Draft Tourism Accommodation Review Strategy 2024

A draft Tourism Accommodation Review Strategy has been prepared focusing on a land use planning response to support and encourage development of new and expanded tourist accommodation proposals. At its meeting on 12 August 2024, Council resolved to exhibit the draft Tourism Accommodation Review Strategy to seek community and stakeholder feedback.

The Wollongong Local Government Area (LGA) currently has 74 tourist accommodation establishments, providing an estimated 1,924 rooms, 211 cabins and 269 powered and 122 unpowered camping and caravanning sites each night, which can cater for over 5,400 guests. There are also approximately 854 premises registered providing short-term rental accommodation. Different forms of tourism accommodation are permissible in many zones under the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009. The SP3 Tourist zone is partially used for tourism accommodation.

What is being proposed:

To increase the number of tourism accommodation beds available in Wollongong LGA by:

1. Retaining, upgrading and expanding existing hotel and motel accommodation.
2. Establishing two (2) new five (5) star or equivalent hotel in the Wollongong City Centre.
3. Establishing new tourism accommodation on the existing SP3 Tourism zone.

This can be achieved by:

1. Providing incentives through planning controls, for the development of at least two (2), five (5) star or equivalent accommodation venues within Wollongong City Centre within ten (10) years.
2. Continuing to permit and encourage a range of accommodation types throughout the LGA.
3. Through planning controls in the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009 and the Wollongong Development Control Plan 2009, encouraging the retention and upgrading of existing accommodation facilities.
4. Incentivising through planning controls, an increase in the number of rooms available.
5. Preventing tourist accommodation being outcompeted by residential development by not permitting residential development in the SP3 Tourist zone.
6. Reviewing the planning controls of the SP3 Tourist zone, to ensure it is fit for purpose including the land use table, height controls, floor space ratio and development controls.
7. Monitoring the number and percentage of short-term rental accommodation available and impact on long-term rental accommodation.

The draft Strategy is accompanied by an updated Tourism Accommodation Review Discussion Paper. The discussion paper contains background data that informed the preparation of the draft Strategy and builds on the draft Discussion Paper that was exhibited in 2021.

The draft Strategy considers land use planning for tourism accommodation and incentives. The draft Strategy does not address tourism attractions and/or activities, or marketing.

To find out more:

• Review the Council Business Paper
• Read the draft Strategy
• Look at the Tourism Accommodation Review Discussion Paper

Share your thoughts by:

• Completing the online form
• Emailing records@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
• Writing to The General Manager, Wollongong City Council, Locked Bag 8821 WOLLONGONG DC NSW 2500
• Phoning the City Strategy Team on 4227 7111