Sky the limit for more residential tall buildings for Wollongong

Another day and plans for further skyscrapers were unveiled today for Wollongong city centre.

This proposal will again test the community’s appetite for existing height limits to be exceeded (and by a long way).

The plans from Blac developers are for a vacant 11,000-square-metre site on Smith Street, just north of the CBD, between the South Coast rail line and Collegians.

Lodged with the NSW government as a State Significant Development Application, the plans, which are open for public comment, stretch the site’s height limit from 24 metres at present to 103.7 metres. That’s more than four times higher than currently permitted.

The plans show three large residential tower blocks, varying in height from 12 storeys and 25 storeys to 30 storeys. The proposal is for 391 apartments in the tallest building, including 84 affordable dwellings. In the 12-storey building, there would be 266 co-living homes with associated shared amenities. These are identified as ideal for university students and singles.

The 657 homes would be supported with 370 car parking spaces – close to half a parking space for every dwelling.

While high-rise will dominate the site, in the application, the proponents described a “highly diverse landscape, incorporating the ecological revitalisation of the riparian corridor, a new pocket park at the end of Smith Street” and ”places to pause gather and play“ in “a layered network of public and private open spaces”.

Also planned is a wellness hub with a communal wading pool, gardens featuring local native plant species, a rooftop “backyard” with an outdoor kitchen and picnic areas, a courtyard which encourages alfresco dining and public art throughout.

The plans went on exhibition today (Wednesday) and public submissions will be accepted until Tuesday, 7 July 2026.