A number of major development applications currently lodged with Wollongong Council could soon have a significant impact on the appearance and function of the commercial centres of the far northern suburbs of the Illawarra, if they are approved.
The developer of the former Helensburgh Workers Club site on Walker Street has recently gained formal approval for the “construction of mixed use development comprising of eight retail, and twenty two residential apartments with ancillary parking”.
Their original application was rejected three times by the Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel despite Council planners giving their support each time the application was considered by the IHAP. Following intense lobbying by local residents and community representatives, it was granted approval in December 2009 by the Wollongong Council administrators after the developers amended their plans to incorporate a large number of recommendations made by the IHAP.
At the same time, on 11th December Wollongong Council received another development application for 61-63 Walker St, Helensburgh with the notification period starting on 4th January. The application involves demolishing the existing buildings and constructing a multi-unit building containing 18 units, two commercial premises and basement parking.
In Stanwell Park, two separate development applications have also just been lodged with Council that focus on the ‘commercial district’ of the seaside village. The different developers are seeking to replace a number of existing older buildings, including Ruby’s café, with three storey buildings containing a mix of commercial and residential units.
The applications are similar in theme to the already approved multi-storey development on the site of the existing Park Life café, which will
include seven residential units, with five of the units as three level apartments, retail premises, a forecourt plaza and basement car parking for sixteen vehicles.
The community group Friends of Stanwell Park stated at the time that “most residents strongly objected to an urban style development in a coastal village setting and this particular application was not seen as an appropriate addition to the small scale commercial area of Stanwell Park”.
If the new development applications are approved in their present form, the land area between Peppies Corner store and the Park Life Café on Lawrence Hargrave Drive will be massively transformed into a high density urban strip with remaining blocks under great pressure to be caught up in the current development juggernaut.
It appears the end of the year and traditional holiday season is a very popular time to lodge major development applications.
Anyone interested in discussing the impact of development on their local area should attend the Neighbourhood Forum Meeting on Wednesday, 10 February, 7pm at the Community Centre.



