State

RDA Illawarra provided a submission relating to A New Planning System for NSW Green Paper (July 2012) and made comments on the following:

• Blueprint (pp 4-7)
• Strategic Planning (Chapter 5)
• Subregional Delivery Plans (Change 7)
• Enterprise Zones (p45)
• Regional Infrastructure identified in Growth Infrastructure Plan (p76)
• Regional Planning Boards (Change 21, p86)
• Planning Culture (Change 23, p88)

The Southern Councils Group make a submission to the legislative assembly inquiry conducted by the State and Regional Development Committee. The submission looks into how inter-regional public transport can better serve the needs of regional NSW.

It provides comments on the following:

• How CountryLink services can be improved
• How network linkages between CountryLink train and coach services can be improved
• The potential for CountryLink services to carry light freight
• How CountryLink can be better utilised to increase tourism in NSW
• How the amount of inter-regional travel undertaken by public transport can be increased
• The extent to which regional public transport networks are integrated and how they can be better integrated
• The role local councils can play in improving inter-regional public transportation networks
• The type of buses and trains that will be required for the provision of regional passenger services in the future

Proposals for utilisation of rail corridors in the Illawarra region need to be considered in conjunction with infrastructure planning for road and rail transport.

The submission addresses a range of Terms of Reference:

• Opportunities for mixed use property development
• Income generation for future infrastructure projects
• Facilitation of sustainable renewal and development
• Facilitation of TOD schemes
• Connectivity of communities either side of railway lines
• Current planning and policy framework
• Regulatory and policy barriers to implementing rail corridor projects
• Issues relating to financing and funding rail corridor projects
• Methods of assessing compatibility of projects with community
• Examples of best practice from other jurisdictions

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’s September 2021 submission outlines that Picton Road should be upgraded to a four lane, divided carriageway along its entire length from the M1 Princes Motorway (Mount Ousley Road) in the east to the M31 Hume Motorway (near Wilton). This is based on the need for better connectivity and safety as well as the deliverable economic benefits compared to the cost of further delay.

See our submission to Transport for NSW on the proposed Picton Road upgrades here.

RDA Illawarra supports the Dendrobium Mine Extension Project and is of the opinion that it is essential to the State for economic and social reasons. Our submission is available here.

RDA Illawarra supports the Dendrobium Mine Extension Project and is of the opinion that it is essential to the Region, State and Nation for the following reasons:

1. Rejection of the Application would be harmful to the regional economy, resulting in significant job losses at South 32, BlueScope and the Port Kembla Coal Terminal.
2. Approving the application will generate more jobs and secure investment in the region.
3. Sovereign manufacturing risk to the steel industry is mitigated.

RDA Illawarra made a submission in response to the Six Cities Region Discussion Paper. Our submission is available here.

The Six Cities strategy aligns well with the 2020 Illawarra-Shoalhaven City Deal Prospectus and its successor the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Greater Cities Partnership Prospectus. These initiatives have been developed in collaboration with local councils and industry peak bodies, giving true ‘grass roots’ support to the initiatives included.

The Illawarra Region is entering a period of unprecedented growth, with $33 billion in construction and infrastructure development planned for completion by 2040. This includes projects to reduce sovereign risk around steelmaking; developing sustainable supplies of renewable energy; delivering housing and services for 65,000 new residents and improving the connectivity of the region by road, rail and digitally. In this Pre-Election Submission, RDA Illawarra has used its considerable local knowledge and regional network to develop recommendations for the NSW State Government on four key themes:

Delivering critical Infrastructure
Development of the Port of Port Kembla
Improving public transport for a growing Population
Fulfilling Housing demand

Illawarra Priorities include:

Picton Road Duplication Divided highway over full length - Funding Request $650m

South-West Illawarra Rail Link (SWIRL) Direct Rail Link from Port Kembla to South-West Sydney – Funding Request $30m

Port Precinct Master Plan Develop an overall strategy for Port Kembla precinct and industrial lands – Funding Request $25m

Public Transport Develop a 30-Minute City for residents of the Illawarra and provide a more liveable city – Funding Request $10m

Housing Addressing the housing shortage that is now both a social and economic issue for the region - 500 additional social houses over 5 years