Climate Change Mitigation Plan

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Consultation has concluded


This consultation has concluded. We used what we heard from the community last year to develop the draft Climate Change Mitigation Plan. You can now learn more and share your thoughts on the draft Plan until 30 October 2023.



Tell us your ideas and ambitions for how Council should take action on the climate emergency.

Wollongong’s Climate Change Mitigation Plan maps the pathway of how together we can transition to a low carbon community and achieve our target of Net Zero emissions by 2050.

Climate change mitigation is a dynamic space with rapidly evolving technology, and so our approach to reducing emissions needs to be adaptive. That’s why the pathway consists of a series of documents that are updated throughout our journey to Net Zero emissions. The existing edition, the Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2020-2022 has set the foundation for reducing both Council operational and community emissions. Building on the successes and lessons learned from this document, we are developing the next edition of the series, the Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2023-2027 (CCMP 23-27to focus on the next steps in achieving Net Zero emissions.

To help us shape the CCMP23-27 and Council’s actions to help the community reduce emissions, we want to know:

  • What steps are you already taking – or want to take in the future – to reduce your impact on climate change?
  • What challenges you face in reducing your emissions?
  • How can Council best support you to make these changes?
  • What do you think Council should prioritise in our actions to address climate change and its impacts?

Join the conversation

There are plenty of ways you can get involved and share your thoughts.

Online Survey 

Take our online survey and share your thoughts to help us identify key priorities of Wollongong’s Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2023-2027 so our community can achieve zero emissions by 2050!


Pop-up Information Sessions

Come along to one of our nine pop-up events to ask questions about the CCMP, chat to the project team and let them know your thoughts and ideas. View the list of pop-up events.

Community Event

We’re planning an exciting event for the community to attend, share their ideas and learn from a local climate change expert. Subscribe for updates via the 'Stay Informed' function on this webpage and we'll let you know the details as soon as they're announced.

Further Information

Further information is provided in the FAQs. If your question isn't answered there, feel free to ask us a question via the Q&A.
You can also reach out to the project team by phoning (02) 4227 7111 or visiting Council’s Customer Service Centre at 41 Burelli St, Wollongong.

Accessibility or language assistance
If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. If you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service.


This consultation has concluded. We used what we heard from the community last year to develop the draft Climate Change Mitigation Plan. You can now learn more and share your thoughts on the draft Plan until 30 October 2023.



Tell us your ideas and ambitions for how Council should take action on the climate emergency.

Wollongong’s Climate Change Mitigation Plan maps the pathway of how together we can transition to a low carbon community and achieve our target of Net Zero emissions by 2050.

Climate change mitigation is a dynamic space with rapidly evolving technology, and so our approach to reducing emissions needs to be adaptive. That’s why the pathway consists of a series of documents that are updated throughout our journey to Net Zero emissions. The existing edition, the Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2020-2022 has set the foundation for reducing both Council operational and community emissions. Building on the successes and lessons learned from this document, we are developing the next edition of the series, the Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2023-2027 (CCMP 23-27to focus on the next steps in achieving Net Zero emissions.

To help us shape the CCMP23-27 and Council’s actions to help the community reduce emissions, we want to know:

  • What steps are you already taking – or want to take in the future – to reduce your impact on climate change?
  • What challenges you face in reducing your emissions?
  • How can Council best support you to make these changes?
  • What do you think Council should prioritise in our actions to address climate change and its impacts?

Join the conversation

There are plenty of ways you can get involved and share your thoughts.

Online Survey 

Take our online survey and share your thoughts to help us identify key priorities of Wollongong’s Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2023-2027 so our community can achieve zero emissions by 2050!


Pop-up Information Sessions

Come along to one of our nine pop-up events to ask questions about the CCMP, chat to the project team and let them know your thoughts and ideas. View the list of pop-up events.

Community Event

We’re planning an exciting event for the community to attend, share their ideas and learn from a local climate change expert. Subscribe for updates via the 'Stay Informed' function on this webpage and we'll let you know the details as soon as they're announced.

Further Information

Further information is provided in the FAQs. If your question isn't answered there, feel free to ask us a question via the Q&A.
You can also reach out to the project team by phoning (02) 4227 7111 or visiting Council’s Customer Service Centre at 41 Burelli St, Wollongong.

Accessibility or language assistance
If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. If you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service.

Consultation has concluded

Do you have a question that is not answered in the FAQs

Post your question below and the project team will get back to you shortly. 

Please note, your question and our response may be published publically on this page. Please indicate if you don't want this to happen. 

  • Share How could the Wollongong community support Council in implementing the leadership action below, as set in the 2020 – 2022 plan? L11 - Review the Wollongong Development Control Plan Chapter A2 – Ecologically Sustainable Development, to ensure alignment with the Climate Emergency Declaration commitment and net zero emissions targets. The current 3 pages of text with Chapter A2: Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Wollongong Development Control Plan (DCP) 2009 commence with “Council encourages the application of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) for all development in the Wollongong local government area”. Now we all know that ‘encourage’ does not take the meaning of ‘must’ or ‘requires’. In a world of overwhelm, we need Council's leadership to define what good looks like, if we are to even out the playing field and position Wollongong as a leading sustainable city. Take, for example, Randwick City Council’s 7 pages of text in Chapter B3: Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Randwick Comprehensive Development Control Plan 2013. Here are some contrasting statements for you to consider: Appliance Efficiency Wollongong - Council encourages the use of the most efficient water and energy appliances and systems. Randwick - All new or replacement electrical appliances must achieve the highest available energy rating at the time of development. Building Material Selection Wollongong - The embodied energy of construction materials should be considered when selecting building materials and during construction. Randwick - Submit a schedule of materials with the DA that maximises the use of the following: Materials that are durable with low maintenance requirements. Materials with low embodied energy content. Renewable materials. Locally sourced products. Salvaged or recycled materials. Timber from plantation or sustainable managed re-growth forests. Low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting materials. Mechanical fittings instead of adhesives or glues. Toxin-free flooring. See the difference? Because our DCP is not prescriptive enough on ESD, statements like these are accepted in the Statement of Environmental Effects for development application assessments: “The proposal is consistent with the relevant objectives contained within Section 1.2 of this chapter with respect to energy efficiency, landscaping, and design”. If we want to see better design, more reuse, responsible building material selection, and more efficient appliances, we need Wollongong City Council to provide this leadership. on Facebook Share How could the Wollongong community support Council in implementing the leadership action below, as set in the 2020 – 2022 plan? L11 - Review the Wollongong Development Control Plan Chapter A2 – Ecologically Sustainable Development, to ensure alignment with the Climate Emergency Declaration commitment and net zero emissions targets. The current 3 pages of text with Chapter A2: Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Wollongong Development Control Plan (DCP) 2009 commence with “Council encourages the application of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) for all development in the Wollongong local government area”. Now we all know that ‘encourage’ does not take the meaning of ‘must’ or ‘requires’. In a world of overwhelm, we need Council's leadership to define what good looks like, if we are to even out the playing field and position Wollongong as a leading sustainable city. Take, for example, Randwick City Council’s 7 pages of text in Chapter B3: Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Randwick Comprehensive Development Control Plan 2013. Here are some contrasting statements for you to consider: Appliance Efficiency Wollongong - Council encourages the use of the most efficient water and energy appliances and systems. Randwick - All new or replacement electrical appliances must achieve the highest available energy rating at the time of development. Building Material Selection Wollongong - The embodied energy of construction materials should be considered when selecting building materials and during construction. Randwick - Submit a schedule of materials with the DA that maximises the use of the following: Materials that are durable with low maintenance requirements. Materials with low embodied energy content. Renewable materials. Locally sourced products. Salvaged or recycled materials. Timber from plantation or sustainable managed re-growth forests. Low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting materials. Mechanical fittings instead of adhesives or glues. Toxin-free flooring. See the difference? Because our DCP is not prescriptive enough on ESD, statements like these are accepted in the Statement of Environmental Effects for development application assessments: “The proposal is consistent with the relevant objectives contained within Section 1.2 of this chapter with respect to energy efficiency, landscaping, and design”. If we want to see better design, more reuse, responsible building material selection, and more efficient appliances, we need Wollongong City Council to provide this leadership. on Twitter Share How could the Wollongong community support Council in implementing the leadership action below, as set in the 2020 – 2022 plan? L11 - Review the Wollongong Development Control Plan Chapter A2 – Ecologically Sustainable Development, to ensure alignment with the Climate Emergency Declaration commitment and net zero emissions targets. The current 3 pages of text with Chapter A2: Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Wollongong Development Control Plan (DCP) 2009 commence with “Council encourages the application of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) for all development in the Wollongong local government area”. Now we all know that ‘encourage’ does not take the meaning of ‘must’ or ‘requires’. In a world of overwhelm, we need Council's leadership to define what good looks like, if we are to even out the playing field and position Wollongong as a leading sustainable city. Take, for example, Randwick City Council’s 7 pages of text in Chapter B3: Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Randwick Comprehensive Development Control Plan 2013. Here are some contrasting statements for you to consider: Appliance Efficiency Wollongong - Council encourages the use of the most efficient water and energy appliances and systems. Randwick - All new or replacement electrical appliances must achieve the highest available energy rating at the time of development. Building Material Selection Wollongong - The embodied energy of construction materials should be considered when selecting building materials and during construction. Randwick - Submit a schedule of materials with the DA that maximises the use of the following: Materials that are durable with low maintenance requirements. Materials with low embodied energy content. Renewable materials. Locally sourced products. Salvaged or recycled materials. Timber from plantation or sustainable managed re-growth forests. Low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting materials. Mechanical fittings instead of adhesives or glues. Toxin-free flooring. See the difference? Because our DCP is not prescriptive enough on ESD, statements like these are accepted in the Statement of Environmental Effects for development application assessments: “The proposal is consistent with the relevant objectives contained within Section 1.2 of this chapter with respect to energy efficiency, landscaping, and design”. If we want to see better design, more reuse, responsible building material selection, and more efficient appliances, we need Wollongong City Council to provide this leadership. on Linkedin Email How could the Wollongong community support Council in implementing the leadership action below, as set in the 2020 – 2022 plan? L11 - Review the Wollongong Development Control Plan Chapter A2 – Ecologically Sustainable Development, to ensure alignment with the Climate Emergency Declaration commitment and net zero emissions targets. The current 3 pages of text with Chapter A2: Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Wollongong Development Control Plan (DCP) 2009 commence with “Council encourages the application of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) for all development in the Wollongong local government area”. Now we all know that ‘encourage’ does not take the meaning of ‘must’ or ‘requires’. In a world of overwhelm, we need Council's leadership to define what good looks like, if we are to even out the playing field and position Wollongong as a leading sustainable city. Take, for example, Randwick City Council’s 7 pages of text in Chapter B3: Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Randwick Comprehensive Development Control Plan 2013. Here are some contrasting statements for you to consider: Appliance Efficiency Wollongong - Council encourages the use of the most efficient water and energy appliances and systems. Randwick - All new or replacement electrical appliances must achieve the highest available energy rating at the time of development. Building Material Selection Wollongong - The embodied energy of construction materials should be considered when selecting building materials and during construction. Randwick - Submit a schedule of materials with the DA that maximises the use of the following: Materials that are durable with low maintenance requirements. Materials with low embodied energy content. Renewable materials. Locally sourced products. Salvaged or recycled materials. Timber from plantation or sustainable managed re-growth forests. Low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting materials. Mechanical fittings instead of adhesives or glues. Toxin-free flooring. See the difference? Because our DCP is not prescriptive enough on ESD, statements like these are accepted in the Statement of Environmental Effects for development application assessments: “The proposal is consistent with the relevant objectives contained within Section 1.2 of this chapter with respect to energy efficiency, landscaping, and design”. If we want to see better design, more reuse, responsible building material selection, and more efficient appliances, we need Wollongong City Council to provide this leadership. link

    How could the Wollongong community support Council in implementing the leadership action below, as set in the 2020 – 2022 plan? L11 - Review the Wollongong Development Control Plan Chapter A2 – Ecologically Sustainable Development, to ensure alignment with the Climate Emergency Declaration commitment and net zero emissions targets. The current 3 pages of text with Chapter A2: Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Wollongong Development Control Plan (DCP) 2009 commence with “Council encourages the application of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) for all development in the Wollongong local government area”. Now we all know that ‘encourage’ does not take the meaning of ‘must’ or ‘requires’. In a world of overwhelm, we need Council's leadership to define what good looks like, if we are to even out the playing field and position Wollongong as a leading sustainable city. Take, for example, Randwick City Council’s 7 pages of text in Chapter B3: Ecologically Sustainable Development of the Randwick Comprehensive Development Control Plan 2013. Here are some contrasting statements for you to consider: Appliance Efficiency Wollongong - Council encourages the use of the most efficient water and energy appliances and systems. Randwick - All new or replacement electrical appliances must achieve the highest available energy rating at the time of development. Building Material Selection Wollongong - The embodied energy of construction materials should be considered when selecting building materials and during construction. Randwick - Submit a schedule of materials with the DA that maximises the use of the following: Materials that are durable with low maintenance requirements. Materials with low embodied energy content. Renewable materials. Locally sourced products. Salvaged or recycled materials. Timber from plantation or sustainable managed re-growth forests. Low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting materials. Mechanical fittings instead of adhesives or glues. Toxin-free flooring. See the difference? Because our DCP is not prescriptive enough on ESD, statements like these are accepted in the Statement of Environmental Effects for development application assessments: “The proposal is consistent with the relevant objectives contained within Section 1.2 of this chapter with respect to energy efficiency, landscaping, and design”. If we want to see better design, more reuse, responsible building material selection, and more efficient appliances, we need Wollongong City Council to provide this leadership.

    RobynJ asked about 2 years ago

    Hi again Robyn,

    Following on from our previous reply, the Project team has explored options with the Planning team and looked into what opportunities there are within Council’s scope to inform Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD).

    Generally, the Council’s DCP and planning requirements in this space can not mandate any controls above what is required from the State Environmental Planning Policy (BASIX) SEPP. So, the most effective action Council can take to influence emissions from buildings is to advocate for the State Government to create stronger standards on ESD.

    In saying this, where Council can have influence is in any development that is exempt from the SEPP, this is what the Randwick DCP example you provided refers to. You are right, the wording in this situation is an example we could look to, to increase standards in our LGA (noting that it appears to be a little outdated, as it states that "electric hot water heating must not be installed" - we would advocate for the opposite). 

    The Environmental Planning team is currently developing the ‘Climate Friendly Planning Framework’. It will initially focus on Low Density Residential Developments as this is the majority of new infrastructure. Following this, there is scope for us to review other parts of the DCP to include more stringent sustainability requirements where applicable.

    In the areas of the DCP we are unable to control due to State Gov constraints, we are actively working towards improving our education materials and public information on sustainable building materials.

    Thank you again for reaching out with your insights and questions. We will keep you updated on the development of the Climate Change Mitigation Plan 23-27.

    Kind regards,

    Mitch Golding
    Sustainability Officer
    Wollongong City Council