Council won't back Warrawong skyscrapers - but it still wants a seat at the table

Wollongong City Council doesn’t back the proposal for towers up to 22 storeys high on top of Warrawong Plaza – but some councillors worry if they push back too hard, they won’t get a say at all.

The proposal, put forward by Elanor Investors Group, came about after the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) announced that Warrawong Plaza was selected as one of five sites in NSW to deliver additional housing through a State Assessed Planning Pathway.

That means the development application doesn’t have to be approved by Wollongong City Council and would instead be assessed by the NSW Government.

This includes rezoning areas to allow large-scale projects to go ahead.

At the July Wollongong City Council meeting councillors voted to finalise a submission to the DPHI opposing the proposal, but with caveats.

Councillors agreed that they supported a large-scale development on the Warrawong site, but within the limits of its current commercial use E1 and E2 zones.

This would mean shop-top housing rather than skyscraper-style blocs.

Councillor Janice Aitken said she recognised the need for more housing in Warrawong and the suitability of the mall site, but baulked at the proposed 1300 homes.

“It’s an overdevelopment, and I think we are all saying the same thing in different ways,” she told the council.

“I think we should say (in the submission) that we are willing to discuss any changes going ahead.”

Councillor Tania Brown agreed.

She said she was concerned that if the council opposed the development too strongly they would no longer have any input into the process.

“If we aren’t at the table, we don’t have a voice,” she said.

“And we do have to act to address the housing crisis.”

The current development proposal includes 130 affordable homes – affordable housing, not social housing. Instead, it is rental housing for very low- to moderate-income households.

Households do not have to be eligible for social housing to apply for affordable housing, although there are eligibility criteria.

Cr Ann Martin said even on that score the proposal missed the mark.

“I’m pretty disappointed at the percentage of affordable housing on this site and that it’s not in perpetuity,” she said.

“It’s an important issue, particularly in Warrawong where we have a lot of people in social housing.”

The motion was carried, with councillors John Dorahy and Cameron Walters voting against it.