Letter to the Wollongong community

Draft Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009

Since being appointed Administrators of Wollongong City Council in March 2008 one of the most important matters we have had to consider for the city’s future is the draft Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009.

Wollongong’s current LEP was developed in the 1980’s. The city has changed a lot in the past two decades and it is important that it has up to date planning controls to regulate future development. 

The draft LEP 2009 which has been on public exhibition was originally endorsed by the former Council.

Before we placed the draft Plan on exhibition we removed all proposed rezonings and reclassifications of community land as well as several other rezoning proposals we did not support.

Council exhibited the draft plan for four months to enable public review and submissions. The level of community interest in this important document has been encouraging. Council has now received over 1400 submissions.

Council is now considering the issues raised in the submissions and we will make decisions on different aspects of the draft LEP at the 26 May, 23 June and 28 July 2009 Council meetings. A public briefing and information session will be held in the Town Hall prior to each Council Meeting at which you can comment or ask questions on the recommendations being considered that night by Council.

The first Briefing will cover issues in the draft LEP related specifically to residential building heights and density issues, Port Kembla School and the Kenny/Keira Street Wollongong Precinct. The second briefing will focus on specific rezonings and the third will deal with heritage, flooding and escarpment matters.

Thank you for your interest and efforts in responding to the draft Plan.  

Yours sincerely

Gabrielle Kibble AO - Wollongong City Council Administrator
Robert McGregor AM - Wollongong City Council Administrator
Col Gellatly AO - Wollongong City Council Administrator