Wollongong City Council Administrators tonight adopted four reports to pave the way for vital infrastructure and housing in the city’s last greenfield land release in West Dapto.
Following consultation with residents and the development industry, Council endorsed the West Dapto Section 94 Development Contributions Plan to fund roads, drainage, parks, community facilities, footpaths and bridges in West Dapto over the next 50 years.
The final Section 94 Plan sets the developer contribution fee at $29,205 per dwelling to provide infrastructure for 17,000 new homes and 183 hectares of employment lands in West Dapto.
Council also approved a Voluntary Planning Agreement with Stockland which will allow the developer to pay $29,205 per lot for their proposed 295 lot subdivision in West Dapto. As part of the agreement Stockland will also provide local infrastructure, including upgrading part of Bong Bong Road, constructing a local park and dedicating open space.
Administrator Robert McGregor AM, said approval of the Section 94 Plan and Voluntary Planning Agreement will provide clarity to home buyers and developers looking to create residential subdivisions in West Dapto.
“Two Development Applications have already been lodged for 405 residential dwellings in West Dapto, and a number of developers have also indicated their plans to create subdivisions totalling around 1000 new homes,” Administrator McGregor said.
“To ensure we get the right design and housing mix in West Dapto, Council also endorsed a Development Control Plan (DCP) for the release area at tonight’s Council Meeting.”
“The DCP puts a priority on safe, secure and liveable communities with a range of dwelling options to meet the varied housing needs of the region. The plan ensures public transport and access corridors will link new communities to employment lands and town centres at Dapto, Bong Bong Road and West Dapto Road,” Mr McGregor said.
“To complement West Dapto’s location at the foothills of the escarpment, key elements of the land release include parks, recreation space and environmental conservation areas to encourage active communities that value walking, cycling, recreation and nature.”
“The Development Control Plan also sets standards for commercial and industrial development to improve employment opportunities and economic growth while making sure development meets high design and environmental standards,” he added.
Administrator Robert McGregor, said 25 years after it was first conceived, the West Dapto land release is finally being realised.
“Council is committing substantial amounts of its own money and resources to provide for existing and future residents of Horsley and West Dapto,” Mr McGregor said.
“Tonight we accepted a $1.9 million tender to construct a three span bridge for the new link between Fairwater Drive and Cleveland Road. This new connection is a crucial part of Council’s Initial West Dapto Access Strategy as it will alleviate congestion on Bong Bong Road, improve flood access and provide an important loop for cars and buses between schools in Dapto and West Dapto.”
“The first stage of the West Dapto Initial Access Strategy is currently underway and will take two to three years to complete thanks to an interest free loan from the State Government,” Mr McGregor said.
“Stage 1 is part of a longer term $75 million Initial Access Strategy to create more road networks in and around West Dapto to cater for 50,000 new residents in the next 50 years.”