Furore over Port Kembla development application

Members of the Port Kembla community have hit back at calls from the Port Kembla Business Collective to oppose a new development on Wentworth Street.

The application is for a three-storey building with a ground floor commercial space, and 30 co-living self-contained apartments on top.

Each single-room apartment would include its own bathroom and basic kitchen facilities. Both floors feature a shared laundry room.

The Port Kembla Community Facebook page has featured several posts calling for residents to submit opposition to the application, claiming that it will attract a “type” of tenant that “is a major concern for the Port Kembla Business community”.

The posts attracted some support, but a number of commenters hit back at the idea that low-income earners aren’t wanted in Port.

Long-term Port Kembla resident, former vice president of the Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce and small business owner Ann Martin said she was appalled by the suggestion that Port Kembla should not approve co-living developments.

“It’s a conglomeration of misinformation and histrionics, and this sense that we only want a certain type of person living in our suburb,” she said.

“Port Kembla has always been a mixed community with people who have been here for a long time and new people coming in and now people are finally realising it’s actually a really nice place.

“This is a perfect place for students to live; it’s walking distance from the train station that goes straight to the uni. It’s perfect for workers who are new to the area.

“I lived above the newsagent when I first came to Port; I had next to no furniture and was volunteering for a job so I had almost no income.

“It was a great choice for me as a single woman living on my own. We had a retired wharfie, a senior citizen, a retired lady living on her own and a friend of mine who was working in cafes and restaurants.

“It was close to everything and of course we bought things from local shops.

“We will have thousands of people looking for somewhere to live over the next few years, and I don’t care what people earn, I care what they contribute to our community.

“We are in an extreme housing crisis. Medium density housing is exactly what we need and people need to take a chill pill.”

In its post, the Port Kembla Business Collective said an “emergency meeting” would be held.

“There is already a disproportionate number (10) of this type of housing in the immediate area and a development that doesn’t offer any social diversity to the area and only adds to the already disproportionate number of the same demographic is a major concern for the Port Kembla business community,” the post read.

Region Illawarra asked the Port Kembla Business Collective to speak about the group’s concerns, however, the collective had not responded at the time of publication.

Former Port Kembla business owner Kelly Lorimer said she could understand the concerns, but felt more information from the developer, TQM Design and Construction, could help put people’s minds at ease.

“Port Kembla has a really cool scene; we are accepting of a lot of different people and have a lot of services,” she said.

“At the same time some business owners have copped really bad behaviour, and I can see why this proposal would terrify them, but there’s limited information.

“I don’t think these developments go through if there’s not a real need in the community, and if it’s going to be students who shop here, eat here and buy here, the reception might be very different.

“Some more information from the developer would put minds at ease and enable business owners to make an informed decision about the application.”

Region Illawarra contacted developer TQM Design and Construction for comment but had not heard back at the time of publication.

Region Illawarra also reached out to the Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce – a separate entity to the Port Kembla Business Collective – for its perspective.

President Greg Rodgers said the chamber’s views didn’t align with Port Kembla Business Collective.

“While we recognise Port Kembla Business Collective are attempting to make a representation of what they think is best for small businesses in Port, they don’t represent the views of all people,” Greg said.

“We want to do what we think is best to continue the growth of small business in Port Kembla and are happy to continue to work with council and the developer on any development in Wentworth Street to make sure it’s good for small business.”