UDIA supports the Wollongong CBD (the CBD) as the primary retail and commercial centre in the Illawarra Shoalhaven, which continues to emerge as a key regional city in Six Cities Region. We acknowledge the work done by Council to further strengthen the CBD with public domain, urban design and place-making improvements to further establish Wollongong as a lifestyle and innovation city.
The Strategy should be an opportunity for Council to rethink the approach to economic development in the Wollongong City LGA, especially in response to the Covid-19 induced changes, which has changed current working patterns and the concentrated nature of commercial development at key centres.
The Strategy must respond to a major economic and employment generating investment in the Wollongong City LGA that will likely occur at Port Kembla within the next 5 years. Such a transformative project could force a rethink on the proposal to focus jobs growth in the Wollongong CBD.