Page Sections: Background | Initial Access Strategy | Community Consultation | Funding | Scope of Work | Related Policies and Documents

Background

The ultimate West Dapto Land Release Area is located 12km south of Wollongong and covers an area of  approximately 4700 hectares. The release area will provide an additional 17,000 dwellings, 50,000 people and 184 hectares of employment land over the coming decades.

The Wollongong Local Environment Plan (LEP) (West Dapto) 2010, zoned / released stages 1 and 2 for urban development. The LEP allows for the construction of the first 6900 dwellings and 175 hectares of employment land in West Dapto. The LEP also applied to the Dapto Town Centre.

There is currently only one major access road in and out of Horsley and West Dapto. Flooding is an issue and the 7000 residents of Horsley face daily traffic congestion on Bong Bong Road due to the level crossing immediately adjacent to the Dapto Railway Station.

As part of our West Dapto Initial Access Strategy, we will reduce congestion and ensure adequate access to the area by creating three access options for existing and future motorists to choose from.

A $16 million road link will be built between Fairwater Drive and Cleveland Road connecting to the Princes Highway, providing an alternative route in and out of West Dapto. Bong Bong Road will be widened at the level crossing and improvements made at the intersection of West Dapto Road and the Princes Highway. Upgrades will occur at Shone Avenue including realignment and a new bridge.

Initial Access Strategy

The access strategy includes significant improvements to a number of existing roads and the construction of new roads to provide greater connection between Horsley and Dapto as well as to the wider road network. The strategy, as set out in the table, will:

• deliver affordable and appropriate improvements in access to West Dapto
• address the access issues confronting the 7000 residents of Horsley
• support the planned development in stages one and two of West Dapto
• be the starting point for the expansion of the road network for the long term development of West Dapto
• allow residential development to start to deliver 6900 dwelling lots, an additional 184 hectares of employment land and the flow-on jobs that will service a future 17,000 dwellings
• provide safe heavy vehicle access to the Kembla Grange employment precinct to allow for growth in employment generating industries
• improve access to existing facilities such as Dapto High School and Dapto Primary School
• support the revitalisation of the Dapto CBD as the emerging sub-regional centre and increase its marketability for the planned growth in retail and commercial jobs.

Community Consultations

Current Consultations

Wednesday, 23 May 2012 - 6-7pm - Dapto Ribbonwood Centre - kiosk about the proposed upgrades to the intersection at West Dapto Road and Princes Highway, Kembla Grange

Past Consultations

Since the announcement of the interest free loan which has been made available from the NSW Government's Local Infrastructure Fund (LIF), Council has held a number of consultations on the plans and allowed residents to "have your say" on the preliminary designs of the strategy. Consultations so far include:

• Wednesday, 19 May 2010 - Drop in information session on The West Dapto Initial Access Strategy
• Saturday, 22 May 2010 - Kiosk about Fairwater Drive (West)
• Monday, 31 May 2010 - Public briefing with Administrators on the West Dapto Initial Access Strategy
• Saturday, 3 July 2010 - Kiosk about extension of Fowlers Road to Marshall Street.
• Saturday, 4 December 2010 - Kiosk about proposed Cleveland Road realignment and Bong Bong Road improvements.
• Saturday 13 August 2011 - Kiosk about proposed Fairwater Drive improvements in front of Dapto Primary School
• Thursday, 29 March 2012 - Kiosk about the preliminary designs for realignment of Shone Avenue  

Funding 

The initial access strategy is expected to cost a total of $72 million over the next 14 years.

The majority of these costs will be met by the West Dapto Section 94 Developer Contributions Plan and additional Council funds. We have also successfully secured a  $26.05 million interest free loan under the State Government’s NSW Local Infrastructure Fund to accelerate the implementation program.

Our current work plan covers the first $30 million of the strategy, to be implemented between now and 2012-13.

West Dapto Initial Access Strategy Planned Works