An artist’s impression of the proposed Globe development. Photo: The Globe Consortium/MMJ Real Estate.
The mammoth new development on the old City Diggers site in Wollongong will be even bigger thanks to a special planning amendment.
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.
A section of Globe Lane has been closed and sold to the consortium to facilitate the development.
Now it will expand upwards by two storeys, after Wollongong City Council agreed to grant an amendment under the local environment plan (LEP).
In October 2025 the council resolved to prepare and exhibit a planning proposal for the Globe Hotel site demonstrating the requested increase to 78.2 metres.
The height is beyond the total building height allowed under the current zoning, but it will not be the tallest building in the CBD.
The proposal was exhibited from 9 December 2025 to 9 February 2026.
The height remains lower than an extension of the sun plane protection line, and according to council reports the taller buildings will overshadow a small portion of MacCabe Park, in the vicinity of the Integral Energy Building.
In response to the exhibition, 16 submissions were received; half were in support, five opposed and three only offered comment.
Objections were mostly due to concerns that the height is excessive relative to surrounding development, the potential overshadowing impacts on MacCabe Park and the potential for negative impacts on some nearby businesses.
After receiving the submissions all Wollongong councillors but one voted to approve the LEP variation.
Independent councillor Andrew Anthony said he welcomed the investment in a new hotel for the city, but remained concerned about the extra height.
“Given some of the comments back I can’t support the height increase,” he said.
“I still have concerns on increasing the height of the building and overshadowing McCabe Park.”
The proposal garnered broad support from both Greens and Labor councillors.
They said the increased accommodation in the city would have significant flow-on effects for Wollongong’s economy.
Lord Mayor Tania Brown said the development wasn’t just a hotel, it supported the council’s broader vision for the city’s future.
“It’s widely acknowledged we are poorly served with a lack of accommodation,” she said.
“We need hotel rooms for the visitor economy, major events, family visits, future cruises, the list goes on.
“The centre of the CBD is the right location for a development of this size and scale.”
All councillors except Cr Anthony voted in favour of the proposal.
