2006–31

ILLAWARRAREGIONAL STRATEGY

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ................ INSIDE COVER

FOREWORD ............................................ 1

THE ILLAWARRA REGION ....................... 3

REGIONAL CHALLENGES ...................... 5

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE .................. . 8

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT GROWTH................. ..... 12

REGIONAL TRANSPORT................. ...... 18

HOUSING AND SETTLEMENT................. 20

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT................. .... 27

NATURAL HAZARDS.............................. 31

WATER, ENERGY AND WASTE............... 34

RURAL LANDSCAPE AND RURAL COMMUNITIES ................. .................... 36

CULTURAL HERITAGE................. .......... 38

IMPLEMENTATION................................. 40

MONITORING AND REVIEW .................. 41

APPENDICES

1. Sustainability criteria................. .......... 422. Major infrastructure projects............... 44

MAPS

Illawarra Regional Strategy ................10-11Biodiversity ............................................ 26

The Illawarra Regional Strategy applies to the local government areas of Kiama, Shellharbour and Wollongong, and is one of a number of regional strategies that have been prepared by the Department of Planning for high growth areas in NSW. The Strategy builds upon the Illawarra and South Coast Background Paper prepared by the Department in 2005.

The Illawarra continues to experience moderate growth so providing a range of work and housing opportunities for future residents is a priority. The primary purpose of the Regional Strategy is to ensure that adequate land is available and appropriately located to sustainably accommodate the projected housing and employment needs of the Region’s population over the next 25 years. The Strategy also sets out a range of actions that will protect the Region’s magnifi cent natural features such as the Illawarra Escarpment, Lake Illawarra and the Minnamurra Estuary.

The Regional Strategy incorporates the specifi c regional infrastructure requirements identifi ed in the State Infrastructure Strategy 2006–07 to 2015–16. The Regional Strategy will continue to inform future infrastructure investment priorities for the Illawarra. Infrastructure planning will take into account the broad planning framework identifi ed in the Strategy to ensure that future population growth is supported by services and associated infrastructure.

The broad elements of the Strategy are represented on two maps, which identify the overall structure of the Region and signifi cant biodiversity.

The Regional Strategy represents an agreed NSW Government position on the future of the Illawarra. It will be the pre-eminent strategic policy document for the Illawarra Region and will complement and inform other relevant State and local strategies and planning instruments. Implementation of the Regional Strategy is underpinned on a whole-of-government basis through the Action Plans outlined in the NSW State Plan: A New Direction for NSW. The Illawarra Regional Strategy applies to the period 2006–31 and will be reviewed every fi ve years.

Disclaimer: While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that this document is correct at the time of printing, the State of New South Wales, its agents and employees, disclaim any and all liability to any person in respect of anything or the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done in reliance upon the whole or any part of this document.

Illawarra Regional Strategy: 2006–31© The State of New South Wales through the Department of Planning January 2007www.planning.nsw.gov.auISBN 978-0-7347-5865-1DOP 07_004

State Plan: A New Direction for NSWwww.nsw.gov.au/stateplan

2006–31

Further informationDepartment of Planning PO Box 5475 Wollongong NSW 2520 Email: wollongong@planning.nsw.gov.au Inquiries: 02 4224 9450