Tallawarra Lands Planning

image of the Tallawarra gate sign

 

The new Tallawarra power station occupies a small portion of the overall 565 hectare site.

TRUenergy is considering plans to redevelop the site to feature a balanced mix of new residential, employment and environmental amenities.

Background

TRUenergy first submitted a proposal to rezone Tallawarra Lands, the 565 hectare site adjunct to the Tallawarra power station, in 2005.

After considering the proposal, Wollongong Council formally commenced the statutory planning process to revise planning controls for Tallawarra Lands.

To do this, Council commissioned a Local Environmental Study to provide objective analysis of the capability and suitability of Tallawarra Lands for potential future development.  Studies like this are essential for ensuring that the proposed rezoning is both environmentally sustainable and consistent with relevant statutory planning strategies. Commencing in April 2006, extensive studies were commissioned by independent experts, Willana Associates, to better inform Council as to the range of suitable land uses and zones for the site.  The Study also considered and updated a substantial body of environmental data used by the site’s previous owners, Pacific Power, to support their development application for a new combined cycle gas power station.

Preparation of the Local Environmental Study was overseen by an independent Project Control Group that included Local Council, the NSW State Planning Department, The NSW Premier’s Office and TRUenergy, and was done in accordance with legislative requirements set out in Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

The Local Environmental Study also sought the input of key stakeholders and the local community.  Feedback was collected through both targeted stakeholder engagement and broader community consultation, including:

  • 2000 newsletters letter box dropped to local homes
  • advertisements and articles in the Lake Times and Illawarra Mercury
  • two public information sessions hosted by independent study leads
  • the voluntary formation by TRUenergy of a Community Liaison Group.

The completed Tallawarra Local Environmental Study was reviewed and adopted by Council in 2007, and can be accessed by clicking here.

Following, Council used the approved Local Environmental Study to prepare a new draft Local Environmental Plan for Tallawarra. Local Environmental Plans (‘LEP’s) establish standards for how land can be used. They are the primary tool for Councils to control the development of land within their municipality. Planning controls also help ensure developments are appropriately located, are ecologically sustainable and where possible, compliment surrounding land uses.

New draft LEP controls prepared for Tallawarra Lands include a balanced mix of zones, that will be used to guide the future development of the land for employment, residential, recreational and conservation uses.  After considering the new draft LEP controls for Tallawarra Lands, Wollongong in 2007, Council endorsed them for public exhibition.

At a subsequent meeting, Council resolved to include the rezoning of Tallawarra Lands into its comprehensive City-wide standard template Local Environmental Plan review process, endorsing that broader document for public exhibition. 

Following the appointment of administrators to the Wollongong Council, the city’s draft LEP was formally re-reviewed – and again endorsed for public exhibition.

Wollongong Council will now exhibit its draft Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009 for public comment and consultation. This public exhibition of the planning controls by Council will provide residents with the opportunity to review what has been planned to date and what options are available for the development of the site going forward.

Community consultation

Over the five years since it first lodged its rezoning application, TRUenergy has met regularly and proactively with members of the local community and made extensive efforts to incorporate the views and opinions of key community stakeholders into its ongoing planning process.  Ongoing engagement strategies include:

  • community newsletters provided to 4000 neighbouring homes
  • ongoing media and full page community bulletin advertisements included in the Illawarra Mercury and Lakes Times
  • regular meetings with key stakeholders, government and community representatives
  • ongoing meetings of the Tallawarra Community Liaison Group
  • updates to this website

To read more about the outcomes of our community consultation program, click here.

Next steps

TRUenergy encourages residents to participate in the Council’s Local Environmental Plan exhibition process as feedback is important and will help to ensure Tallawarra Lands are developed in a sustainable, economical and considered way.  Exhibition is likely to occur shortly, with dates to be advertised via this website and the local media.

Rezoning will be followed by the development and subdivision application processes. Subject to the outcome of these processes, civil infrastructure and subdivision works are anticipated to commence in around 2011.

In the mean time, you may wish to read the Tallawarra Lands Structure Plan Report . It provides a preliminary, indicative development scenario which could be accommodated within Council’s draft zoning controls, as well as useful background information which has helped shape the preliminary design.