An artist’s impression of the new Southern Suburbs Community Centre and Library and its town square. Photos: Wollongong City Council.
Warrawong and surrounding residents are one step closer to a modern, new community centre and library.
Construction has officially started on the three-storey Southern Suburbs Community Centre and Library, at the corner of King and Greene streets.
The centre will have a range of spaces for community use, including previous Warrawong Community Centre tenants, Illawarra Legal Centre, Warrawong Residents Forum and the Vietnamese Association of Wollongong.
It’s the latest in a number of major projects either announced or underway in the suburb.
The NSW Government’s draft plan for the nearby Warrawong Parklands positions the area to become an “iconic outdoor destination”, featuring new pedestrian and cycle paths, a water sports hub on the lake and spaces for cultural events and outdoor performances.
Just up the road in the grounds of the Port Kembla Hospital, work is well underway on the Warrawong Community Health Centre.
The health centre, which had operated out of the former community centre in Green Street, will operate as a hub for a range of community services from the hospital and across the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, including child and family health services, Binji and Boori (Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service), community nursing and mental health, sexual health services and drug and alcohol services.
Cunningham MP Alison Byrnes, Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown and Wollongong MP Paul Scully, with picture boards showing the centre’s history.
And earlier this year, the NSW Government approved a request to rezone the 7 ha suite of the current Warrawong Plaza shopping centre to make way for the controversial Warrawong Plaza housing development, which aims to provide 1300 homes.
Celebrating the start of work on the new community centre and library, Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said it was a major milestone for Warrawong and the southern suburbs.
“This vital new facility represents a $40 million investment in community infrastructure for the suburb,” she said.
“It reflects council’s ongoing commitment to creating welcoming, safe and accessible spaces that support lifelong learning, diversity and community wellbeing.
“I am absolutely thrilled that we have reached the point where the vision is becoming a reality.”
The works being undertaken in the initial stage of the project include earthworks, building foundations and multiple service relocations.
Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes said she looked forward to delivering on the $10 million election commitment made by the Federal Government to the project earlier this year.
“I have proudly fought hard to support this absolutely vital project for our southern suburbs. This has been long overdue and I am so delighted to see investment across different levels of government to ensure this new community centre and library can become a reality,” Ms Byrnes said.
An aerial view of the corner of King and Greene streets Warrawong, where the new community centre and library will be built.
The project’s architect, fjcstudio, has prepared a concept design for the centre with council, taking into account feedback from the local community.
A green “town square” will sit alongside the community centre and library and include a large grassed area with trees and gardens and a series of play, recreation, seating, and activity spaces.
A large forecourt and a community veranda with seating and steps will overlook the town square.
The centre will feature a sensory room to provide a quiet space for people with disability and others who need a space to decompress or focus and a changing place for people with disability.
Free public wi-fi will be accessible throughout the building and library with “plug and play” access to personal devices.
The library will include children’s areas, educational resources, dedicated study spaces and a community lounge complementing a collection of free resources, technology and programs.
It will also have activity areas for programs and events and quiet spots to read and relax.
The centre will connect to surrounding areas through a series of pedestrian and shared laneways, designed to link with the separate Cowper Street Renewal project which is in the early phases of design.
Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2027.
Visit Southern Suburbs Community Centre and Library for more project details and artist impressions.
