State of Environment Report 2007-08 - Wollongong City Council

Land (murum) | State of the Environment Report 2007-2008Land (murum)Land (murum)Current state and pressuresLand features in terms of the regionaltopography, geology and soils, havedetermined the nature of urbandevelopment in the Wollongong LocalGovernment Area (LGA). The LGA covers71,400ha in a narrow coastal stripstretching from Helensburgh in the north,to Windang, 30km to the south. The LGA hastwo major Local Environmental Plans(LEPs); the Wollongong LEP 1990 and theWollongong City Centre LEP 2007. Land usezones within the Wollongong LGA and theirpercentage areas are shown in Tables 1and 2.Urban development is concentrated within arelatively narrow coastal strip between theTasman Sea and the Illawarra Escarpment.The proportion of urban land increasestoward the southern half of the LGA, withlimited development and developmentpotential in the northern suburbs. Thedemand for new dwellings in Wollongonghas increased over time due to a declininghousehold occupancy rate and immigration.During 2007-08, a total of 352 residentiallots were created in the Wollongong LGA.Major responsesDraft Wollongong Local Environmental Plan2009Since the adoption of the Wollongong LEP in1990, there has been a significant change incommunity attitudes and expectations,including environmental awareness andaccountabilities about development in theWollongong LGA. In November 2004,Council resolved to commence preparing adraft LEP to replace the LEP 1990. The draftWollongong LEP 2009 was prepared by:● Translating the provisions of theWollongong LEP 1990 and WollongongCity Centre LEP 2007 into the requiredformat of the standard LEP instrument.● Incorporating planning recommendationsof a number of studies including theWollongong Housing Study (2005),Wollongong Employment Land Study(2005), Wollongong Retail Centre Study(2004), Planning People Places - OpenSpace, Recreation and CommunityFacilities Strategic Framework, IllawarraEscarpment Strategic Management Plan(2005) and Illawarra Escarpment LandUse Provision (2007), Port of Port KemblaLand Use Strategy (2007), HelensburghLand Capacity Analysis (2006), DarkesForest Review of Deferred Lands (2007),Kanahooka Road 6(b) Lands Study(2007), Illawarra Coal Mines HeritageStudy (2006) and various floodplain strategies and estuarymanagement plans.● Incorporating rezoning proposals reviewed by theAdministrators and suggestions made by Statutory Authorities.● The draft LEP was endorsed by Council in June 2008 andsubmitted to the Department of Planning for review andcertification prior to exhibition.Wollongong Development Contributions Plan (Section 94A)The Wollongong Section 94A Contributions Plan came into effect inJune 2006. In adopting the plan, all existing Section 94 Plans, withthe exception of Horsley, have been repealed. The Section 94A Planrequires the payment of contributions based on the value of adevelopment. The contributions allow Council to construct orprovide public infrastructure, amenities and services required.During 2007-08, Council reviewed, exhibited and adopted anupdated Plan incorporating minor amendments and an updatedworks schedule.Blue MileRedevelopment of the city foreshore was identified in theRevitalising Wollongong City Centre Plan (2006) as one of eightstrategic civic improvement projects for the revitalisation andgrowth of the city.The Blue Mile is a multi-million dollar staged plan to revitaliseinfrastructure, recreation and tourism experiences in the cityforeshore area stretching from City Beach in the south to StuartPark in the north. The master plan addresses public facilities,beaches and open space, parks and playgrounds, recreationfacilities, footpaths, cafes and restaurants, tourism and othercommercial opportunities, pedestrian and traffic movement andcar parking issues.The Blue Mile Master Plan process led to the development of adraft City Foreshore Plan of Management. The Blue Mile MasterPlan was adopted by Council in November 2007. The WollongongCity Foreshore Plan of Management was adopted by Council inJanuary 2008.Works in Belmore Basin/Brighton Lawn Reserve were considereda priority due to the impending failure of the coastal protectionworks, public risk and the degraded nature of the Brighton LawnENVIRONMENTAL 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08INDICATORSNumber of DAs received 2,643 2,139 2,040 2,236Number of complyingdevelopments received(inc Private Certifiers)999 528 438 361Number of DAs determined 2,680 2,312 2,191 2,093Number of complyingdevelopments determined(inc Private Certifiers)984 525 436 355Number of constructioncertificates issued (incPrivate Certifiers)Number of complyingdevelopments(inc Private Certifiers)1,802 1,579 1,057 1,466549 524 431 354Number of lots produced 475 216 346 352DA - Development ApplicationsWollongong City Council 05