A new plan to shape the future of the Illawarra Region has been released by the Minns Government. 

The Draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan is being billed as a blueprint for the future of what is a fast-growing region. 

Of interest to our industry the plan is about building new homes, hotel accomodation, major event facilities, roads, enhancements of CBD and town centre precincts and identified growth hubs. 

The Draft Plan's aims include: 

• Increase housing supply (goal of 117,000 new homes) in the region's urban growth areas, i.e near town centres. 

• Prioritise diversity of housing. 

• Mapped out priorities for new social and transport infrastrucure based on a forecast population of around 677.000 people by 2046, an increase of around 161,000.   

• Measures to stop local councils from making housing and infrastructure proposals in appropriate locations. 

• Enhance development of the region's CBDs (such as Wollongong) and town centres in surrounding regions. A priority is creative communities and knowledge-based jobs. 

• Delivery of more event infrastructure and accommodation to support large scale in the Wollongong CBD and the larger regional centres. 

• Major economic growth hubs identified as Shoalhaven Airport, Nowra industrial sites, Port Kembla and the Wollongong Health Precinct. 

• Better road connectivity between Wollongong and regional centres also earmarked for growth such as Kiama, Shellharbour and Shoalhaven and also to the Western Sydney Airport. 

Have your say on the Draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Plan by 28 September 2026 here: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/plans-in-nsw/plans-by-region/the-illawarra-shoalhaven-plan