Master planning West Dapto town centres

Over the next few decades West Dapto will become the location of around 19,500 new homes and home to more than 56,500 people making it one of the fastest-growing residential area in NSW outside the Sydney metropolitan area.

To support the establishment of a new and growing community, Council has selected eight locations that will become the home to three new town centres and five new village centres.

These locations are:

The selected locations were identified in Council’s West Dapto Vision, and were selected based on extensive planning, consideration of constraints, future transport networks and projected populations.

Right now, we’re seeking community feedback on the draft Master Plan for two of these locations, Marshall Mount Town and Fowlers Village.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said the work we’re doing now allows Council to set out clearly the long-term intention for these town centres. This isn’t just relevant to residents or potential businesses who might consider moving to the area. It’s also important to developers as it makes clear to them what is expected for them when they’re developing in and around the proposed town centres.

“Developing a Master Plan for these new town centres and village centres is a chance to think strategically about planning and decide before the shovels come out, where houses, shops, roads, footpaths, community spaces, bus routes, and everything else that makes a community feel like a community, should go,” Cr Bradbery said.

“While Council isn’t on the ground building houses, having a Master Plan in place means developers are able to see what they need to do to meet the requirements of the Plan. It puts everyone who has a stake in the development of the new town and village centres on the same page so we can work collaboratively together.

“Right now, we’re seeking community feedback on the Future West Dapto Centres Master Plans. This is a chance for community members to share their ideas on how they would like these centres to work on their own, in with the existing neighbouring centres, and in a way that doesn’t compete with the existing Dapto Regional Centre.

The current draft Master Plans were prepared by Urbis who was engaged by Council thanks to funding from the NSW Government’s Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund. The draft plans were developed with input from landowners, Council officers, specialist planners and experts in flooding, transport and the environment.

Community members have from now until the Monday 4 March 2024 to review the plans and share feedback. For more information and to have your say:

• Visit the Our Wollongong website and completing the online form
• View a paper copy at Dapto Library or Council’s Customer Service Centre (during business hours)
• Emailing Council
• Writing to the Urban Release Team: City Strategy, Wollongong City Council, Locked Bag 8821 WOLLONGONG DC NSW 2500
• Or by calling Customer Service on (02) 4227 7111 and asking to speak with the Urban Release Team..