The New South Wales Government’s Illawarra Shoalhaven plan, which outlines the future uses of its hard rock resources, is taking community submissions ahead of its five-year update.
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2036 was first released in 2015 and mapped out the following 20 years of land use, housing, jobs, infrastructure and environmental goals for the area.
The 2036 plan outlined a goal to create “a region that makes appropriate use of agricultural and resource lands”, with the plan mentioning the value in its hard rock resources in the Dunmore-Shellharbour Hills, which includes Hanson’s Bass Point Quarry.
According to the plan, Shellharbour City Council was aiming to find release areas within urban fringe lands, but the plan stated that continued extraction of resources in the area “needs to be considered”.
The plan is now undergoing a five-year review, with the NSW Government asking community members to provide their views on an updated Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2041.
The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s (DPIE) group deputy secretary of planning and assessment Marcus Ray said regional plans require a review and update every five years to determine what needs to take precedence.
“The Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan is the blueprint to ensure the ongoing prosperity and growth of the region which encompasses the Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, and Shoalhaven local government areas,” he said.
“Regional plans undergo a review and update every five years to reset priorities and ensure continued delivery for the next 20 years. The Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan is the first in the state to undergo a review and update.”
Community submissions will be made once the draft of the regional plan is released later this year.
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Plan is available to view on the DPIE website.