An artist’s impression of the proposed Globe development. Photo: The Globe Consortium/MMJ Real Estate.
Are two extra floors of hotel accommodation in the centre of the Wollongong CBD worth a bit of extra shade for petunias in McCabe Park?
The Globe Consortium has already begun demolition works at the former City Diggers and David Jones sites just off Crown Street Mall in Wollongong.
In their place will go a three-building complex with a 15-storey five-star hotel, a five-storey three-star hotel, an eight-storey office building and a rebuilt City Diggers Club.
An underground carpark beneath Globe Lane will service the businesses.
Now the developer has submitted a request to increase the height limit and floor space ratio for the site to increase the number of hotel rooms and the amount of office space.
The taller buildings would result in an increased overshadowing of the northeast corner of MacCabe Park, in the vicinity of council’s “Integral Energy” building, and require an amendment to the Local Environment Plan.
Head of Destination Wollongong Jeremy Wilshire urged the council to put the proposal forward to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for a gateway determination.
“One out of seven hotels proposed for Wollongong have gotten off the ground,” he said.
“That’s a strike rate we must improve.
“This is a massive undertaking by a proven proponent … if we don’t back it we regress as a city.
“We’re talking about minor additional shadowing over a council building in McCabe Park.
“Are we prepared to lose [millions] over some petunias that might be in shade for a couple of extra hours a day?”
Councillor Kit Docker said the proposal delivered outcomes on strategies the council had already committed to, such as tourism accommodation and economic development.
He said the potential benefits were substantial, from generating hundreds of new jobs in construction and hospitality to attracting more large events to town.
“Expanding accommodation capacity is key to ensuring visitors at these events stay and spend locally,” he said.
“Sunlight in urban spaces is important, but these effects are limited and the majority falls on the existing council building.”
Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown agreed.
She said the lack of hotel accommodation was holding the Wollongong region back economically.
“This has strategic merit and should be supported,” she said.
“We haven’t yet completed the masterplan for McCabe Park, and this gives us the opportunity to move elements as needed.
“I note one submission said to make [the development] residential – I think the 18 cranes on our skyline delivering residential buildings should meet that need.”
The motion was carried unanimously.
If the gateway determination is approved by the NSW Department of Planning the amended proposal will go out on public exhibition before it is progressed to the City Centre Planning Proposal.
