be delivered without disregarding local planning controls”.

Ross said this approval might open the door for more battles in the burbs.

“The Southview Street proposal appears inconsistent with the NSW Government’a stated low- and mid-rise housing policy in many respects,” Ross said. “We are concerned this is a test case.

“We are constantly reminded that we have a housing crisis, yet the three residents have been evicted, the first on Christmas Eve 2025, and now all three houses are empty. Demolition won’t commence until December 2026, with construction likely to take approximately 18 months from early 2027. This doesn’t appear to be the best way to respond to a housing crisis.

Community consultation 'purely perfunctory'

“Possibly the most infuriating part of the process is that the community consultation seems to have been purely perfunctory,” Ross said. “MP Maryanne Stuart negotiated a reduction from 16 to 13 units before the public meeting and it appears all the input and responses from residents since then has been ignored.

“There have apparently been no further changes and no explanation why other options are not feasible, preferable and more economic. There are opportunities to develop the site with higher-density housing that remains consistent with R2 zoning, such as duplexes, townhouses, terraced that would be preferred, no more compatible, and less expensive to construct in a short time-frame.”

The 13 new dwellings, now approved, include six one-bedroom units and seven two-bedroom units. There will also be 12 on-site car spaces and two internal lifts

Homes NSW said the final approval came after consideration of feedback received during consultation with Wollongong City Council and the local community.

Demolition of the existing vacant homes is expected to take place by the end of the year with construction of the new units to begin in the first half of 2027.