Four themes guide the 30 objectives in the Regional Plan. The 30 objectives are supported by a mix of actions, strategies and collaboration activities.
Regional Plan themes
A productive and
innovative region
A sustainable and
resilient region
A region that values
its people and places
A smart, connected
and accessible region
Regionally Significant Precincts
Regionally significant precincts are places that will be activated through collaboration between councils, State agencies and other organisations. They include employment lands, centres and growth areas where collaboration and place-based planning will create the right conditions for ongoing innovation, investment and coordination.
The Regional Plan incorporates sustainability into the planning for regionally significant precincts and will inform a sustainability framework for these areas that will identify precinct-specific opportunities for renewable energy, water cycle management, building design, green infrastructure, the circular economy, transport, smart technology and public spaces.
Objectives
Strengthen Metro Wollongong as a connected, innovative and progressive city
Grow the region’s Regional Cities
Grow the Port of Port Kembla as an international trade hub
Activate regionally significant employment precincts to support new and innovative economic enterprises
Create a diverse visitor economy
Activate the region’s harbours to promote the blue highway
Respond to the changing nature of retail
Strengthen the economic self-determination of Aboriginal communities
Promote agriculture innovation, sustainability and value-add opportunities
Sustainably maximise the productivity of resource lands
Protect important environmental assets
Build resilient places and communities
Increase urban tree canopy cover
Enhance and connect parks, open spaces and bushland with walking and cycling paths
Plan for a Net Zero region by 2050
Support the development of a circular economy
Secure water resources
Provide housing supply in the right locations
Deliver housing that is more diverse and affordable
Establish a shared vision for the future of Bombo Quarry lands
Respond to the changing needs of local neighbourhoods
Embrace and respect the region’s local character
Celebrate, conserve and reuse cultural heritage
Support major events, public art and cultural activities
Collaborate to leverage opportunities from Western Sydney’s growth
Create faster rail connections between Greater Sydney, Wollongong and Nowra
Protect major freight networks
Create connected and accessible walking and cycling networks
Utilise smart infrastructure to drive resilience, prosperity and vibrant places
Prepare for mobility changes that improve connectivity and sustainability
Actions
Develop a Metro Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy.
Develop a Nowra City Centre Strategic Roadmap to set a vision, identify actions and guide inter-agency and inter-government collaboration.
Develop precinct profiles for the regionally significant employment lands and where required, establish precinct collaboration teams to activate land for economic growth.
Develop a resilience benchmarking matrix tool to assist councils to assess their level of resilience.
Develop the Illawarra Shoalhaven Green Grid and identify priority projects for enhancement.
Develop an Illawarra Shoalhaven Sustainability Roadmap that identifies innovative initiatives that can be delivered through an ecosystem of collaboration.
Develop a sustainability framework for regionally significant precincts to promote carbon neutral sustainable growth and development.
Establish the Illawarra Shoalhaven Affordable Housing Roundtable with councils, community housing providers, the NSW Government and housing development industry to collaborate, build knowledge and identify barriers to increase the supply of affordable housing.
Develop a shared vision for the future of Bombo Quarry in collaboration with Kiama Municipal Council, landowners and the community.