FAQs

Visioning is a tool that brings people together to develop a shared vision of the future. It helps outlines the aspirations, goals, and values of a community, and serves as a guide for the community's future development and growth.

Over the last 18 months, we’ve had conversations with the community about a range of projects happening in the area. Through these conversations, we heard the community wanted to develop a shared vision and plan for the future of their community. We’ve listened and are working with community members to establish a vision and plan for Mount Kembla and Kembla Heights.

The first step is to gather information from the community and relevant key stakeholders. After this has happened, Council, along with community, develop the vision and plan together. We’ll review and revise these to ensure it accurately reflects the communities’ aspirations and values. Once the vision and plan have been endorsed, it will be shared with the wider community and used to guide decision making and actions related to the community’s future development and growth.

The feedback will be used to create a vision statement and values. The vision statement and values will inform an plan for the future. 

The plan will play a key role in informing the decisions made by organisations like Council and South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal. 

South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal are in the process of developing a mine closure plan for Dendrobium mine. This means they will be gradually transitioning out of the Kembla Heights and Mount Kembla area. South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal believe in developing a shared vision and plan for the post-mining future, and your input is valuable in this process.

The visioning project is separate and although occurring around the same time, the outcomes of each are being used for different purposes. The feedback received as part of the visioning project will be used by Council to guide and inform future decisions that organisations such as Council and South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal need to make. 

The mountain bike track network project has been underway since 2015 and is being progressed separately by NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) with support from Council. The feedback received during previous engagements on this project is informing plans for the design and construction of the tracks and supporting infrastructure, with the aim of minimising impacts on residents and creating a safe and accessible riding experience.  

The Kembla Community Visioning project is proudly funded by South32 Illawarra Metallurgical Coal in partnership with Council.

Complete the online feedback form, come along to a drop-in session or attend the workshops. 

Drop-in sessions
 There is no registration required and you can turn up at any time within each session: 

• Saturday 24 June 2023, 2pm to 4pm
   West end of the Memorial Walk along the Mount Kembla Memorial Pathway, near the Memorial. 
• Wednesday 28 June 2023, 4pm to 6pm
   Kembla Heights Community Hall

Workshops
 1. Creating Kembla's Visions and Values
When: Saturday 22 July 2023, 2pm - 5pm
Where: Kembla Heights Community Hall
In this workshop, participants will review community feedback to draft a vision statement and create a set of values.  

2. Exploring Future Possibilities for Kembla 
When: Thursday 3 August 2023, 5pm - 8pm
Where: Kembla Heights Community Hall
 In this workshop, participants will draft a range of possible actions informed by the community’s visions and values.
If you’d like to take part in either of the workshops, register on our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au by 16 July 2023. 

If you're interested but unable to attend the workshop on the scheduled date, please let us know. There may be other opportunities to be involved in the process. 

Absolutely! We’re keen to see what the children of Mount Kembla and Kembla Heights want for their communities. 

We’re asking children to complete a drawing showing what they love about Mount Kembla/ Kembla Heights and want to see here in the future. You can download a drawing form or they can be picked up from Fables on the Mountain Preschool or Mount Kembla Public School. They need to be returned by 9 July.

At the end of the engagement period, all feedback is read and considered. Council staff will use this feedback to develop the Community Vision and Plan, and determine actions to be further explored in 2024.