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Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy
Mountain biking is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and the Illawarra escarpment is currently home to 35km of (unapproved) trails. Mountain bikers are a high-spending demographic, and many from Sydney, often travel past the Illawarra to ride in other locations.

Destination Wollongong's strategy aims to deliver around 85km of sustainable trail networks, which integrate with other existing uses in a safe and strategic manner.

RDA Illawarra supports the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy and provided a postive submission in the community consultation phase.

Mount Keira Summit Park Plan of Management
Wollongong City Council's Plan aims to increase the amount of operational land on the Summit Park, deliver power to the site and priorities education and indigenous heritage. The Plan also includes reference to a potential commerical outcome at the site.

RDA Illawarra supports the Mount Keira Summit Park Plan of Management and provided a positive submission. 

Regional Development Australia (RDA) Illawarra welcomes the opportunity to
provide feedback on Wollongong City Council’s Economic Development Strategy
(draft) 2019-2029 (ED Strategy).

RDA Illawarra strongly supports the three key strategic objectives outlined in the
ED Strategy:

• Jobs target – generate 10,500 new jobs in the next decade to reduce the
  jobs deficit
• Lifting median incomes – focusing on industries that are higher-paying
  and have a greater share of full-time jobs and are expected to grow in the
  future
• Targeted sectors that align with talent pool, including those of
  commuters and graduates of UOW

Regional Development Australia (RDA) Illawarra is pleased to provide this submission on the Draft Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy.

RDA Illawarra supports the implementation of the proposed Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy, as it:

• Enables Mountain Biking, which is one of the fastest growing adventurebased tourism activities, and is generating world-wide tourism benefits
• Is time to build a world-class Mountain Biking destination in the Illawarra that is well-planned and managed
• Is aligned with NSW, regional and local tourism strategies
• Is mindful of the unique biodiversity and important Aboriginal and nonindigenous culture heritage values, which have a low tolerance for disturbance
• Supports economic development of a significant Illawarra economic catalytic site, the Illawarra escarpment, including Mount Keira

RDA Illawarra supports the South32 Dendrobium Mine development application, in particular:

• The importance of mining to the Illawarra’s economy
• The importance of high paid jobs for the Illawarra’s economy, and alignment with the WCC draft ED strategy
• The role of NSW Government and experts to review the environmental considerations and measures put forward by South32

The Urban Development Framework (2019) provides one pathway to deliver the required commercial development, and RDA Illawarra strongly supports the economic objectives and 11 recommendations outlined in the Framework and its accompanying Economic Analysis.

The UDF outlines one approach to the next 20 years of infrastructure and economic development for Wollongong, though some of its recommendations, particularly the development a commercial-only core, are not without risk and will require political courage.

We are proud to announce that the Illawarra-Shoalhaven City Deal Prospectus was launched in October 2020 and is available here.

The Illawarra-Shoalhaven City Deal will deliver transformative change and 12,550 jobs to the regions.  Further information on the types of jobs, including over 2,000 for the Visitor Economy and the breakdown of high value-add jobs is provided in the briefing document here.

The City Deal Prospectus is the culmination of several years of work with our partners in a deeply collaborative way, led by RDA Illawarra.  This Collaborative group includes representatives from Wollongong City Council, Shellharbour City Council, Kiama Municipal Council and Shoalhaven City Council, Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation of Councils, University of Wollongong, SMART Infrastructure Facility, RDA Far South Coast and the Peak Bodies of the Property Council, Illawarra Business Chamber and UDIA. 

The transformative range of proposed projects, when fully funded, will deliver a connected, diverse and resilient economy.  Not only will the Illawarra-Shoalhaven benefit, but this inter-regional proposal enables improved liveability and growth in South-Western Sydney, including Wollondilly and Campbelltown.

RDA Illawarra believes that an Illawarra-Shoalhaven City Deal could be a game-changer which enables our ability to work across all three levels of government and unlock economic potential.

For further information, contact Debra Murphy at admin@rdaillawarra.com.au

RDA Illawarra recommends the management and development of industrial lands is managed through a collaborative and collegiate ‘Master Planning’ approach coordinated by one agency and makes the following submissions:

1. Create a Master Plan for Port lands and surrounding industrial lands
2. Promote ‘Highest and Best’ use of existing and developing industrial land
3. Advocate for better direct road and rail access from Illawarra to Western Sydney
4. Encourage larger lot size development for freight and logistics as well as manufacturing
5. Normalise planning controls with LGAs in the Six Cities region
6. Increase amenity and flexibility in industrial land use
7. Collaborate with other agencies to accelerate delivery of basic services (water, sewerage, power) as well as public transport and high-speed internet to industrial land
8. Protect industrial lands, freight corridors and buffer zones from residential encroachment
9. Develop plans with other agencies to improve road access to current and emerging industrial land.

For full details and recommendations, read our submission here.

Our submission to Wollongong City Council’s Net Zero Wollongong Climate Change Mitigation Plan (CCMP) includes full support for the draft plan.

RDA Illawarra believes the following actions will enhance the plan and outputs further:

• Priority of several initiatives: place higher priority on waste-related initiatives and especially reducing or recycling waste from commercial operations
• Engagement of organisations in control of industrial emissions: influence and engage the “four of Australia’s top emitters” in our LGA and encourage them to partner in WCC’s leadership towards reduced emissions
• Goal review and communication: implement a comprehensive and enduring communications plan that includes quarterly updates on goals and objectives against the plan and annual Council and community reviews of overall CCMP effectiveness

Read our submission here.

The West Dapto Urban Release Area has the potential to provide homes for 59,000 residents by the mid-2060’s. It is an exciting and challenging development opportunity with a forty-year planning horizon.

Our submission to Wollongong City Council’s Draft West Dapto Development Contributions Plan (2024) includes the following concerns across several areas:

• Escalating Development Contributions may deter or defer development in this urban release area
• Provision of childcare facilities is no longer considered an Essential Service funded by Development Contributions
• Exemptions to development contributions for affordable, accessible and emergency housing are welcome but WCC should set targets for each at every development stage
• Provision of essential services should not lag completion of development stages
• Floodplain mapping is essential to provide security for residents.

Read our submission here.