FAQs

A PoM guides the management, development and use of community land consistent with Council’s broader strategic goals and vision as set out in our Community Strategic Plan and as refined each year when Council updates the four-year Delivery Program, the Operational Plan and the Budget. Council parks, beaches, open spaces and sport fields are examples of community land.  

Community land can be Council owned community land managed under the Local Government Act 1993 or Crown community land that Council has responsibility for as the Crown Land Manager under the Crown Land Management Act 2016. A PoM cannot apply to Devolved Crown land.  

A PoM permits a range of activities in a similar way to the Land Use Zone under the Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009. Future PoM activities are generally dependent upon obtaining development consent and / or securing funding through Council’s annual budget preparation and / or obtaining a licence over the land, subject to Council’s policies and supporting documents and legislative compliance.  

The draft Wollongong City Foreshore PoM currently applies to 10 Crown reserves where Council is the Crown Land Manager. It also applies to 6 areas of Council owned community land.  

Table 1 shows how the Crown reserves correlate with the common names of parks and beaches along the city foreshore.    

The draft PoM does not apply to devolved Crown land within Lang Park (the northwest corner of Lang Park fronting Cliff Road). Council is considering an additional matter about the devolved Crown land at Lang Park that has the potential outcome of adding more land to the PoM area. Council would like feedback on the draft PoM and this additional matter.

The northwest corner of Lang Park is a devolved Crown reserve. The Crown Land Management Act 2016 does not permit a Plan of Management (PoM) to be prepared for devolved Crown reserves.  

There is no obvious boundary or differences between the Crown Land Managed reserve (Lang Park Foreshore No. 580076) and the devolved reserve (Lang Park No. 580097). Council is required to maintain both areas. However, Council cannot issue leases or licences over the devolved reserves. This adds unnecessary complication to event management as two sets of rules apply.

As an additional matter, Council is considering asking Crown Lands to designate Council as the Crown Land Manager for Lang Park No. 580097. 

An Additional Matter - Devolved Crown Land at Lang Park has been prepared for community feedback and possible inclusion into the draft Wollongong City Foreshore PoM if Council becomes the Crown Land Manager.    

Council will consider all feedback, and the draft Wollongong City Foreshore Plan of Management (PoM) may be varied as necessary. A report will be prepared for Council detailing the community's comments with recommendations on the final draft, including seeking a referral back to Crown Lands for authority to adopt. Council will consider this report and provide a resolution on how to proceed. All those who have given feedback will be notified of the date of the Council meeting and how to view the relevant documents.