What's happening now?
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2041 (PDF, 13.3 MB) guides decisions about how land is used in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region for the next 20 years.
The re-established Coordination and Monitoring Committee (CMC) is overseeing the implementation of the regional plan, as set out in the Implementation Plan 2021 to 2026 (PDF, 1.6 MB). The CMC gives advice and guidance. It also plays a reporting role to ensure relevant stakeholders are informed and included in the completion of each action and collaboration activity. The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure coordinates the CMC.
This reporting dashboard below will be updated where identified as an action by the CMC.
We’re developing a Metro Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy
The precinct strategy is an action of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan and we want to make sure we understand the needs and aspirations of the community and stakeholders.
To help us develop the strategy, we are working alongside the community, Wollongong City Council, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Transport for NSW and Aboriginal representative groups.
The draft Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy is currently on exhibition from Thursday 24 April to 5pm Wednesday 11 June 2025.
For more information go to Wollongong Health Precinct.
Summary of actions
Status: In progress
Project update: The draft strategy is on exhibition from Thursday 24 April to 5pm Wednesday 11 June 2025.
A strategy for the health precinct can help to strengthen metropolitan Wollongong as a connected, innovative and progressive city, and improve its potential for growth.
The NSW Government, in close consultation with NSW Health and other agencies, has developed the draft strategy to guide the future of the Wollongong Health Precinct, located west of the Wollongong central business district.
The draft strategy considers:
- public spaces and transport to support amenity and movement between key areas
- public safety and access within and around the precinct – including links with the train station and CBD
- opportunities for affordable housing for future residents and key workers.
The draft Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy is on exhibition on the NSW Planning Portal from Thursday 24 April to 5pm Wednesday 11 June 2025.
Status: In progress
Project update: The department and Shoalhaven City Council are developing the project scope for the roadmap in response to the stage 1 research.
The department, together with Shoalhaven City Council, Transport for NSW, NSW Health, Regional NSW and other relevant stakeholders will develop a strategic roadmap to set a vision and associated actions to guide interagency and intergovernmental collaboration for Nowra City Centre.
The strategic roadmap for Nowra’s city centre will identify:
- Opportunities to build on and coordinate investments into the Nowra Bridge, Riverfront Precinct, and Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital.
- The capacity for growth of Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital, including opportunities for expansion, and complementary land uses around the hospital.
- Clear planning and approval pathways and remove planning barriers that may be inhibiting increased residential development.
- Options to improve walking and cycling connections between the Nowra Bridge, Riverfront Precinct, hospital and commercial area.
- Guidance on decision-making for infrastructure and service delivery, including public domain improvements, green infrastructure, open space and walking and cycling connections.
Collaboration Activity 5 partly supports the completion of this action. It relates to the Nowra Riverfront Activation Taskforce’s planning for the Nowra Riverfront.
Status: In progress
Project update: The department is currently preparing the remaining 5 profiles, which will be released in 2024.
Precinct profiles can help promote development in the region’s regionally significant employment precincts to support new and innovative economic enterprises. Regionally significant employment precincts include:
- Port Kembla (PDF, 3.1 MB)
- West Dapto Employment Lands
- Tallawarra Employment Lands
- Shellharbour Airport Employment Precinct (PDF, 15.1 MB)
- Shell Cove Business and Technology Park
- South Nowra Employment Precinct
- Albatross Aviation Technology Park
The department, together with councils, relevant state agencies, landholders and the development industry, will develop precinct profiles that identify each area’s:
- future role
- land requirements to support targeted industries
- infrastructure and servicing requirements
- existing land constraints
- enabling and simplified planning controls
- potential pathways for planning approvals to support simplification.
Precinct profiles will identify key stakeholders and, where required, a precinct collaboration team to activate the precinct.
In 2023, the department commissioned the preparation of a structure plan and infrastructure assessment for the port of Port Kembla. This piece of work supports the master planning of other stakeholders, an opportunity identified in the precinct profile. The structure plan features the key considerations to be made when undertaking strategic land-use planning for the port. The infrastructure assessment identifies the current state of servicing infrastructure and likely assumptions that need to be made to cater for large-scale changes in industry and user groups over time. These documents will be reviewed and updated as required.
Status: Completed
Project update: This action has been completed. The department has developed a resilience benchmarking matrix tool (PDF, 53 KB).
A tool to benchmark resilience can help build communities and places that can withstand and recover from natural hazards and disasters.
Councils can use this to identify how they can become more resilient and progress from baseline-level resilience through to best practice. The benchmarking tool will:
- help councils to increase their resilience, identifying where they can increase their communities’ resilience to shocks and stresses within the land-use planning system
- guide and support councils to build on projects and programs they may already have underway to increase resilience.
Status: Not commenced
Project update: The department will give an update within the next reporting period.
A green grid – a network of open public spaces – can enhance and connect parks, open spaces and bushland with walking and cycling paths.
The department, together with councils and Transport for NSW, will develop a green grid to give a spatial understanding of the open space network within the region. This will identify how to improve and better connect existing open spaces, allowing the NSW Government and councils to identify long-term and large-scale open space priorities.
Status: In progress
Project update: The department is currently undertaking relevant research, case studies and stakeholder engagement to inform the strategic roadmap.
A sustainability roadmap can help in planning for a region with net zero emissions by 2050.
The department will work closely with relevant stakeholders to establish a roadmap of initiatives. These will support business and industry to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions and encourage the use of renewables.
Status: Not commenced
Project update: The department will give an update within the next reporting period.
A sustainability framework can help in planning for a region with net zero emissions by 2050.
The department, in consultation with councils, relevant state agencies and the development industry, will develop a sustainability framework for regionally significant precincts. This will identify opportunities specific to particular employment precincts, growth areas and centres, which may include:
- renewable energy
- water cycling management
- building design
- circular economy
- transport
- smart technology
- connection to Country
- green or public spaces
- climate change adaptation.
Councils and agencies can use the framework to encourage the planning, design and operation of the precinct over time to incorporate more opportunities for sustainability.
Status: Completed
Project update: The Affordable Housing Roundtable has been established to collaborate, build knowledge and identify barriers to increasing the supply of affordable housing and is operating under an agreed Terms of Reference. The roundtable will continue to meet as part of an ongoing program.
A roundtable will support collaboration and knowledge-building to increase the supply of more diverse and affordable housing.
The department will establish the Illawarra Shoalhaven Affordable Housing Roundtable, a collaborative, multi-stakeholder forum to share and build on stakeholder knowledge and expertise. Its aim will be to increase the supply of affordable housing in the region. The department will investigate affordable housing targets in consultation with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Affordable Housing Roundtable.
To learn more, read the Illawarra Shoalhaven Affordable Housing Roundtable terms of reference (PDF, 153 KB).
Status: Not commenced
Project update: This action is being scoped to understand project timelines and how to best engage with identified stakeholders.
The future use of the Bombo Quarry site requires a shared vision.
The department, in collaboration with council, Transport for NSW, landholders and the community, will develop a vision for the quarry. This will inform its future use and the quarry’s transition as its operational life comes to an end. This will include:
- Understanding the remaining operational lifespan of the quarry.
- Investigating the mix of future employment, housing and recreational use.
- Considering opportunities to contribute to the open space network.
- Evaluating how best to connect the site with surrounding areas.
Summary of collaboration activities
Collaboration activities include important initiatives led by state agencies, local councils or other bodies. These are key activities that will help the region achieve the objectives of the regional plan, and in which the Department’s Local and Regional Planning team will actively participate.
| Activity | Summary |
|---|---|
| 1 | Work with Venues NSW, Wollongong City Council and Department of Regional NSW on the revitalisation and activation of the Metro Wollongong Sports and Entertainment Precinct and foreshore. |
| 2 | Engage with University of Wollongong as it leads a review and refresh of the Innovation Campus Masterplan. |
| 3 | Work with Transport for NSW and Wollongong City Council on a place based transport plan for Wollongong. |
| 4 | Work with Transport for NSW and Shoalhaven City Council on a place based transport plan for Nowra City Centre. |
| 5 | Work with Shoalhaven City Council, Department of Regional NSW, Transport for NSW, Department of Health and other relevant stakeholders to drive the revitalisation of the Nowra Riverfront and assist in fast-tracking development of the precinct. |
| 6 | Work with councils, Transport for NSW, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Regional NSW, Destination NSW and community groups to identify opportunities to improve connections between existing coastal walks throughout the region. |
| 7 | Work with the Energy Corporation of NSW, the Renewable Energy Sector Board, councils, Aboriginal and community stakeholders to develop the Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone. |
| 8 | Work with Kiama Municipal Council on the development of a local housing strategy. |
| 9 | Work with Transport for NSW on the NSW Fast Rail Network Strategy and identify opportunities to build on investment at a regional and local scale. |