Wollongong City Council is responsible for building and managing around $5 billion worth of infrastructure assets across our city. That includes footpaths, cycleways, local roads, public swimming pools, stormwater pipes and drains, and libraries and community buildings.
It's a big job and the community area we service is substantial, stretching all the way from Helensburgh in the north to Windang in the south and out west to Yallah. Our natural environment of mountains to the sea, also means that Wollongong faces unique infrastructure challenges with stormwater and flooding events.
With this in mind, we take a strategic approach to when and where we undertake upgrades, so that we can be sure we're carrying out our work in a timely way and using our community's money wisely.
On Monday, Council adopted the Infrastructure Delivery Program 2022-2023 to 2025-2026 – that had recently been on exhibition for community feedback. Community feedback was used to inform the final version and the key deliverables that Council will work to achieve over the next four years.
"The Infrastructure Delivery Program for the next four years identifies approximately 700 projects which will make Wollongong an extraordinary place to live, work and play," Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.
"Over the next four years we plan to prioritise infrastructure investment in extending Council's footpath and shared path network, maintaining our existing stormwater network and building new infrastructure to reduce flood risk, continue the design work for the Warrawong and Helensburgh Community Centres and Libraries, design and construction of infrastructure in West Dapto to support its continued growth, and renew and upgrade our treated water pools."
In total Council plans to spend $626 million on the community through the Infrastructure Delivery Program. This includes the operational and maintenance costs associated with infrastructure management as well as renewal and upgrades.
"We know that our community greatly values our footpaths, shared paths, community facilities, pools and other infrastructure. It's important we continue to maintain and care for what we already have as well as looking to provide these facilities in areas we have gaps. That's why part of the budget in the Infrastructure Delivery Program can be attributed to day-to-day operations and maintenance," Cr Bradbery said.
"At the end of the day, we can't do everything immediately and a number of these projects will take time to complete. We need to be strategic and prioritise projects based on our community's needs and this strategic document does this.
"Council's Infrastructure Delivery Program is built on community feedback and closely reflects the needs, ideas and wants, that our community has shared with us. A big thank you to everyone who provided feedback to Council on our past engagements."
A taste of some of the 700 community-focussed projects we're delivering over the next four years…
For everyone…
- More than $137,800,000 on upgrades, renewals and new construction projects for our roads and bridges, footpaths, cycleways and shared paths, car parks and boat ramps, traffic facilities, street lighting, roundabouts and pedestrian crossings.
- More than $35,900,000 on our libraries. This includes spending towards new books and library equipment, and ongoing works to deliver the Helensburgh Community Centre and Library, and Warrawong Community Centre and Library projects.
- More than $31,000,000 on our parks, playgrounds, sportsfields and the Russell Vale Golf Course. Works on the Thirroul Skate Park and Wollongong Skate Park, Multipurpose Criterium Track in Unanderra, Thirroul Beach Reserve, Beaton Park playground, Fred Finch Park Netball courts in Berkeley, playground at King George Oval, Port Kembla and the installation of new drainage at Lakelands Oval.
- $19,360,000 on the maintenance and upgrade of the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC), Wollongong Art Gallery and Town Hall.
- $14,210,000 on our community pools and heated pools.
- More than $13,700,000 on maintaining and upgrading our community facilities including: Balgownie Village Community Centre, Bulli Community Centre, Figtree Community Hall, Unanderra Community Centre and more.
