FAQs

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.

Public land is any land owned or managed by Council, as defined in the Local Government Act 1993. This land must be classified as either ‘Community’ or ‘Operational’ land.

These classifications help guide how Council can use or manage the land, for example, whether it can be leased, licensed, or sold. They also ensure Council’s decisions about public land are transparent and support long‑term, responsible management of these important community assets.

Public land is given a classification of either Community or Operational, when Council first acquires it.

Sometimes land needs to be reclassified if its purpose or future use changes. This can involve changing land from Operational to Community, or from Community to Operational. When Community land is proposed to be reclassified to Operational, this usually needs to happen through the Local Environmental Plan process, which includes opportunities for community input.

The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has published a practice note on the classification process. 

Reclassification of public land can happen for a few different reasons, such as:

• When a piece of land is no longer being used by the community.
• To help Council manage its assets responsibly so they continue to meet current and future community needs.
• When land was given the wrong classification in the past and needs to be corrected.
• To ensure land that serves an operational purpose is classified correctly and reflects how it is actually used.

Any decision to sell a Council property would follow a separate, transparent process led by Council’s Property team and would need formal approval (a resolution) from the elected Council.

Council’s Land and Easement Acquisition and Disposal Policy sets out how these decisions are made in a fair and open way, in line with all legal requirements. Under the Local Government Act 1993, only Operational land can be sold. If a piece of Community land is ever considered surplus to community needs, it would first need to be reclassified as Operational land before any sale could take place and this would also require a Council resolution.

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:

After the exhibition finishes, a public hearing will be held. This hearing will give the community an opportunity to learn more about the review recommendations in relation to the changes proposed to the classification of public land.

We will notify everyone who has provided feedback on this exhibition of the public hearing details. This will also be published as a newsfeed on this page. 

Following this, the project team will consider all feedback received and the planning proposal may be varied as necessary. 

A report will be prepared for Council detailing what was heard and present recommendations on final amendments. 

Council will consider this report and provide a resolution on how to proceed. 

All those that have given feedback will be notified of the date of the Council meeting and how to view the relevant documents.

In NSW, a public hearing must be held whenever Council proposes changing land from Community to Operational classification. This requirement, set out in the Local Government Act 1993 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, helps ensure the community has a clear voice in the process.

At the hearing, an independent Chairperson listens to community views, questions, and concerns, giving everyone an open and fair opportunity to be heard before any decision is made.

Once any proposed reclassification or rezoning is finalised, Council may consider selling properties that have been classified as Operational land.

Council follows its Land and Easement Acquisition and Disposal Policy, which outlines a clear and transparent process and ensures all decisions meet legal requirements. Under NSW legislation, only Operational land can be sold. This means that if a piece of Community land is ever found to be surplus to community needs, it would first need to be reclassified to Operational land before any sale could be considered.

It’s also important to know that decisions about selling Council land cannot be made by staff or committees. The Local Government Act 1993 requires that any sale be formally approved by the elected Council through a Council resolution. This process includes preparing detailed reports to support informed decision‑making before any sale can proceed.