Frequently Asked Questions
- Celebrate the uniqueness
- Develop a human scale City
- Grow a living City
- Create an accessible, pedestrian friendly City.
What is A City for People?
On 30 May 2016 Council endorsed A City for People, presenting an aspirational vision for the City Centre.
The City Centre Vision
The vision presented in A City for People is about what Wollongong City Centre aspires to become. It is intended to set a clear direction to guide decision making and priorities in the City Centre over time.
The Vision: In the 21st century Wollongong City Centre will be a people orientated, sustainable and liveable city.
Wollongong City Centre is a thriving and unique Regional City, delivering a diverse economy and offering a high quality lifestyle. The city centre is nationally recognised as a liveable city and is the place where people want to live, learn, work and visit.
The Vision is underpinned by twelve aspirational goals for delivering the Wollongong City Centre of the future. These are themed as follows -
What is a planning proposal?
A planning proposal is a request to change how land is zoned so certain types of development can go ahead.
Planning proposals must demonstrate strategic merit by being consistent with local and regional policies, including the Wollongong Local Strategic Planning Statement.
Once a planning proposal is approved at Council level, it is sent to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to assess. You can read more about this process in Council's Planning Proposal Policy.
What is the difference between a Development Application and a Planning Proposal?
In New South Wales, a Planning Proposal and a Development Application are two distinct processes within the land-use planning system, but they are related and often work together. A Planning Proposal is a request to amend a Local Environmental Plan, while a Development Application is an application for development consent to carry out a specific development. Essentially, a planning proposal sets the rules, and a Development Application is an application to build under those rules.
What is a Development Control Plan?
A Development Control Plan is a policy prepared by Council to provide detailed guidelines for the design and assessment of proposed developments within a Local Government Area. The Wollongong Development Control Plan 2009 specifies the objectives and development controls (e.g., setbacks, private open space, landscaping etc) to guide development that is permissible under the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009.
What is a Contributions Plan?
Council collects contributions from developers to help fund public infrastructure that is required as a direct or indirect result of development. A contributions plan sets out how council will collect these funds.
Contributions are used to fund infrastructure projects that benefit the public, like roads, bridges, footpaths, community centres, parks and sportsgrounds.
Further information about Council’s Development Contributions Plans can be found on Council's page.
Who is the Local Plan Making Authority for this Planning Proposal?
The Local Plan-Making Authority is identified in a Gateway Determination and names the authority who will undertake the statutory functions of making the LEP. This will be a delegate at the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
Council is the Local Plan Making Authority for this planning proposal.
How is this Planning Proposal impacted by separate NSW Government planning pathways such as the Transport Oriented Development precincts and the Wollongong Hospital Precinct?
The NSW Government has created alternative criteria and pathways for certain types of residential development and rezonings which is managed by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
This is different to the planning proposal pathways which Council must follow.
The North Wollongong Transport Oriented Development precinct was finalised by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in October 2025 via an amendment to the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009. The City Centre Planning Review is focused on the City Centre, largely the E2 and MU1 zones. The Planning Review does not amend the North Wollongong Transport Oriented Development precinct controls.
The Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy was finalised by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in February 2026. The Wollongong Health Precinct includes land within the City Centre Boundary. The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure is currently progressing a state led rezoning for the precinct. It is anticipated that the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will exhibit a separate Planning Proposal later in 2026. There may be some overlap and differences between the two Planning Proposals. Council’s City Centre Planning Review is implementing Council’s strategy for the City Centre.
Find out more about the Transport Oriented Development Program and the Wollongong Hospital Precinct on the NSW Government's planning website.
How will my feedback be used?
The project team will review all the feedback we heard from the community during the engagement period.
All feedback is important and is one factor in the decision-making process for Council. The graphic below shows some of the factors we consider in our decision making:
What happens next?
Following the exhibition period, the Planning Proposal, as well as amendments to the Development Control Plan Chapter and the Development Contributions Plan will be assessed, taking into account all feedback received, and a report will be prepared for Council's consideration.
Council will consider this report and provide a resolution on how to proceed.
Council’s decision on the Planning Proposal will be forwarded to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for review and, if endorsed, create an update to the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009.