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The Draft Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy and the Wollongong Station Masterplan have been released for public consultation and provides a long-term plan to guide the future development of the area.
The Minns Government is seeking community feedback on the future of the Wollongong Health Precinct, which is set to become a world-class healthcare centre that meets the growing needs of the Illawarra region.
The Draft Strategy outlines strategic planning directions to inform public and private investment and to enable the community, businesses and investors to make informed decisions that will help realise the vision for the Precinct as an attractive, vibrant and thriving place.
The Draft Strategy also identifies a series of Government-led initiatives to unlock the potential and bring the vision for the Precinct to life. These include:
- public spaces and transport to support amenity and movement between key areas.
- public safety and access within and around the Precinct - including links with the train station and the central business district.
- opportunities for affordable housing for future residents and key workers.
The population of the Illawarra Shoalhaven region is projected to grow by 36 per cent to 575,000 by 2041, from 422,000 currently.
By 2031, it is expected there will be 25,000 more hospital admissions across the region, and an added 39,000 emergency department presentations.
The Draft Strategy puts in place the building blocks for agencies across Government to make sure the Wollongong Health Precinct meets the health and other service needs of this growing population, while supporting the housing needs for the workers required to deliver these services.
Additionally, Transport for NSW has developed a Draft Wollongong Station Precinct Masterplan which will be available for comment alongside the Draft Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy.
The Transport for NSW Draft Masterplan outlines a long-term vision for transforming the Station Precinct into a vibrant, connected and inviting transport hub that reflects the unique identity of Wollongong. It provides direct active and public transport links to the surrounding area including to the city centre, foreshore and hospital.
The Draft Masterplan proposes to upgrade the gateways to and from the station on Crown Street, Gladstone Avenue and Station Street and identifies 'opportunity sites' for future development.
Public consultation for both the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure's (DPHI) Draft Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy and Transport for NSW's Draft Wollongong Station Precinct Masterplan begins on 24 April 2025 and is open until 11 June 2025.
To read the Draft Strategy and Draft Masterplan and to make a submission, visit https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/wollongong.
For more information on the Wollongong Health Precinct, visit https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/plans-for-your-area/regional-plans/illawarra-shoalhaven-regional-plan-2041/making-it-happen/wollongong-health-precinct.
Minister for Health, Regional Health, Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said:
"The Wollongong Heath Precinct Strategy recognises that the Illawarra region needs greater access to high quality, patient-centred healthcare and medical research.
"Wollongong Public Hospital is the region's principal referral hospital and specialises in a range of complex health services to support a growing and ageing population.
"It is running at near capacity, and strategic upgrades will be required to ensure it continues to meet the healthcare needs of the Illawarra now and into the future.
"The Draft Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy supports our Government's $21.9 million investment to upgrade and expand Wollongong Hospital. Construction of a new MRI and CT imaging suite at the hospital is underway, and the existing Medical Ambulatory Care unit is being relocated to a new location, responding to the health needs of the growing local community.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:
"As the population of the Illawarra Shoalhaven region is expected to grow to 575,000 by 2041, it has never been more important to get these crucial planning steps right.
"The Draft Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy is an exciting opportunity to deliver world-leading and innovative health care, improved connection to Wollongong Station, new and enhanced open public spaces, and new affordable housing choices.
"Making sure there is alignment between future plans for the health precinct and the future plans for the station is important so they are working together in the best interests of the future of the city.
"We need to make sure we have enough housing closer to where people work, and easily accessible health infrastructure."
