More homes are set to be unlocked around North Wollongong, Cockle Creek and St Marys station as part of the New South Wales Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Program.
Wollongong City Council, Penrith City Council and Lake Macquarie Council have all delivered plans to the NSW Government that will supersede the number of homes created under the TOD controls, including dedicated affordable housing, close to public transport and jobs across the three sites.
Hundreds of new jobs will be created to build the new housing, along with local services, vital infrastructure and public domain upgrades to each of the precincts to support an increase in density.
The TOD program changes planning controls within 400m of 37 trains stations across Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and Hunter regions.
The TOD program was designed to deliver well-located homes, within walking distance of transport hubs. By building homes close to infrastructure, shops and jobs the State Government is building better communities.
Councils were given the opportunity to do their own local planning work and go above and beyond the TOD planning controls, however if councils missed their deadline, the TOD controls would be implemented.
Strategic planning work for each of the three sites will continue as the government looks to leverage government-owned land at Cockle Creek and St Marys.
The NSW Government will now work with each of the councils and the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) to progress strategic planning work.
To date, of the 37 sites, 28 have been adopted, with the final six to be finalised by early July 2025. There have been 34 development applications submitted across the Transport Oriented Development sites.
The proposals for these three precincts include:
North Wollongong (5,310 expected new dwellings)
Wollongong City Council has submitted an alternative site boundary that would avoid most flood-constrained land but deliver more dwellings than the TOD settings.
North Wollongong will now be transformed with capacity for new homes through amendments to the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) over the coming months.
Council has proposed amendments to the boundary of the precinct to avoid the most flood constrained land and ensure new high density residential development can be realised.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) is working with Council to make sure heritage values are maintained and affordable housing is delivered as part of redevelopment in this precinct.
St Marys (9,300 expected new homes and 8,360 new jobs)
Penrith City Council has produced a detailed master plan for the broader St Marys town centre, which includes the TOD area, that aims to facilitate around 9,300 new homes and more than 8,360 new jobs in St Marys by 2041.
Council had been working on the master plan and consulting with community for some time, and formed an agreement with the NSW Government to continue this process. They will now continue to work closely with government to deliver the masterplan. Delivery is planned to commence in the coming months, following finalisation of the implementation mechanisms.
Council’s masterplan exceeds the NSW Government’s TOD SEPP dwelling targets and will also support light industries through a consolidated commercial core with co-working and creative hubs. A small portion of residential land is also proposed to be rezoned for future public open space.
Cockle Creek (1,200 expected new homes)
Lake Macquarie Council have been working with the NSW Government on long-term plans for the Cockle Creek TOD, including the site owned by the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) at Munibung Rd, Boolaroo.
HCCDC will shortly finalise a proposal to rezone the site, which falls partly within the TOD area for Cockle Creek. The proposal will include up to 1,200 new homes for the area.
HCCDC, Lake Macquarie Council and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will work together to finalise the proposed rezoning over the coming months.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully, said that over the next 15 years, the TOD SEPP program is estimated to deliver more than 170,000 new homes in mid-rise dwellings to create vibrant communities close to transport, services and jobs.
“These three sites have been strategically chosen to support increased density in well-positioned locations, and we are already seeing strong interest in renewing these areas and adding density so that these well-located suburbs can be home to more families in the future,” Scully said.
“Each of these precincts now has an ideal opportunity to reshape and reimagine their communities with new modern public domain upgrades and increased patronage for local businesses.”
Lord Mayor of Wollongong City Council, Tania Brown, said that this project doesn’t just bring housing, it brings jobs, investment and more customers for local businesses.
“It’s a positive step forward for the North Wollongong community,” Mayor Brown said.
“We know Wollongong is growing, and it’s important we have the right types of housing in the right places. This plan means we can proactively and thoughtfully manage that growth while balancing the CBD lifestyle, access to transport links and managing flood risk.”
Mayor of Penrith City Council, Todd Carney, said that Penrith City Council is proud to lead the way in delivering smart, sustainable growth for its region.
“Our plan for St Marys puts community needs front and centre, with around 9,300 new homes and more than 8,360 new jobs in St Marys by 2041,” Mayor Carney said.
“We’ve led a place-based, evidence-based process that is going to transform St Marys, and it’s shaping up to be something really special.
“Our ability to deliver a comprehensive plan within the government’s timeframe shows the strength of Council’s vision and commitment to Penrith’s future.
“We look forward to the government making the plans in the short term so we can get on and deliver.”
Mayor of Lake Macquarie Council, Adam Shultz, said that Council has been working closely with the State Government to make sure Cockle Creek is a well-planned, future-ready neighbourhood that delivers new homes without compromising what makes the city great.
“It’s exciting to see this project moving forward,” Mayor Shultz said.
“With HCCDC and the NSW Government on board, we’re one step closer to transforming underused land into a thriving new part of our city.”
