We’ve set out a vision for the future of Wollongong’s city centre integrated transport network To make sure we’re on the right track we’re inviting our community to share their thoughts The draft City Centre Movement and Place (CCMP) Plan outlines how we want people to get around and what the city centre looks like in future and transportation work together for a safe There are eight top moves underlining the plan with a focus on improving four modes of transport: walking Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said the plan accounts for a growing city centre and considers the important role transport plays in ensuring it is liveable “The draft City Centre Movement and Place Plan has short to long-term actions to best use the city’s space and improve people’s travel experiences enhanced public transport services need to be developed,” he said “One recommendation is to open up more laneways to activate a lively city We also want to create safe shared spaces and grow active transport to support everyday travel “As we want to foster a people-centered city we’re strategically planning to reduce car reliance Our aim is to ensure that cars are used only when necessary and that it remains safe for all This may mean managing speed limits or redirecting traffic flow This is ambitious and we know a lot of factors play a role in this “Public transport remains a key priority We’ve found that 45 per cent of residents would use public transport if it was more efficient than driving we’ll continue to advocate for better services and work with government agencies for funding and improvements.” The draft plan has been informed by a suite of Council documents The NSW Movement and Place framework also informed its development Cr Bradbery said the community is passionate when it comes to transport and urged people to take their time reading through the plan as there is lots to unpack “We've seen a lot of community interest in our plan already particularly around the possibility of introducing a tram to the city in the future but simply one aspirational idea for connecting the train station to the beach via the city’s spine It also explores options for a space for efficient public transport and moving large volumes of people,” he said we’d need to conduct thorough investigations to determine feasibility This includes working closely with other levels of government to secure funding and seeking additional community input “It’s important to have long term goals and ideas but this document is about immediate opportunities as much as it is about steps that can be taken in the longer term “Let’s keep these discussions going I encourage people to check out the engagement and share your feedback and accessible city centre for all to explore.” Exhibition is now open until Sunday 18 August 2024 Our Transport staff will also be available for a chat at our pop-up info stand on Thursday 1 August from 11am to 2pm You find them at 93 Crown Street Wollongong You can read more about the draft Plan, FAQs and leave your comments on Our Wollongong website Visit our News page to find out what's happening in your community, or sign up for e-news. We show our respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Dharawal Country, Elders past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. You can also use the number above for after hours Council-related emergencies Email council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au Webchat 1) 0ms;transition:fill 200ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:1.5rem;}.mui-13xs5pt{width:100vw;max-width:100vw;margin-top:1px;}.mui-68tkgc{width:100vw;max-width:100vw;margin-top:1px;}.mui-1i0sejk{min-width:200px;border-radius:4px;}.mui-o2bopd{text-align:center;-webkit-flex:0 0 auto;-ms-flex:0 0 auto;flex:0 0 auto;font-size:1.5rem;padding:8px;border-radius:50%;overflow:visible;color:rgba(0 0.54);-webkit-transition:background-color 150ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 150ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;padding:12px;font-size:1.75rem;}.mui-o2bopd:hover{background-color:rgba(0 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.mui-o2bopd:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.mui-o2bopd.Mui-disabled{background-color:transparent;color:rgba(28 1) 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Globe.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe scheme put forward by a consortium of developers and investors proposes the demolition of the city RSL club in the main retail mall of the Wollongong CBD.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA mixed-use three-tower precinct would rise in its place under the concept masterplan by ADM Architects and Jackson Teece.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe cost of works on the site at 163-171 Crown and 80-82 Church streets has been estimated at $229 million.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe development comprises an eight-storey office block and a new City Diggers club and 114-key motel at the corner of Burelli and Church streets and a rooftop bar and swimming pool among other amenities.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll of the buildings would have ground-floor retail and hospitality above a six-level interconnected basement across the site offering 567 car spaces A hotel lobby and drop-off area is also included.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe site area is 4799sq m \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe applicant is listed as 171 Crown Pty Ltd the sole director of which is listed as Daniel Ashbolt.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to the project’s website the consortium behind the proposals includes hotel developer Cre8tive Hotels \u0026amp; Lifestyle and the former full owners of Diggers Lendlease’s third residential building in the Collins Wharf precinct of Victoria Harbour.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 28-storey building at 971 Collins Street in Melbourne’s Docklands will deliver 312 homes in a mix of one two and three-bedroom apartments as well as townhouses and penthouses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to Lendlease the project has already secured more than 50 per cent in presales.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHickory is the construction contractor—it completed the precinct’s first development in 2019 and is also working on LendLease’s second tower Regatta.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor Ancora Hickory is implementing several technical construction methods including various piling techniques and precast concrete solutions that enable a parallel-track construction program.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe building’s facade designed by architect Warren and Mahoney uses a three-stage design incorporating double-glazed glass and textured precast concrete with Reckli and brick finishes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe structural design transitions from a solid podium base to lighter upper levels “reflecting a maritime theme” aligned with the Collins Wharf design objectives.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAncora will connect to the neighbouring Regatta development via a podium allowing resident access to shared amenities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesigned as an all-electric building that includes electric vehicle infrastructure the development is targeting a 5 Star Green Star certification Completion is expected in 2027.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegatta including build-to-rent and build-to-sell units.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eExtensive wharf works including remediation of pre-existing wharf piles installation of raker piles and construction of the extension to Australia Walk are also part of the project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTechnical challenges include constructing on the finger wharf and co-ordinating extensive above-wharf road reserve and public parkland works.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Collins Wharf precinct will ultimately comprise six residential buildings of more than 1800 homes surrounded by over 5000sq m of parks and community space.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease is developing the parkland concurrently with the residential components including the extension of Australian Walk that forms part of the City of Melbourne’s Greenline project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease executive director of development Adam Williams said Collins Wharf “is fast becoming a sought-after address .. which took just a handful of hours to emerge on Saturday night the Coalition’s failure to sway voters has come under intense scrutiny.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts lack of policies around property that resonated with voters has been a large part of that criticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong those policies was a $5-billion infrastructure program to unlock up to 500,000 new homes was greeted with no small amount of scepticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Coalition also campaigned on its previously revealed plan to allow first home buyers to draw down on their superannuation giving access to up to $50,000 to help fund mortgage deposits.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile that proposal had won some support it got the thumbs down from many of Australia’s top economists who said the measure could prove highly inflationary among other issues.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSimilarly its plan to allow mortgage interest for first home buyers to be tax-deductible was roundly criticised for its likely inflationary and regressive effects.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt has also been pointed out that the Coalition’s rejection of the Green’s policies around housing supply affordable housing and help for renters did it no favours.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ALP went to the polls spruiking an extension of schemes introduced during its previous term including a $10-billion promise for its first-home buyers’ scheme to encourage 100,000 more homes.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt also had its Help to Buy shared equity scheme under which the Government pays up to 40 per cent of the house price to point to.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf it was these policies per se or the lack of detail and depth to the Coalition’s the nation's ready for the Albanese government to act.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat is clear been endorsed to follow through on its policies and fix the crisis that is crippling the Australian property sector.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Urban Taskforce Australia chief executive\u0026nbsp;Tom\u0026nbsp;Forrest has pointed out it is time for the Federal Government to get back to work.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Housing affordability and housing supply featured large during the campaign,” Forrest said.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The key now is for the Government to strike while the iron’s hot.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If legislation is needed to support the delivery of Labor’s $10-billion 100,000 new homes commitment—then pass it through the parliament now and get on with it.”\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe states have made many changes to how they enable home development The Federal Government’s support of that is crucial to its success material supply assistance or any other factor that affects getting homes out of the ground.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis has been a pivotal election Then Cities for Total Fan Immersion\",\"slug\":\"billionaire-arsenal-rams-denver-nuggets-sports-anchored-precincts\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-30T00:00+10:00\",\"tags\":[],\"summary\":\"Why your next home might be stadium-adjacent; sports are the hook OfficesA proposal to demolish an RSL club in Wollongong to make way for offices and a five-star hotel has opened for comment The plans now on exhibition propose a motel in the main retail mall of the Wollongong CBD three-tower precinct would rise in its place under the concept masterplan by ADM Architects and Jackson Teece The cost of works on the site at 163-171 Crown and 80-82 Church streets has been estimated at $229 million The development comprises an eight-storey office block and a rooftop bar and swimming pool among other amenities All of the buildings would have ground-floor retail and hospitality above a six-level interconnected basement across the site offering 567 car spaces A hotel lobby and drop-off area is also included but the developer intends to acquire adjacent public land to take that to 5404.6 square metres The applicant is listed as 171 Crown Pty Ltd the sole director of which is listed as Daniel Ashbolt the consortium behind the proposals includes hotel developer Cre8tive Hotels & Lifestyle and the former full owners of Diggers Development interest in Wollongong has ramped up during the past year and childcare workers are all a step closer to better access to affordable housing in central Wollongong with the approval of 145 new homes including 25 affordable units Since the introduction of the Minns Government's Infill Affordable Housing Bonus in late 2023 where projects can receive up to a 30 per cent increase in height or Floor Space Ratio (FSR) if they maintain at a minimum 10 per cent for affordable housing for at least 15 years there has been a strong pipeline of projects with recent approvals in North Sydney But Wollongong is set for a housing boost with the first project approved under the pathway outside of Greater Sydney providing greater access to private and affordable homes alongside shops within two 10-storey buildings above a shared podium led by The Smith Street Development Partnership will be built at 106 and 120-122 Smith Street and 3A Charlotte Street in Wollongong The affordable units will be managed by community housing provider to make sure they remain available to low and moderate income households for the next 15 years The development includes ground floor commercial and retail spaces as well as parking for 185 cars The project is expected to create 305 jobs during construction with 30 ongoing jobs as part of the new retail space During the public exhibition period the proposal received three submissions The concerns outlined in these submissions have been addressed through conditions of consent relating to flood management and road upgrades to support the development Choice and diversity are at the centre of the Minns Government's planning reforms when you want to live there and the variety of services and amenities you have access to The development has been approved as a State Significant Development (SSD) as part of the Minns Labor Government's commitment to delivering well-located housing close to transport Under the Infill Affordable Housing pathway there are currently 29 projects under assessment which if approved would deliver approximately 8,000 homes There have been nine affordable housing projects determined since 1 July 2024 which once constructed will deliver 2,010 homes For more information visit Shoptop housing with in-fill affordable housing Smith Street, Wollongong | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said: "The need for affordable housing close to transport, jobs and amenities is not just something that needs to be delivered in Sydney, cities like Wollongong need this diversity of housing stock too. "This will help health workers, teachers and other front-line workers or low to medium income families be able to work closer to home in a modern, purpose-built development with excellent new amenities. "The infill affordable housing bonus scheme is generating strong interest with proposals for thousands of new homes being considered across the state. "The centre of our cities need to provide homes for a mix of people across all income levels and the Minns Government's approach allows the delivery of affordable housing, alongside market housing, in good locations. "The Department reviewed the application closely, in consultation with Wollongong City Council, the community and other relevant stakeholders. The approved development will see the development of a vacant site close to the Wollongong city centre to provide much-needed housing." Picture digitally alteredA CBD transport option that was rejected in favour of the Gong Shuttle has resurfaced in a Wollongong City Council draft document All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBut it would see people catching a tram and not a bus The council's draft Wollongong City Centre Movement and Place Plan looks at ways to improve access in and around the city The No1 item in a list of the "top eight moves for Wollongong City Centre" is a trackless tram that would take passengers between Wollongong station and Belmore Basin "For Wollongong to take full advantage of its waterfront from a tourism/recreation as well as for a seamless multi-modal experience from Wollongong station to the city centre a high-quality 'turn up and go' public transport service should be investigated," the draft report stated "The 1.9-kilometre high-quality public transport route from Wollongong station to the foreshore is an opportunity for enhanced public transport and urban renewal." A map from the Wollongong City Council draft report that shows a possible tram route from the train station to the beach.It identifies an action plan to prepare a study looking for a possible tram route between the station and the beach and the entertainment centre But the idea of providing a station to the beach transport route was rejected back in 2009 during talks that created the Gong Shuttle Then Transport Minister David Campbell had heard talk about such a link but decided "that sort of service was not needed in Wollongong" The council's draft plan also considers ways to improve the cycling network convert kerbside parking into outdoor dining spaces and remove through traffic from the city centre A Wollongong tram from train station to beach is back on the cards"Historically transport networks have been planned by predicting future needs and subsequently providing transport infrastructure to meet these predicted needs," the council papers stated "This has largely resulted in a transport network that facilitates private motor vehicle use to a higher standard than sustainable transport modes including walking the report identifies that while Wollongong has a strong recreational cycling culture it didn't translate into people cycling to work or using the bike as a mode of transport A map showing both the existing cycleways in the Wollongong CBD and those proposed by Wollongong City Council "To tap into the existing cycling culture base improvements to the networks into and out of the city centre are required," the draft report stated "Cycling infrastructure is relatively cheap compared to roads and focus should be given to selling the cycling dream to residents." This includes possible cycleways connecting Flinders Street to Thomas extending the cycle path along Kembla Street and creating a shared path along Burelli Street Wollongong City councillors will consider the draft report at Monday's meeting and vote on placing it out for public feedback I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Get the latest property and development news here Find out what's happening in local business tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords we've just launched a new website and most of our old links have changed We show our respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Dharawal Country and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Beaton Park Leisure Centre (02) 4227 7755 Lakeside Leisure Centre (02) 4227 7600 Website feedback Wollongong City Leisure Centres is a Child Safe Organisation Wollongong City Leisure Centres is a service of Wollongong City Council the city has been without a central place to gather and celebrate She is hopeful of seeing a sound shell similar to the one installed at Darling Harbour (inset) built in Wollongong.More than a decade after the amphitheatre in Crown Street Mall was demolished Wollongong City Council is considering replacing it All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAt Monday night's city council meeting Cr Tania Brown tabled a motion calling for a briefing on the possibility of a sound shell being located in a public space Her motion cited a recently unveiled $10 million sound shell at Darling Harbour "which allows for quick and efficient bump in and out for events providing a permanent but flexible space that can meet a range of community needs" "Since the removal of the amphitheatre in our beloved mall I believe the city's felt the lack of a public place to gather enjoy live music or even view events like the recent World Cup Matildas games," Cr Brown said "How often does the call go out for a live site so our community can gather and watch an event that's not on free to air TV and we don't have anything ready to go?" The mall amphitheatre was demolished in March 2013 as part of a $19 million refurbishment replaced with a smaller performance area on the northern side of Church Street Cr Brown suggested it could be set up at MacCabe Park or Lang Park the council had managed to "cobble together" sites for events like the Matildas matches "But I think our city deserves a proper stage a permanent structure that can give a place for our community to gather for things like Christmas carols civic events and a place for school groups," she said "I saw the the recently opened sound shell in Darling Harbour and was envious I imagined something similar for Wollongong in one of our public parks I would love to see it funded by Place Making NSW." which would include the possibility of state funding Wollongong City Council's much-loved celebration of our city's diversity will return in September 2025 following today's announcement that Culture Mix has been awarded a $250,000 funding grant under the NSW Government's Stronger Together Local Council Major Festival program The one-day event had previously been held in the Wollongong City Centre in October 2024 and 2023 It had been a huge success attracting more than 16,000 people last year and involving a wide range of multicultural community groups and organisations in its planning and delivery "I'm absolutely thrilled that the NSW Government has seen the value of this wonderful community event and provided a funding grant that will allow us to deliver this celebration again in 2025,'' Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said "Anyone who was involved or attended Culture Mix in the past two years would know just how colourful It's terrific that we'll be able to do it again Wollongong City Council’s much-loved celebration of our city’s diversity will return in September 2025 following today’s announcement that Culture Mix has been awarded a $250,000 funding grant under the NSW Government’s Stronger Together Local Council Major Festival program “I’m absolutely thrilled that the NSW Government has seen the value of this wonderful community event and provided a funding grant that will allow us to deliver this celebration again in 2025,’’ Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said “Anyone who was involved or attended Culture Mix in the past two years would know just how colourful It’s terrific that we’ll be able to do it again “I’m very grateful to the NSW Government who received our request for further funding to keep the festival going and have provided the opportunity to see it return in 2025.’’ Wollongong City Council Community Services Director Kerry Hunt said Culture Mix was a unique festival on Council’s event calendar and she was grateful the NSW Government recognised its significance to community “Culture Mix is quite a unique event in that we work really closely with people from all ages and backgrounds to ensure it’s a celebration that captures the broadest representation possible of our city’s multicultural community,’’ she said “The original events were made possible through a two-year grant from the NSW Government and so to be able to continue this event in its third year is just wonderful.’’ Council will now work to deliver the one-day event on Saturday 20 September the event will be presented across numerous locations in the lower Crown Street Mall Lower Crown Street and through into the Arts Precinct The program will see the return of elements like the Food Fair Culture Kids program and interactive workshops at the Wollongong Library We will also look for other activities that encourage participation “We’re hitting the ground running with our planning for the 2025 event and will be reaching out to our community to see who would like to be involved this time around,’’ Cr Brown said “I encourage people to make sure they’re following Wollongong City Council’s social media channels for updates on this exciting event including announcements about upcoming Community Development Grants which will offer opportunities for local creatives to develop new contemporary and cross-cultural works for presentation at the festival.’’ Visit our News page to find out what's happening in your community, or sign up for e-news. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Sydney indoor play centre franchise which also has play centres in Warrawong and one one its way at Shellharbour with signs going up at the shopfront in December last year It staged a soft opening last Saturday and is now up and running full time This weekend (June 6-7) there will be an opening celebration with free party bags and face painting in offer and has ball pits and and soft obstacle courses in pastel colours and space adventure themes With the Wollongong CBD sorely lacking in children's play options - except for a small younger kids playground just outside the new play centre and a single swing and climbing rocks in lower Crown Street Mall - the opening is set to be a welcome option for the school holidays Check out what else is on this July School Holidays. Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2011, I'm an award-winning reporter who has helped the paper set the news agenda across our region for more than a decade. It’ll be anything but a silent night on Thursday 12 December when Wollongong’s city centre is filled with festive spirit for Carols in MacCabe Park The Carols in MacCabe Park event is being presented by Wollongong City Council and is expected to attract families keen to celebrate the most wonderful time of year “This free event is open to everyone in our community and it’s going to be a Holly Jolly Christmas evening,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Tania Brown said “The carols will provide an opportunity for people to come together sit on a picnic rug and sing some Christmas favourites led by the wonderfully talented members of the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music It’s a lovely way to get into the spirit of the season.’’ The Carols in MacCabe Park will start at 7pm and run until 8.30pm The Crown Street Mall Thursday night markets will also be on providing people the opportunity to purchase their food and bring it to the park festive face painting and live stage shows including Hula Hooping Elves and a Christmas show from Circus Monoxide no carols event would be complete without a visit from Santa Claus and he has assured us he will be able to take some time out from his hectic North Pole schedule for a quick stop in Wollongong,’’ Cr Brown said “He’ll be dropping by towards the end of the evening to say hello to all the well-behaved youngsters and the young-at-heart- in the audience.’’ Stay up to date with all the news from the carols event by visiting Council’s website or on the City of Wollongong Facebook page there will be Carols led by the musicians from Wollongong Conservatorium of Music live stage shows including Hula Hooping Elves and a Circus Monoxide Christmas show When: Thursday 12 December 2024 from 7pm-8.30pm The streetscape of Warrawong Town Centre is set to change this week with the demolition of buildings on the corner of King and Greene Streets The demolition of the Council-owned vacant properties at 54-68 King Street and 7-9 Greene Street is expected to be completed within four months with works being undertaken to prepare the site for the future Southern Suburbs Community Centre and Library project community members are asked to allow additional travel time through Warrawong Town Centre and to follow the advice and direction of traffic controllers There will be mitigation strategies in place to reduce the impact on the surrounding community “This is an exciting first step towards a reinvigorated town centre that will benefit residents of our southern suburbs,” Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said “The removal of these empty buildings will allow for detailed site investigations to be carried out in preparation for the Southern Suburbs Community Centre and Library project to get underway.’’ These works herald exciting changes for the busy suburb which includes the proposed addition of new traffic lights at the intersection of Greene Street and further upgrades to the Warrawong CBD including improved footpaths “Investing in our suburbs is one of this Council’s top priorities and that means delivering improved footpaths roads and public spaces across the region,’’ Cr Brown said as we’re investing in quality community facilities it’s essential we ensure that the amenity and accessibility is also considered It makes sense to consider these projects holistically and to undertake works concurrently where possible Following a successful development application for the Southern Suburbs Community Centre and Library Council is optimistic that the Federal Government will see the community benefit and the value of providing grant funding to support the delivery of this project “Our local State and Federal representatives and Council have been united in the fight for additional funding to deliver the much needed inclusive and functional facility that residents of our southern suburbs deserve,’’ Wollongong City Council Director Community Services Kerry Hunt said “We’ve had many constructive conversations with both State and Federal Government representatives and we’ve been clear in our desire to deliver a fantastic facility to support a range of services for residents in our southern suburbs which includes some areas of significant disadvantage “I am hopeful that they’re keen to invest in this project so that Wollongong Council can deliver this facility for our community sooner than later.’’ Further information: Read more in our earlier Media Release: A new chapter for the Southern Suburbs Community Centre and Library If you’re looking to establish or grow your business the last thing you need is additional headaches and lengthy commutes are a drag anyone could do without It’s why more businesses are choosing to grow smarter in Wollongong with our city at the heart of the fastest growing region in NSW Already boasting a 700,000-strong workforce within a one-hour commute the region’s population is expected to grow by 130,000 by 2041 It promises massive growth in business and employment opportunities with Wollongong City Council’s Economic Development Strategy (2019-2029) setting an ambitious target of 10,500 net new jobs – with 96 per cent of the target achieved within the first five years the past five years has seen a 50 per cent increase in A-Grade office space in the Wollongong city centre available at half the rental price of premium office space in the Sydney CBD and 30 per cent cheaper than office space in Parramatta It’s part of a CBD that has benefitted from over $1.1 billion in investment offering access to quality premises without lengthy commutes Still just 70 minutes away from two major international airports Wollongong provides all the perks of a major metropolitan centre The future promises further extensive growth with BlueScope’s Master Plan at Port Kembla to see a further 200 hectares of industrial land transformed - the largest industrial land transformation project on the eastern seaboard - to deliver a range of employment In launching Invest Wollongong’s 2025 Investment Prospectus at the Property Council Outlook at the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney on Thursday morning Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said there’s simply never been a better time to choose Wollongong “Projections show that Wollongong is the centre of the fastest-growing region in our state and it’s not surprising given its rare blend of opportunity and balance,” Cr Brown said “We’re so fortunate to live and work in a truly beautiful spot between the escarpment and the ocean where satisfying work-life balance is the norm and you won’t spend half your time commuting to and from work and we’re increasingly seeing people choose Wollongong we’re shaping a city where people and businesses can truly thrive.” You can view the full 2025 Wollongong Investment Prospectus here booklovers in Unanderra will need to visit an alternative library to pick up their reading materials with their local library temporarily closing its doors to allow for essential works The project at Unanderra Library is expected to take a few months and includes the replacement of roofing and drainage the removal of hazardous materials and the replacement of the plasterboard ceiling and gable end linings there will also be improvements to the building’s interior and exterior to give it a refresh “We know Unanderra Library is a much-loved community space and these planned works will allow it to continue to be an important space for people to borrow books and also a calm retreat in a busy world,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said “The library and its returns bin will close after next Saturday to allow for the books and resources to be removed and reallocated to other branch libraries like Dapto “Regular library customers are encouraged to visit one of Wollongong City Libraries other six locations during the renovations.’’ While work is underway the neighbouring Unanderra Community Centre will continue to operate at a reduced capacity People are encouraged to contact the Community Centre by phone or email directly for more information about their important services including their Food Pantry “The building housing the library has been an important space since it opened as the original Unanderra Community Hall in 1901 “Before the formation of the City of Greater Wollongong in 1947 it was the site of the Central Illawarra Municipal Council Chambers will once again welcome people to peruse its book-filled shelves from early 2025.’’ Unanderra Library will close from 1pm on Saturday 7 September 2024 and reopen in early 2025 With the last of the fairy lights installed in MacCabe Park Wollongong we’re starting to wrap up Wollongong’s Safer Cities: Her Way project Safer Cities: Her Way is a collaborative partnership program between Transport for NSW and Council Its aim was to improve perceptions of safety for women girls and gender diverse people when travelling to through and within public spaces and transport hub precincts While most of the trial interventions have been installed and activations have finished Council is continuing on plans to install the last of the lighting and other upgrades in Port Kembla and Dapto town centres Now that we’ve reached this milestone the next step is to seek community feedback on a range of trial interventions that have taken place Wollongong City Council Community Development + Engagement Manager Alison Bradford said that the program targeted three locations: Wollongong CBD “Last year we conducted extensive engagement with our community to better understand what made people feel unsafe we invited women and gender diverse people to accompany Council staff and police on day and night walks through the three locations,” Ms Bradford said “We then combined this feedback with survey results to co-design a number of trial interventions and activations that could help make our public spaces and transport hub precincts feel safer and more welcoming.” Council has rolled out several trial interventions including exercise classes Council has upgraded the amenities of the three pilot locations with interventions such as new seating improved street lighting and gender sensitive lighting Don’t know what gender-sensitive lighting means? Read more in our media release: ‘Why is good lighting so important?’ Now that the last of the Safer Cities: Her Way trial interventions are being installed “We want to hear from the people who know and use these spaces we want to know if the interventions we tested were effective How do you feel in each location?’ Ms Bradford said “All of this feedback will then be collated and shared with Transport for NSW who will use it to help guide future planning decisions across NSW.” the new lighting in the three locations will remain in place for a trial period of time Community members have from Saturday 1 June to Friday 5 July to provide feedback. Visit the Our Wollongong website for the online survey Safer Cities: Her Way is proudly funded by the NSW Government through the Safer Cities Program led by Transport for NSW Wollongong City Council endorsed March’s Quarterly Review Statement a document which outlines Council’s progress towards the goals in the Delivery Program 2022-2026 and Operational Plan 2023-2024 This report showcases the amount of work delivered by Council across the City of Wollongong between January and March It doesn’t just highlight the milestones of key infrastructure projects but also captures things like library book acquisitions Housing and affordable housing was another big focus this past quarter Now passing the 12-month mark since endorsing the Wollongong Housing Strategy in February 2024 Council noted the progress report for the strategy which showed that Council is progressing on its affordable housing commitments This progress report also included Council’s considered response to the NSW Government’s housing reforms Council provided “in principle” support for more housing around suitable stations and centres noting that further work was required to make sure that new developments are appropriately designed and serviced to meet the needs of the community Read more about Council’s response in the media release: ‘Right house for the right location’ Wollongong City Council General Manager (Acting) Renee Campbell said that the quarterly review statement was one of the ways Council kept the community updated on major work and Council’s daily do “There is so much work that Council does for our community that often goes unseen and it’s important to us that our residents know what we’re doing across the board to improve their city,’’ Ms Campbell said “This report highlights our recent work including Council’s adoption of the Wollongong City Libraries Strategy and supported our community’s vibrant cultural life by holding events and programs that celebrated Multicultural March “We continued to advocate for West Dapto and we successfully secured a total of $9.6M infrastructure funding including $9M from the Federal Government’s ‘Priority Community Infrastructure Program’ that will be used for Stage 1 of the Darkes Road Sporting and Community Hub project That’s a fantastic result that will help us cater for the community’s existing and future sporting needs “Our advocacy work continued at NSW Parliament House where a Council-led event was held that pitched our city as a place where business and lifestyle could grow together to over 160 people who represent the property sector business community and government.’’ Council continues to focus on business-as-usual That includes things like cleaning streets and public spaces and maintaining community facilities and cleaning our pools Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said that this work continued beyond the first quarter as Council started April in disaster recovery mode responding to the city-wide damage caused by the April 2024 flooding event we’ve been phasing our response to facilitate the city’s recovery Our immediate response saw Council support flood impacted residents with on-call household cleanups and the mass clearing of debris from our roads footpaths and gutters,” Cr Bradbery said “Where the energy of the city was on immediate safety and cleaning we’re now moving onto more long-term phases of recovery We’re at a stage where we’re closely assessing and identifying priorities for action across local infrastructure “This work will take some time as much of the work is complex and cannot be tackled alone by Council We will continue to work closely with the NSW Reconstruction Authority as they support Wollongong as a natural disaster recovery area we ask for our community’s patience as we work as quickly as possible to address issues caused by the flood.” Wollongong is reimagining its CBD as a lively and modern urban centre lined with liveable streets – and it sees bikes as a big part of the picture The draft Wollongong City Centre Movement and Place Plan seeks to reshape the way people access and experience the city centre And just like forward-thinking cities around the world that pursuit involves a boost in bike-ability and sustainable modes of travel Up to 79% of city centre workers travel by car The council notes that 45% of people are open to changing their commuting habits but they choose to drive because car travel and parking is efficient Wollongong City Council also says its residents have a healthy appetite for recreational bike riding – a 47% participation rate over the last year – a figure well above state and national averages The draft report notes that recreational riding can act as a gateway for functional bike riding trips such as work commutes and the council hopes to tap into this underlying interest and build a robust Central to the objective will be a cohesive network of north-south and east-west bike routes that connect key destinations by way of separated lanes shared paths and high-quality infrastructure Other elements of the plan include high-quality public transport pedestrianised zones such as laneways and “little streets” safer speed limits for motor traffic and better management of car parking Become a Member and help fund our advocacy work Or become our friend and subscribe to receive our fortnightly newsletter. The Great Victorian Bike Ride is set to return in 2025 on 24–28 November, offering an exciting new format while keeping the spirit of this beloved event alive. Bicycle Network Memberships offer benefits to all kinds of riders, on all kinds of bikes. The Peaks Challenge Ride2School fundraiser is on again for this year's epic event on Sunday 9 March. The City of Adelaide will undertake a speed limit review to understand the need for reducing speeds to support business and residents and create a safer city environment. Work on the much-anticipated $38.9 million Sydney Harbour Bridge ramp upgrade has begun.  When completed, the bike lane will link the country's most famous bridge to the bike network in Milsons Point.  Late last year, we launched our Affiliate Membership program, specially designed for cycling groups and clubs. Orange in New South Wales is in line for a nice new stretch of bike path, one that will expand the off-road network and improve access to schools, playgrounds and sports facilities. Work has kicked off on a key Canberra bike route, setting the wheels in motion for safer and more pleasant journeys through the city’s northern suburbs. In a submission to the federal government’s draft National Urban Policy, Bicycle Network and seven other Australian bicycle organisations have called for active transport infrastructure funding to be increased to 10% of federal transport investment. Many of our best bike journeys are along coastlines, or up and down the creeks and rivers that meet the sea. These are generally traffic-free routes, scenic, calm and refreshing. But with rising sea levels some of this vital infrastructure is at threat of inundation, erosion and from changes in groundwater chemistry. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) New South Wales, a southeastern state in Australia has many incredible cities and towns where arts and the great outdoors create unforgettable experiences within their downtown districts and surrounding areas Imagine yourself enjoying a world-class performance at Sydney's famous opera house catching waves at Newcastle's premier surf beaches shopping at Wollongong's top retail destinations exploring Byron Bay's breathtaking marine park spending the day at Coffs Harbour's theme park or sipping on local beers at Bellingen's leading brewery these communities have some of the best downtowns in New South Wales Sydney is home to the Central Business District (CBD) The vibrant downtown area features The Rocks a tourist suburb that offers an enjoyable walking tour with stops at historic landmarks has many interactive exhibits that date back to the pre-European period The Museum of Contemporary Art is within the area showcasing works from talented Australian artists Its café offers excellent cuisine and breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour spend a few hours at Pitt Street Mall or the Queen Victoria Building to see everything they offer Another notable downtown landmark is the Sydney Opera House an iconic performance arts venue that offers various tours hop on a ferry from Circular Quay to the Taronga Zoo Newcastle is a lively coastal destination known for its prime surfing locations and gorgeous beaches Many popular waterfront restaurants and bars an ideal place to dive into the city's heritage and lawn space for picnicking surround the area Beyond the park lies the Newcastle Art Gallery home to one of Australia's finest public art collections head to Darby Street to explore Cooks Hill Books or shop for stylish home goods at Palinopsia Ceramics located within the Illawarra region of New South Wales has a bustling downtown area filled with entertainment Harbour Street is home to venues such as WIN Stadium and WIN Entertainment Centre which host events like the Wakakirri National Story-Dance Festival You can also catch an Illawarra Hawks basketball game see major acts like Keith Urban live in concert or attend family-friendly shows like Disney on Ice there art enthusiasts can enjoy Wollongong Art Gallery featuring over 200 stores and hosting special events While Byron Bay is famous for stunning beaches like Main Beach the streets near Railway Park come alive for the Byron Community Market It's the perfect way to kick off the month and spend a lovely Sunday morning or afternoon visitors can seek out attractions like Cape Byron Marine Park for a kayaking adventure attracts more than 100,000 visitors who are drawn to its entertainment lineup One of the many highlights that make Coffs Harbour's downtown area a big draw is the Big Banana Fun Park a fun-for-all-ages amusement park with everything from thrill rides and water slides to ice skating and mini-golf activities Many of Coffs Harbour's wildlife attractions Visit the Jetty Strip on the southern side of Harbour Drive for a taste of its vibrant dining and nightlife scene From Jetty Beach House's modern Australian cuisine to Bella's Pasta Bar & Pizzeria's Italian fare there is something for everyone along the way Early risers can enjoy a nice breakfast at Twenty46 while Element Bar is perfect for happy hour meetups or live music on the weekends Sundays are well spent at Harbourside Markets along the Jetty Foreshores on Marina Drive Downtown Orange is home to the Orange City Centre a shopping mall on Anson Street with specialty stores and retailers like Big W A few blocks down are cozy cafés like Nimrod's and Good Eddy plus delightful eateries like Lords Place Thai Restaurant and Lucetta Dining Further along Orange's downtown streets are attractions like Orange Regional Museum which provides an insightful look at the area's past the Orange Regional Gallery showcases paintings and photography from talented Australian artists travel to Hill Street for a serene outing at Orange Botanic Gardens Cook Park is a beautiful park with traditional Victorian design features like expanded pathways where you can find gifts ranging from handcrafted pottery to jewelry Take time to explore the area's history and everything it offers on a self-guided heritage walk Tamworth's downtown area gets busy in January every year as its annual Tamworth Toyota Country Music Festival which happens to be the largest and longest country music festival in the Southern Hemisphere country music lovers gather to hear local bands and big-name acts and enjoy other events Those visiting the city in the summertime can look forward to attending the Hats Off To Country Music Festival the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame on Peel Street has memorabilia and various exhibits on display A few steps from the attraction is the Capitol Theatre a performance venue that hosts everything from jazz concerts and live comedy to family-friendly shows and musicals Tamworth's arts scene is also worth exploring with the remarkable Tamworth Regional Gallery offering free admission the Bicentennial Park offers relaxation with pathways there is so much to love about the charming town of Bellingen and its downtown area On Doepel Street sits the historic Old Butter Factory Café a popular dining spot open for breakfast or lunch The eatery also offers a selection of ice cream Take a short walk from there to Waterfall Way to reach the Bellingen Golf Club before heading to Church Street for in-house beers With Bellinger River National Park not too far away outdoor enthusiasts can spend time enjoying nature's beauty or water activities like kayaking For a sense of what the Bellingen community is all about the monthly Bellingen Community Markets event held every third Saturday of the Month in Bellingen Park features local artisans and farmers lined up along the streets Live music throughout the event sets the tone for an enjoyable Saturday afternoon in the park brings together some of the finest Australian classical musicians New South Wales in Australia has many cities and towns with incredible downtown areas worth visiting which boasts the historic Sydney Opera House home to the world-class venue WIN Entertainment Centre and the premier retail destination Wollongong Central to a fun-filled day at Big Banana Fun Park in Coffs Harbour these vibrant downtowns offer something for every traveler photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com It’s no secret Wollongong is growing and how people travel around our city will be an integral part into the future We’ve drafted a Wollongong Integrated Transport Strategy to support our city’s growth and we’re inviting community for feedback and improve transport infrastructure and services across Wollongong to support how we want people to move around Our existing plans focus on transport in a site-specific or transport-specific way This 10-year Strategy takes a different approach and looks at transport city-wide and how we can work with Transport for NSW and affordable transport options are available for our growing and diverse city The Strategy aligns with our long-term community strategic goal of having affordable and accessible transport It was informed by Council’s existing strategy and planning documents and feedback received from several workshops with key stakeholders and neighbourhood forums Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said that to ensure our city is liveable now and into the future the Strategy focuses on a shift away from the approach of predict and provide planning to one of a vision and validate “The Draft Wollongong Integrated Transport Strategy recognises that the current transport network was developed by focusing on historical trends of the community’s transport needs This has resulted in a road network that prioritises privately used cars,” Cr Bradbery said “Recent data collected by Council’s consultants has shown that 79% of our residents are using private cars for most of their trips with 55% of residents using car travel for trips less than 1km There’s an opportunity to reduce this number by supporting more sustainable options like walking “The Strategy looks forward to ensure that a range of viable transport options are available for our community so that private car use isn’t always the first choice.” The Strategy outlines six goals; competitive public transport all ages and abilities can get around with ease increased use of active modes and a connection to Country and sense of place Cr Bradbery said the Strategy’s goals and actions will help intervene the path we’re heading down it will result in increased congestion on our roads longer journey times and higher spending on road upgrades “The Strategy’s call for change supports a connected and safe city to move around in It looks to reduce our environmental impact and acknowledge the Dhawaral Country we travel on every day,” he said “The Strategy has outlined actions we can take to achieve the goals It includes building upon our transport links and providing education about topics like road safety and active transport benefits We’ll also continue to work and advocate for our community with key agencies such as Transport for NSW to provide better public transport.” Council manages transport networks across the city and works closely with the State Government’s agency Transport for NSW on integrating Council-owned transport assets like local roads and pathways with State-managed roads and public transport services and infrastructure “Transport is an ongoing discussion and plays an important part in community life I encourage residents to take part in the engagement and share their thoughts whether it’s online or at one of our drop-in sessions,” Cr Bradbery said The exhibition is open until Monday 27 May 2024 For more information, find a drop-in session, and to provide feedback please visit Our Wollongong website Check out below what some of the data says about our community travels. Find out more in our draft Strategy The top reasons why people move around our city are: You can travel far further in a car in 15 minutes than you can by public transport Over the next few decades West Dapto will become the location of around 19,500 new homes and home to more than 56,500 people making it one of the fastest-growing residential area in NSW outside the Sydney metropolitan area To support the establishment of a new and growing community Council has selected eight locations that will become the home to three new town centres and five new village centres The selected locations were identified in Council’s West Dapto Vision and were selected based on extensive planning future transport networks and projected populations we’re seeking community feedback on the draft Master Plan for two of these locations Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said the work we’re doing now allows Council to set out clearly the long-term intention for these town centres This isn’t just relevant to residents or potential businesses who might consider moving to the area It’s also important to developers as it makes clear to them what is expected for them when they’re developing in and around the proposed town centres “Developing a Master Plan for these new town centres and village centres is a chance to think strategically about planning and decide before the shovels come out and everything else that makes a community feel like a community “While Council isn’t on the ground building houses having a Master Plan in place means developers are able to see what they need to do to meet the requirements of the Plan It puts everyone who has a stake in the development of the new town and village centres on the same page so we can work collaboratively together we’re seeking community feedback on the Future West Dapto Centres Master Plans This is a chance for community members to share their ideas on how they would like these centres to work on their own and in a way that doesn’t compete with the existing Dapto Regional Centre The current draft Master Plans were prepared by Urbis who was engaged by Council thanks to funding from the NSW Government’s Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund The draft plans were developed with input from landowners specialist planners and experts in flooding Community members have from now until the Monday 4 March 2024 to review the plans and share feedback For more information and to have your say: Wollongong City Council is making changes to pop up cycleways across the city with some to remain in place Council introduced the trial of cycleways in key locations across the city in early 2021 as a way to support people to consider active transport options like cycling for trips rather than relying on cars The trial was a part of the Wollongong Cycling Strategy 2030 and a commitment to plan for cycleways in places that connect key destinations The trial saw pop-up cycleways introduced in Port Kembla with different levels of road treatments provided to make it one-way traffic only with a dedicated through to the installation of road markings in Thirroul and road cushions in Towradgi Council called for comments from residents about the cycleways and and we received more than 830 pieces of feedback collected through user surveys has helped inform the next steps for these facilities “We’re very appreciative of those who took the time to provide their feedback to Council on their experiences with the cycleways,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said “What is really important about this feedback is that it came from both user groups and non-users of these facilities It has helped inform the decisions made by Council for the future of these transport links and will allow us to continue to explore ways to continue to improve active transport options across the local government area.’’ The Port Kembla Cycleway will remain and be supported by the construction of a shared path connection on Military Road from Church Street to Olympic Boulevarde Road cushions and traffic separators will be removed from Murranar Road Bicycle symbols and warning signs will be kept to maintain driver awareness of cyclists that use this route Council will investigate options for an alternative cycleway treatment connecting Towradgi railway station to the coastal shared path The Thirroul cycling markings and road signage will be retained Additional wayfinding signage is planned to direct cyclists to surrounding destinations Road cushions will be removed from Stewart Street except for those either side of the pedestrian kerb blisters beside Aldi supermarket Shared path use will remain on Corrimal Street Crown Street (from Corrimal St to the foreshore) MacCabe Park and Burelli Street west of MacCabe Park Harbour and Kembla streets will remain in place and be considered as part of the new transport plan for Wollongong – the Wollongong City Centre Movement and Place Plan This Plan is under development now and will identify the integration of all forms of transport and their supporting infrastructure This will include which existing cycleways and shared paths should remain and recommend new cycleways and other enhancements that will provide a safe well-connected and convenient bicycle network Public Exhibition of the Wollongong Movement and Place Plan is anticipated to occur in early 2024 “I know there will be a mixed response to the news about the changes to keep some cycleways and make changes to the cycleway in Towradgi,’’ Cr Bradbery said cycling is an easy and sustainable way to get from A to B we know through the Wollongong Cycling Strategy 2030 that many people would be inclined to ride if they felt safer while doing so One of the most effective ways to improve safety is having dedicated cycleways like that on Smith Street that is separated from traffic “With the ongoing increases to our city’s population and climate change we have to continue to adapt our way of living and that includes how we move about We need to ensure cycling is a more appealing option for people to have when it comes to jumping on a bike to get to work to a social engagement or to run errands.’’ For more information about the community feedback on the trial, and Council’s next steps, visit the pop-up cycling routes page on Council’s website Picture: Janine GrahamA larger-than-life tribute to one of Wollongong's favourite daughters is taking shape in the city centre Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueCaitlin Foord will keep permanent watch over visitors to Wollongong Central with a mural featuring the homegrown Matildas star nearing completion at the shopping complex's Market St entrance on Tuesday evening The painting is the work of lauded Illawarra muralist Claire Foxton and comes as Foord was on Tuesday named in Tony Gustavsson's Paris 2024 Olympic squad Photo shows Claire Foxton working on her mural in Court Lane in Wollongong for the Wonderwalls 2017. Photo by Georgia Matts 26/11/2017The selection makes Foord one of seven Matildas set to play at their third Olympics. She is one of three Illawarra footballers to make the squad The former Illawarra Stingrays player and Illawarra Sports High School graduate has carved out a stellar international career joining powerhouse Arsenal in 2020 and playing a starring role in the Matilda's glass ceiling-shattering 2023 World Cup showing The 29-year-old was sidelined with a hamstring injury during Australia's final pre-Paris friendly hit-out having lasted just 15 minutes in the first match of the two-game series Read more: 'Ghost town': Retailers move out of Warilla Grove as boom turns to bust Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au We're working on many projects to support the growing community of West Dapto Most of our work so far has focused on important West Dapto Access Strategy projects our work will expand to include things like sports and community centres The West Dapto Access Strategy is our long term to-do list to create roads and paths for people safely and enjoyably drive This strategy will continue to roll out over coming decades as West Dapto grows. It supports our West Dapto Vision PDF, 15307.46 KB to connect this growing network of communities Over the last 10 years we’ve invested more than $100 million researching In April 2020 we reached a major milestone with the opening of the Fowlers Road to Fairwater Drive Link and Karrara Bridge – see the completed works section of this page for details A lot of work happens behind the scenes to deliver the infrastructure that you see: we seek funding design and adjust plans based on feedback from our community Money for these projects comes from a mix of developer contributions and State and Federal government grants We give priority to road and bridge projects based on risk and aim to provide flood-reliable access to new subdivisions Internal residential roads in subdivisions are usually built by developers Larger roads are typically included in Council's developer contributions plan where developer levies are collected to allow these roads to be delivered Projects take many years to develop and deliver Multiple studies and investigations are done to produce a concept design for each project Over time this is refined based on feedback from the community and key organisations to become a design The design lets us work out where we may need to buy land we prepare a detailed design which we use to tender the works and get to construction Works on this upgrade will be completed in three stages We'll be starting Stage 1 of the Cleveland Road upgrade in mid-March 2025 Vehicle access and a designated pedestrian path will be maintained throughout the works This stage covers approximately 2.5 km stretch of road west from Fowlers Road intersection We'll be working closely with the community to manage the impacts of construction during all stages The Cleveland Road upgrade project is proudly co-funded by Restart NSW in association with Wollongong City Council West Dapto Road will be upgraded from Shone Avenue Construction began in 2022 and is expected to take several years to complete The first phase of works at the western end of West Dapto Road are now complete We’ve recently awarded the construction contract for the next stage of works including the upgrade of the intersection of Shone Avenue Wongawilli Road and West Dapto Road as well as works along West Dapto Road towards Yard Street Works are due to start in late April / May 2025 Detailed planning is underway to refine the construction methodology with the goal of minimising the construction duration and reducing the time of any necessary road closures Works will be done in stages and are expected to be completed in 2026 service authority approvals and other circumstances out of Council’s control It is expected there will be temporary full road closures from mid-2025 to deliver this project and its long-term community benefits The timing and duration of closures are being finalised and will depend on various services being relocated We'll share updates when details about any road closures are confirmed Detours will be in place for residents in Wongawilli Stream Hill and Horsely as shown in the map below Map of West Dapto Road closures and detours PDF, 309.88 KB Part of West Dapto Road will be open to local traffic only Properties located within the worksite with direct driveway access will have access maintained throughout construction The contractor will manage this access with information provided directly to those impacted The temporary detours are expected to result in a slight increase in travel time for residents and a redistribution of local traffic to alternate routes particularly near the Shone Avenue and West Dapto Road intersection will dictate the time and duration of the road closures Construction is permitted on weekdays from 7am to 6pm and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm Limited works may be required outside these hours to reduce impacts to road users or for safety reasons Additional truck movements associated with the works are expected We will recycle existing road materials where possible for sustainability and to minimise traffic generation The contractor will have management plans in place to minimise the environmental impact of noise and dust generated from the works Council is also working with Transport for NSW and Premier Bus Services to review services to all areas and to develop alternative routing for school services The full road closure to through traffic between Shone Avenue and Rainbird Drive is expected to result in the reduction in construction timeline by up to 10 weeks and generate significant cost savings for the project Consultation with emergency services is currently underway to ensure access for emergency services is maintained You can stay updated during this period through information displayed on variable message signs Road closures will be reported to live traffic services enabling updates through navigation services We will provide regular updates on construction progress on this webpage You can call Council on (02) 4227 7111 or email us council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au You can also come and talk to staff working on this project at the Let’s Chat Dapto! event at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre between 3.30 - 6pm on Thursday 27 March 2025 We thank you for your understanding as we improve local infrastructure The West Dapto Road upgrade project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Wollongong City Council designing and refining other key road projects When we're ready to invite community feedback on any of these projects, details will be made available on the Our Wollongong website We want to make sure Wongawilli Village has the infrastructure needed to support its growing population We’ve finished the planned upgrades for Wongawilli Road Karrara Bridge at Fowlers Road opened to motorists, pedestrians and cyclists on 28 April 2020. It provides new flood-reliable access between Dapto and West Dapto and eases congestion through Dapto Town Centre by reducing traffic on Bong Bong Road. Karrara is the traditional Aboriginal name for Upper Mullet Creek. It was suggested by the community when we asked for bridge name ideas. This project was one of the largest ever undertaken by Council. It includes: The project also included tree planting and landscaping in Dapto and Horsley and public artwork on the Karrara Bridge underpass in Marshall Street. In addition to funds provided by Council, initial funding for this project has been secured from the Australian Government; the NSW Government - Infrastructure NSW’s Restart NSW Illawarra Infrastructure Fund; the NSW Government - Office of Local Government’s Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme; and a Design Grant from NSW Government - Department of Planning and Infrastructure. We've installed a sign at Karrara Bridge featuring a painting by Dapto High School student, Cooper Barnes. As a proud Indigenous boy from Yuin Country and Dapto High School student, I have been honoured and humbled to be asked to design an artwork representing Kararra Bridge, Mullet Creek and the connection our school, as a meeting place of learning, has with community and its surrounding area. My painting highlights the beauty of Mullet Creek and includes the ponds and waterways that run alongside the school, full of fish and turtles, which I enjoyed as a kid. I’ve also captured the beauty of the escarpment and the native birds that are part of our landscape and my life growing up. Artist statement supplied by Cooper Barnes 2022. In 2014 we completed work to replace a single lane bridge on Shone Avenue with a wider bridge allowing two-way traffic. The bridge was raised 2.7 metres, making Shone Avenue more accessible during periods of heavy rain. The alignment of the road was changed to improve lines of sight and increase safety. We now have shared paths on both sides of the road to provide better safety and access for pedestrians and cyclists. In 2015 we replaced an old culvert with a new four-lane bridge on Shone Avenue. The bridge is higher, removing the dip in the road. This new bridge allows better access during periods of heavy rain and flooding. The works also included kerb and guttering, and extension of the shared path. Both projects were funded by the Australian Government's Building Better Regional Cities Programme (BBRCP). To improve safety we put in traffic lights at the intersection of Cleveland Road and Marshall Streets, established a ‘No Right Turn’ into Marshall Street from Cleveland Road, and built a median strip from Mullet Creek bridge to Western Avenue. New and wider footpaths and a pedestrian safety fence were constructured from the rail bridge to the Princes Highway to provide better access for students and pedestrians. The single lane bridge over Mullet Creek was replaced with a higher two lane bridge. This now provides reliable access during heavy rain. A roundabout, a ‘kiss and drop zone’ (car park) and new school bus zone were also constructed. The project was funded by the State Government's Local Infrastructure Fund (LIF). Works were completed in 2014. With the increase in housing in the area, West Dapto Road will become a more important transport link. With issues of flooding, rail crossing, blind corners and narrow carriageway the road needs significant work to upgrade. We completed research in design and a flood study for the area. The upgrade of the intersection of West Dapto Road and the Princes Highway was completed in 2014. Including access to the Illawarra Turf Club meant the intersection is now four-way. Traffic lights, a left turn lane from West Dapto Road and a new shared path were included in the upgrade. The project was funded by the State Government's Local Infrastructure Fund (LIF). We extended Fairwater Drive from Highcroft Boulevard to Bong Bong Road and from Sierra Drive to Cleveland Road. The new section of road was initially called Daisy Bank Drive, but has been renamed Fowlers Road, as an extension of the Fowlers to Fairwater Link. It provides an alternative link from Horsley to the Princes Highway. You can now cycle or walk on the shared paths alongside the new road. The project also included the construction of a through-road in front of Dapto Primary School. This is for student pick up and drop off. Residents can also access Sierra Drive and surrounds. The project was funded by the State Government's Local Infrastructure Fund (LIF). Works were completed in 2011. A concept design is the first stage of the design process. In preparing concept designs, we work out site or project constraints and consider different options. After a concept design is done, a detailed design is prepared that has construction-level details. Following that, projects can move to the construction stage. Concept designs have been completed for the following projects: ACMA group of young men who cornered their victim in the toilet area of Wollongong mall later threw chairs at him in the food court while shoppers ran for their safety Tendered court documents state the footage showed Junior Tosh and two other men waiting for the victim outside the toilet area on level one at Wollongong Central Tosh shaped up to the man when he left the toilet before the rest of the group followed him to the food court area Junior threw a large drink bottle at the victim which caused a violent melee to break out The victim ran backwards to avoid further assault however Junior picked up a steel and plastic chair and launched it at the man Tosh and another man from group punched the victim in the head and body while Jeremiah threw a chair at him Several members of the public who were eating lunch fled from the food court fearing for their safety The victim continued to try and run from the area The victim threw a punch at Tosh in self-defence while Junior ran towards the victim while holding a chair with both arms above his head Junior and Jeremiah Puruto leaving Wollongong courthouse on April 30 Picture by Grace CrivellaroThe group shaped up to the man for about a minute before security guards and shoppers separated them Police were called and reviewed CCTV footage from the mall Court documents state the relationship between the victim and the group is unknown The trio were arrested the next day and each pleaded guilty to affray Wollongong City Council extends our sympathy to the family of former Councillor and Lord Mayor Alex Darling AM Mr Darling served the community for three terms as a Councillor between 1987 and 2002 was Deputy Lord Mayor from 2001 to 2002 and as Lord Mayor from 2002 to 2008 “I worked with Alex during my career at Council and always found him to be a passionate advocate for the community,’’ Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle said “He loved Wollongong and was proud to lead the Council as Lord Mayor for six years as he worked to deliver the best for the community “It was during his tenure that the strategic framework for the city centre or the Revitalising Wollongong City Centre Plan It was also when early planning and visioning work was done the Blue Mile precinct – an area which continues to develop and grow as a premier spot for people to socialise Mr Darling received the title of Emeritus Mayor and was awarded an Outstanding Service Award at the October 2007 Local Government Association Annual Conference “There was no question that Alex was dedicated to our community and this was reflected in him receiving a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2007 which recognised his service to local government and the community,’’ Mr Doyle said we all will take a moment to reflect upon his man who worked to improve our city for the better through his range of business and commerce Wollongong City Council began rolling out the first trial interventions of the Safer Cities: Her Way project This project is a collaborative partnership between Transport for NSW and Council that aims to improve perceptions of safety for women and within public spaces and transport hubs Read more about the project in the media release: ‘Safer Cities trial kicks off in the City of Wollongong’ One intervention that will be rolled-out across all three trial locations — Wollongong CBD and Dapto Town Centre — is something called ‘Gender Sensitive Lighting’ Image: Council held night and day walks with community members at the pilot locations to better understand what made them feel unsafe Here’s how Wollongong City Council Director Community Services Kerry Hunt explained what it is “Gender sensitive lighting is a common term used to describe many different forms of lighting that help illuminate a space so that it feels welcoming and safe,” Ms Hunt said “Streetlights are predominately used to illuminate roads so that vehicles can see where they’re going can create harsh shadows outside of the immediately lit up area and this can make spaces feel less safe “Gender sensitive lighting focusses on using things like fairy lights or even new technologies such as LEDs to illuminating public spaces It’s about using clever lighting options to illuminate more space and have less harsh shadows girls and gender diverse people to feel safer moving through public spaces as they can see more clearly.’’ Council is undertaking a massive project to change the remainder of the city’s streetlights This project is a climate change mitigation initiative that also has huge benefits for people’s perceptions of safety Read more about this project in the media release: ‘LED there be light: Making Wollongong's streets safer for all’ Image: The LED streetlight project will reduce the city’s energy consumption by 4,089 megawatt hours per year “It was perfect timing that the Safer Cities: Her Way project coincided with Council’s push to replace our streetlights across the whole of our LGA This roll-out of LEDs will have a massive impact on visibility as well as reducing the city’s energy consumption It’s a real win-win!” Ms Hunt said we’ll also be testing other forms of gender sensitive lighting in the three selected locations “These changes will not only help illuminate the spaces better but they’ll also make these areas more attractive and pleasant to visit We’re inviting people to experience this themselves by coming along to some associated activities planned in Dapto Town Centre and MacCabe Park like exercise classes For more information about the Safer Cities project including upcoming events, follow the City of Wollongong Facebook page or visit Council’s website with a snuggly igloo and reindeer welcoming the jolly old fellow to Wollongong this week Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFamilies can begin lining up at Wollongong Central with long wish-lists in hand from Saturday (with a quick visit on Thursday) though be warned as Father Christmas already knows who has been naughty and who has been nice Read more: The two festivals coming to Wollongong, Shellharbour thanks to $1 million boost Santa stopped by to inspect his holiday home at Wollongong Central on Wednesday Picture by Adam McLean."I hope he likes [the throne] I hope it doesn't clash with his outfit," said Tim Buckley the man responsible for designing a temporary home fit for the international celebrity While the bearded fellow will stop by many shopping centres parents may be especially excited about the special soundtrack that can put babies to sleep and the temperature controlled igloo Mr Buckley said the music was a composition of the natural sounds glaciers and ice make which is often used for sleep and meditation - something to certainly aid melt-downs that may ensue waiting to see Santa Santa will soon be taking bookings to meet families and have a photo with them from Saturday at the shopping centre He will also be part of a parade in the Crown Street Mall on Thursday night Picture by Adam McLean."This sensory experience will help calm the children who are a bit anxious about meeting Santa and this type of frequency will help create a healing and anxiety free environment," he said is also climate controlled with air-conditioning and perfect to keep the big man cool just like he was back in the North Pole Read more: Mums' advice for children starting 'big school' in 2023 Picture by Adam McLean.The planning for the unique holiday home began in July with all the "hard work" paying off at completion this week Santa will arrive in Wollongong for an evening parade on Thursday with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer landing in the Crown Street Mall at 5:30pm Mr Claus' throne will be ready for photos from Saturday November 12 at Wollongong Central and will be located on Level One across from David Jones and Peter Alexander Families wanting their children or pets to meet Santa must make a booking via: www.wollongongcentral.com.au The Giving Tree appeal aims to give every child a chance to celebrate the holiday season with something special For more details contact Wollongong City Council Wollongong City Council is calling on the community to grab something for their Giving Tree whilst shopping - with the annual appeal aiming to give every child a chance to celebrate the holidays with something special Thank you for reading this free article from our newsroom. You can support local journalism by subscribing here At the helm of Australia's premier publication for people aged over 55, covering hard hitting issues, travel, lifestyle and entertainment. Got a hot tip? Email me - edit@TheSenior.com.au Update: Thirroul Library and Community Centre has reopened as normal Thirroul Library & Community Centre is currently closed due to a water issue We hope to reopen tomorrow – and apologise for the inconvenience you can do so any time via the library website or app If you need to use library spaces or facilities Corrimal Library is open until 5pm and can be contacted on (02) 4227 8179 (02) 4227 7414 Library hours and locations Wollongong City Libraries is a service of Wollongong City Council Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt's the second of three to open for the Illawarra after one opened its doors at Warrawong Plaza in October and a third is planned to open in Shellharbour "Chouchoubebe is a premium kids cafe that doubles up as a restaurant with a delectable selection of food for both adults and children to enjoy," according to their website Set to be found on lower ground near the existing indoor playground beside Dymocks the new venture is set to be a parent's dream Children of all ages can get lost amongst ball pits and soft obstacle courses while the grown-ups have a coffee amongst the pastel-coloured View +11 PhotosIf the Warrawong cafe is anything to go by Wollongong could also see a jumping castle while littlies can smash balls against an interactive wall or retreat to the big Lego block area for some quiet building time and munch on something from a full cafe menu like pizza Wollongong might also have a party room that can be rented out privately for birthday parties the Wollongong Central location will be open in "Autumn" 2024 Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Get the latest property and development news here. Find out what's happening in local business. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe Local investment house Haben Property Group has teamed up with Hong Kong-based JY Group to acquire Wollongong Central shopping centre from GPT Group in a $402 million deal the latest trade in a gathering rebound for the retail real estate market GPT’s divestment of the Wollongong mall in line with its book value follows 18 months of turmoil in the retail property sector as the COVID-19 disruption for retail landlords combined with longer-term challenges SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Read MoreShopping centresGPT GroupLatest In CommercialFetching latest articles Picture by Andy ZakeliAn explosion during work on the Wollongong Central site that sent chunks of rock out onto Keira Street and the mall was proof that blasting was not the way to excavate during construction "There is a very heavy strain of rock that runs roughly from the hospital down to the harbour," Cr Brown said "and it has warranted a lot of extra jack-hammering and blasting to try and dig down and excavate for basement car parks "We know when GPT was building West Keira they tried the blast through this rock and it led to fragments breaking away and hitting surrounding glass and cars That surprise explosion happened on August 28, 2012 when the developer tested a new method of breaking up the hard rock base ''We tested a method called bedrock fracturing in order to loosen the bedrock with the aim of speeding up its excavation which involved a small explosion being used to loosen the bedrock,'' GPT group development manager Steve Turner said unfortunately the rock reacted in a manner that was different from what experts in this field had expected Some rock left the boundary of the building site.'' One of those was found outside Colin Hughes' business, which was 50 metres from the Wollongong Central site "I went out on the street and there was a lot of debris around the traffic lights and [the rock] was in the middle of the road outside the shop," Mr Hughes said ''I just think it's very lucky that nobody was hurt and nobody has got any car damage.'' Cr Brown felt there was a need to look for ways to revise development consent conditions to provide relief for residents dealing with months and months of jack-hammering "Let's talk to the Department of Planning and the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces to see if there are measures that we can adopt so that we can get ahead of this," Cr Brown said "It's a bit hard once the horse has bolted and developments already approved but what can we do to put in place changes And then we can get those builders and developers to start talking to residents." Cr David Brown had sympathy for residents in the CBD noting that he lived on its fringes near construction sites and "it feels like rock splitting goes on for months on end" "I've also got some sympathy for the builders in this region with the spine of bluestone down the centre of the city," he said The geology is a bit patchy - some sites have it some don't and it crops up when you don't expect it to They know they have to deal with it because we require them to have underground car parking so not excavating really is not an option for a lot of these buildings." Cr Tania Brown's motion was passed unanimously with an addition from Cr Gordon Bradbery requesting builders and developers be "extra vigilant" when it comes to the effect of noise from construction sites Picture: Adam McLean *** This story has been written in consultation with Mindframe a national program supporting safe media reporting mental ill-health and alcohol and other drugs.*** Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt's business as usual in the Wollongong Central shopping centre on Tuesday morning - a little girl walks hand-in-hand with her mother and a milkshake A boy's tragic and very public suicide death in the Wollongong CBD 24 hours earlier has left centre vendors and witnesses distraught Across the city at Wollongong's Smith's Hill selective high school trained psychologists and counsellors are on hand "over the week and beyond if necessary" as part of the school's response to the tragedy Read more: Three steps anyone can learn to prevent suicide Brian Boulton is urging Illawarra parents to have a difficult conversation with children potentially affected by a boy's public suicide death on Monday Picture: Robert Peet THE SCARY CONVERSATIONWollongong suicide prevention specialist Brian Boulton expects the boy's death will prompt "scary conversations" in households across the Illawarra but this is a conversation parents should not shy away from "Telling kids the truth - not sensationalising it but not hiding it either - is really important," said Mr Boulton a school chaplain who lost his own father to suicide when he was 11 "Kids know that stuff goes on and they talk about it among themselves Kids need to know that we sometimes feel that way too Kids need to know it (suicide) is not isolated to some special person who had something wrong when they went and did this A school chaplain and one-time senior staff member at Lifeline, Mr Boulton became the QPR Institute's Australian master trainer due to his expertise delivering QPR (Questions Refer) training - a type of First Aid for emergencies of the mind he urges parents to pay particular attention to those on the periphery of the event While support is rightfully most heavily targeted at those who are closest unsupported children on the outskirts may be at risk in the days "We always think of those who were closest to them - their friends But at least as much of a concern are those kids on the fringe who might already be having emotional issues or mental health issues Emergency services respond to Monday's tragedy in the city's CBD ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONSMr Boulton says parents should treat the subject with the depth it deserves rather than dismissing or downplaying events with fear-driven statements like He also encourages parents to be prepared to ask tough questions like "I know you've had some trouble at school too "If a child gives any kind of hint whatsoever in their response even if you don't believe they ever would do it." Mr Boulton encourages parents to use support services such as Lifeline (131 114) and other suicide hotlines (see below) He says it is a myth that there are no warning signs before a suicide "You don't have to be a trained professional to step in and say "One really big thing you can say to people who are wanting to die is "The next thing is: 'You told me you're feeling this way I'd really like to get some help with this "Asking them permission to get them some help gives them a sense of control over what's happening rather than just being dragged along to a doctor Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery called for a greater focus on "the emotional wellbeing of our young people" "My sympathies and prayers go out to the family of this young person and I think I express that on behalf of the whole community," he said "Such an incident reminds us all of how fragile some young people can be in the circumstances that they confront We need to surround our young people with as much love and support as we can muster." Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery has extended sympathies to the deceased boy's family Picture: Adam McLean Cr Bradbery said the devastation of the boy's death would have a ripple effect there were 885 suspected deaths by suicide recorded in NSW compared with 818 suspected suicide deaths recorded during the same period in 2021 A NSW Department of Education spokeswoman said support surrounding the tragedy would be ongoing "We are deeply saddened by the death of one our students and offer our care and condolences to the family and loved ones." "Additional counsellors have been deployed to the school to support the family and the school community through this difficult time." There are many services available to anyone struggling with Monday's tragedy Billionaire businessman Bruce Gordon is looking for a development partner to deliver his vision for a $500 million mixed used project that will transform Wollongong The development will be built on a city block covering 1.3 hectares acquired by Mr Gordon’s WIN Corporation almost two years ago The block is located in the city centre near Wollongong Central and Crown Street Mall Read MoreProperty developmentBruce GordonRich ListLatest In CommercialFetching latest articles Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Media veteran Bruce Gordon is seeing his 30-year dream for a new $400 million upgrade of Wollongong CBD move a step closer to fruition with the unveiling of the plans for what is known as WIN Grand to be built by Mr Gordon’s private company Birketu has been put on public exhibition and follows five years of consultation with Wollongong City Council extensive research on the region’s demographics and a design competition run in early 2020 which was awarded to Australian architectural firm Burelli and Atchison streets and aims to create a connected city centre by opening this block for community activation One key element will be the sustainability of the project which aims to become Wollongong’s first carbon-neutral precinct of the new $400m WIN Grand development in Wollongong Mr Gordon is the owner of the WIN Television network and also the largest shareholder of the Nine Network and holds a significant stake in Nine Entertainment Co Wollongong is the largest NSW city south of Sydney and has emerged as a tech hub with its large university and proximity to the growing regional areas of NSW The revitalisation of the CBD has been the next step in the rebuilding of the area Birketu and WIN Network chief executive Andrew Lancaster said the design aimed to respect the city’s past while driving it towards an exciting future “Wollongong is the city of innovation and WIN Grand aims to encourage fresh business and commercial opportunities by creating a strong pulse of activity within the city centre,” Mr Lancaster said Mr Gordon started planning for the development when his company bought the site of The Grand Hotel in Wollongong in 1990 he spent more than $12 million for the former Commonwealth Bank building and the IMB head office in Crown Street WIN Grand will have three different residential towers housing 402 apartments with views of the ocean and/or escarpment; 50 new retailers including cafes bars and high street retail; and a commercial and co-working building The Marcus Clark and Grand Hotel buildings will be restored and the public will have access to a full-line cinema complex function and exhibition space and a live music and arts venue Its green credentials will also be a focus with the project aiming for a 35 per cent increase in the green canopy coverage by adding a significant amount of landscaping to this central city location Mr Lancaster said it was a “tired” part of the city that needed revitalisation to create both a day and night-time economy “Wollongong is the city of innovation and WIN Grand aims to encourage fresh business and commercial opportunities by creating a strong pulse of activity within the city centre,” he said “All successful major cities stand out because they have an energy that runs 18 hours a day you need the business activity during the day extending into a strong entertainment and leisure program at night You need people living and working in proximity to shops ColonySix director Steve Turner has been working with WIN as development manager on the project for five years and said the area west of Keira Street has long been a priority for Wollongong City Council “It is a strategically important project for the city as it completes the development of the fourth city block at the intersection of Crown and Keira streets where Wollongong Central occupies the other three sites,” he said to be built by Mr Gordon\\u2019s private company Birketu extensive research on the region\\u2019s demographics One key element will be the sustainability of the project which aims to become Wollongong\\u2019s first carbon-neutral precinct Birketu and WIN Network chief executive Andrew Lancaster said the design aimed to respect the city\\u2019s past while driving it towards an exciting future \\u201CWollongong is the city of innovation and WIN Grand aims to encourage fresh business and commercial opportunities by creating a strong pulse of activity within the city centre,\\u201D Mr Lancaster said Mr Lancaster said it was a \\u201Ctired\\u201D part of the city that needed revitalisation to create both a day and night-time economy \\u201CWollongong is the city of innovation and WIN Grand aims to encourage fresh business and commercial opportunities by creating a strong pulse of activity within the city centre,\\u201D he said \\u201CAll successful major cities stand out because they have an energy that runs 18 hours a day \\u201CIt is a strategically important project for the city where Wollongong Central occupies the other three sites,\\u201D he said Haben intends to seed a fund with a Wollongong shopping centre and office it is picking up for $402 million It tried to sell it four years ago – just after a $68m renovation It was appraised at $459.9m at the end of 2019 GPT was represented by Colliers’ Lachlan MacGillivray who declined to comment Also today we are reporting Elanor Investors Group paid Blackstone $136.25m for the Warrawong Plaza the property giant acquired the neighbouring Crown Gateway the manager merged the complexes via a pedestrian bridge and renamed it (story continues below) The asset has been held by the GPT Wholesale Shopping Centre Fund for 14 years it contains c55,000 square metres of gross lettable area – inclusive of a 12 storey office The Wollongong Central sale comes four months since Haben, in partnership with JY Group, paid M&G Investments $225m – a price reflecting a 5.38pc yield – for Casey Central the partnership spent $153m on The Pines shopping centre 20 kilometres east of the Victorian capital Also in 2020, the joint venture acquired the Caloundra Shopping Centre The vendor of both these assets was Stockland A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password Back to login go on at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre The venue has enjoyed a major refurbishment over the past five-and-a-half months with a complete re-sheeting and refurbishment of the building’s 35-year-old roof and changes to the foyer including the servery areas Within the IMB and Bruce Gordon Theatres there is new carpet seats and changes to the spaces’ accessibility as well as major improvements to smoke management and fire safety measures “While people are likely to see the cosmetic differences that this refurbishment project has delivered there has been a lot of “unseen” work going on as part of this project,’’ Wollongong City Acting Lord Mayor Councillor Tania Brown said “It’s important one of our city’s premiere theatre and performance spaces continues to meet the needs and expectations of our community I’m really pleased to see this work completed within the timeframe promised and to see the curtain rise once again.’’ Wollongong City Council General Manger Greg Doyle said it was essential the theatre’s accessibility was improved to ensure access to everyone “A lot has changed in terms of our expectations around accessibility since the 1980s,’’ he said “Going to the theatre or seeing live performances is not exclusive to age group or section of our community This space has a diversity of uses and this means the theatres and the buildings need to cater to everyone “As part of this project we’ve been able to install a new hearing loop system to the box office improve the accessibility of the amenities that service both theatres and make it easier for people with disability or who are less mobile to move about the theatres.” Merrigong General Manager and acting CEO Rachel Francis said it was exciting to reopen the theatre’s doors and flick the switch on the stage lights that Council supports and values the arts and its importance in building strong communities,’’ she said multi-faceted project that has created a more welcoming and accessible venue for all of our visitors Arts and culture are vital to human connection and this refurbishment certainly provides more opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to come into our venues and share in the fun – to hear the stories of others We are very excited about opening our doors to our community again!” This project is funded by Wollongong City Council and the NSW Government through Resources for Regions – Round 9 Picture: Adam McLean Does Wollongong hanker for the humble crepe Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA new city centre foray is banking on it Borne out of a food truck in an East Corrimal backyard earlier this year crepe purveyors Saltie Dog this week expanded into a purpose-built commercial kitchen in Wollongong Central's food court The new creperie is a joint venture between Saltie Dog's founder Lena Zakharova and her partner Ms Zakharova, who didn't speak English when she arrived in Australia in 2014, having fled the Russo-Ukraine war began trading from Mr Stewart's East Corrimal backyard in April Mr Stewart said he followed his stomach when opting to go into business as a couple why don't you put it in a shop?'," said Mr Stewart a former real estate agent associated with multiple local fundraising endeavours over the years "She's come to Australia with no English and a newborn and - through hard work and taking a bit of a risk and an opportunity - started her own business in a new country "Since then we've gone to most crepe places in Australia I looked at their systems and pulled it all together 'why don't we bring crepes back to Wollongong?'." Mr Stewart believes crepes have held a special place in Wollongong's collective stomach since the days of Southern Crepes which became a local institution over 22 years before vacating the space now occupied by another beloved noshery The Saltie Dog menu will pay homage to Southern Crepes' recently deceased founder Mr Stewart said the food court setup allowed for a better crepe-eating experience than the food truck - which continues to operate - can allow you do need to sit down and have your cream The Wollongong menu includes gluten-free options and is pitched as somewhat "healthy takeaway" albeit with Connoisseur ice cream-laced sweet options on offer said she was thankful to supporters of her original food truck for helping the business reach new heights A third Saltie Dog is in planning for a Coledale site which Mr Stewart will help operate with his three children Unlisted GPT Wholesale Shopping Centre Fund is looking to sell Wollongong Central together with the rights to manage the CBD centre in a play that could reap about $500 million The centre has been substantially repositioned by GPT after Myer left Wollongong when its lease ran out in 2016 David Jones has since turned that the space into one of its newest ­department stores 14 mini-majors and more than 170 specialty stores with a gross lettable area of 54,600sqm Commercial Insights: Subscribe to receive the latest news and updates Mecca Maxima and other national chains take space in the centre The GPT-managed vehicle is switching focus to larger ventures “The planned divestment of Wollongong Central will further increase the exposure of the GWSCF portfolio toward super-regional shopping centres,” fund manager Brett Williams says Reweighting the portfolio kicked off with the divestment of Westfield Woden in late 2016 followed by the expansion of Macarthur Square to super-­regional status in 2017 the fund has acquired an additional 25% interest in Australia’s fifth-largest shopping centre Colliers International has been appointed to run the sales campaign which will formally start early next month This article originally appeared on www.theaustralian.com.au/property. realcommercial.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Commercial Insights: Subscribe to receive the latest news and updates This article originally appeared on www.theaustralian.com.au/property. Picture: Robert Peet.When Barry and Narelle Markwick opened their card and gift shop in the Wollongong city centre in February 1985 Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIn the 37 years since the resilient business owners have kept their business alive through multiple changes and challenges - the removal of the controversial birdcage the equally divisive $22.5 million grey-paver makeover the internet and ongoing debate about whether the street should reopen to traffic But as they close the door to Total Expressions for the last time this month there is just one thing they would like to see happen: three hours free parking for shoppers Read more: The troubled history of Crown Street Mall in photos Mr Markwick believes it would help more businesses survive and remain profitable especially during a time of so much uncertainty "My gut feeling I get from feedback from customers is that the biggest issue is still parking and accessibility," he said "It's difficult to get around the city and that has always been the case Mr Markwick said if Bondi Junction and Miranda could provide three hours free parking Mr Markwick was not sorry to see the birdcage go.He would also not object to a single lane of traffic weaving through the mall Last year was the hardest for the popular shop the go-to place for special occasions for several generations of Wollongong families Mr Markwick had already decided to sell and retire when COVID-19 struck in March 2020 So now he is biting the bullet and winding down trade later this month Read more: A walk along struggling Crown St shows one in four shops empty "Last March was the thing that really started to change my focus," he said I can't blame anyone for not wanting to buy the business Look at what is happening to Melbourne where everything is shut down again." was not able to work from home and did not want to risk other people's health during lockdown which is why he spent most of 2020 running the business by himself "At the moment we are just trying to sell down the stock as much as we can And then we will do a de-fit and take everything out," he said Total Expressions has not always been in its present location After he left the accounting role he held at WIN TV since 1973 Mr Markwick started the card and gift business in Crown Central near the escalators But that site was not big enough for the growing business Total Expressions owners' parting wish for mall as it closes up shop"Michael Corban came to me one day and said Soul Pattinson were moving out," Mr Markwick said we had a cup of coffee in Crown Central and 20 minutes later had shook my hand and that was it." Mr Markwick said Mr Corban ran a business called Flair at the time which later became Tramps He said while cards were the main focus the concept for his business model was to provide unique gift options to go with them for births Total Expressions has stocked everything from jewelry boxes pewter and many other collectables such as dolls Much of the stock was unique because the Markwicks attended a major trade show in Melbourne every August to cherrypick the best gift ideas "Australian souvenirs have also been a big part of our business," Mr Markwick said "When we first opened we started getting people coming in asking for them and we have expanded over the years." So much so that Mr Markwick used to team up with the tourist information centre to joint order souvenir stock made with the word Wollongong included He said up until March 2020 they were incredibly popular with cruise ship visitors and international university students "We have only just recently started selling some of that stock again," Mr Markwick said "Not to tourists but locals sending souvenirs overseas to friends and family who can't visit." Mr Markwick and his wife are starting to feel emotional as many loyal customers come in to tell them how sad they are to see the business close and expressing how much it will be missed "They are coming in with sheets of paper buying forward for Christmas," he said Two weeks ago on a Thursday night I had three generations of one family here The grandmother was quite upset to discover we are closing." Read more: Symbio creative director Kevin Fallon wins global Shorty Award for Facebook page We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAt Monday night's council meeting the councillors voted to place a draft master plan of the future Fowlers village centre and Marshall Mount town centre on public exhibition The former will form part of Stage Three of the West Dapto Urban Release Area (WDURA) while the latter will see the light of day in Stage Five More broadly, the West Dapto area will feature three town centres known as Bong Bong Darkes and Marshall Mount and five new village centres referred to as Wongawilli Both the town centres and village centres will contain a mix of retail - including a supermarket - and residential The council's business paper noted early planning was needed to ensure a focused development "Without a centres master plan approach there is risk that each centre of WDURA will be planned in an ad hoc fashion and in response to individual development application processes," the council papers stated "Many centres and their surrounds are made up of fragmented land ownership which is the case at Marshall Mount town centre even though the centres included possible supermarkets and other retail options they weren't planned as a replacement for the Dapto CBD "The thing I'd like also to remind people is that this is not meant to compete with Dapto central," Cr Martin said "These neighbourhood centres are around ensuring that as each of those towns and villages grow that there's a considered thought as to where retail and community services would be placed The change to where we've been with our thinking is to ensure that there is some housing around those city centres." Cr Dom Figliomeni raised concerns about the number of town and village centres and the potential commercial impacts "I do hear Cr Martin say it's not going to compete with Dapto it's not the intention," Cr Figliomeni said "But it does provide for three town centres and five villages for a population of 56,000 which is what is forecast To me it seems quite excessive because each one of these you always need an anchor tenant or anchor tenants to attract people into the area." the draft master plan will go on public exhibition in February 2024