The Illawarra Shoalhaven is growing and changing. By 2046, the region’s population is projected to reach over 677,000 residents.
The region is becoming more economically diverse, with strengths in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, health, education and research. At the same time, the Illawarra Shoalhaven is home to unique natural environments and significant cultural heritage. As the region grows, we need a clear plan to coordinate housing, jobs, infrastructure, transport and environmental protection.
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Plan is a strategic land use plan that will guide how the NSW Government manages growth in the region over the next 20 years.
Read the draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Plan (PDF, 24.9 MB).
The Department has prepared a spatial viewer to support the review of information as part of the public exhibition.
The draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Plan was on exhibition on the NSW Planning Portal from 31 July to 28 September 2026.
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. We’re currently reviewing and considering this feedback before finalising the plan later this year. Until then, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2041 remains in effect.
Exhibited documents
If you have any questions about the Illawarra Shoalhaven Plan, email [email protected]
How the plan will shape the region
The draft plan takes the 7 state priorities (Aboriginal Outcomes, Housed, Prosperous, Connected, Resilient, Liveable, Coordinated) set out in the proposed State Land Use Plan and applies them to the Illawarra Shoalhaven region.
The plan addresses these priorities with proposed actions for both the NSW Government and local councils.
The proposed actions include:
- increasing housing diversity and supply in the urban growth area
- creating more job opportunities by strengthening the network of centres
- aligning infrastructure delivery with growth
- growing industrial lands capacity
- delivering Australia’s first Urban Renewable Energy Zone
- improving connections to south west Sydney
- defining appropriate land use pathways to support Aboriginal outcomes
- protecting natural environments and building resilience to climate change
- growing open space and events infrastructure
Review and implementation
Region plans are reviewed and updated every 5 years to ensure they remain relevant and responsive to changing needs and opportunities.
Once finalised, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Plan will replace the Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2041 and guide growth, investment and land use decisions across the region through to 2046.
Councils, government agencies and industry will use the final Illawarra Shoalhaven Plan to inform planning and investment decisions. Councils will be asked to incorporate the plan's directions into their Local Strategic Planning Statements and Local Environmental Plans, so that they can deliver the priorities for their local areas.
Frequently asked questions
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Plan is designed to guide the NSW Government and councils. It provides direction for planning practitioners and decision-makers across infrastructure and investment sectors to align with and support the region’s growth and development.
The plan identifies where new housing should be delivered and supports more housing choice in locations close to jobs, transport and services.
Most growth is planned within existing urban areas and key centres, with priority areas identified where infrastructure and services can support growth.
The plan works alongside the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy and the Transport Oriented Development program, which are already increasing housing opportunities in areas such as Corrimal, North Wollongong and Dapto.
Affordable housing will be supported through planning reforms, incentive-based bonuses to boost supply, and by identifying government owned land that can be used for housing and supporting infrastructure in the coming years.
The plan itself does not change zoning. Instead, it sets the long term direction for growth. Local councils will use it to guide future updates to planning controls, such as Local Environmental Plans over time.
The plan helps coordinate housing and infrastructure planning so investment in transport, schools, health services and open space is delivered where growth is expected.
It works alongside other plans, including the Infrastructure Opportunities Plan and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Transport Plan, which set out future improvements to transport and key services across the region.
The plan is supported by the Urban Development Program, which tracks housing supply, identifies where infrastructure is needed, and helps coordinate delivery across government agencies and councils.
While the plan does not directly allocate funding, it helps inform government investment priorities.
The plan supports jobs growth in the Illawarra Shoalhaven, with a target of more than 100,000 additional jobs by 2046.
It focuses on strengthening key employment areas, supporting industries such as advanced manufacturing, health, education and tourism, and improving connections between where people live and work.
The plan recognises the region’s unique natural features, from the coast to the escarpment and the highlands and prioritises protecting important biodiversity areas as the region grows.
The plan directs development to appropriate locations and uses tools to manage urban sprawl, ensuring growth doesn’t come at the expense of the environment.
It also promotes more sustainable communities, including energy‑efficient homes, greener streets and high‑quality public spaces, so growth improves both liveability and environmental outcomes.
Wingecarribee is included in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Plan because it has strong economic, environmental and strategic links with the rest of the region. The Southern Highlands plays an important role in supporting connections between the Illawarra Shoalhaven and the growing areas of south‑west Sydney.
As part of this, key planning programs, including the Urban Development Program and Infrastructure Opportunities Plan, will be extended to Wingecarribee. This will support more coordinated delivery of housing, infrastructure and services across the region.
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2041 was released in 2021. Regional plans are updated every 5 years to reflect new data, changing priorities and evolving community needs.
The new Illawarra Shoalhaven Plan 2046 builds on the previous 2041 plan but takes a more flexible, place‑based approach, recognising that different parts of the Illawarra Shoalhaven have different strengths, challenges and opportunities.
It’s one of the first region plans to be delivered under the proposed strategic planning framework and State Land Use Plan, and sets more defined priorities and actions, helping ensure progress over the short term while working toward a 20‑year vision.
Once finalised, the plan will replace the Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2041 and guide the region’s growth through to 2046.
The Sydney Plan was released on 13 August 2026.
The draft Central Coast and Lower Hunter Plan and draft Regional NSW Plan will be released for public exhibition in 2027, aligning with the 5-year review cycle of region plans.
Existing region plans remain in effect while the new region plans are developed.