Fast Five – Need-to-knows from Monday’s Council meeting

Time moving too fast to keep up to date with the latest news from Wollongong City Council’s Monday meeting? We’ve got you. Here is a snapshot of five key reports discussed on 26 May.

Item 1: The Quarterly Review Statement

The report’s name might not have a catchy title that draws you in, this is one report that’s well worth checking out. It captures all the work done by Council in the January to March quarter. It covers everything from our day-to-day operations to big projects and exciting events. It also includes information about the financial and operational performance.

Read the report: Agenda of Ordinary Meeting of Council - Monday, 26 May 2025

Item 2: Lake Illawarra Entrance Options Study (next steps)

The Lake Illawarra Entrance Options Study investigated long-term options to manage negative impacts that have been occurring around the lake and the lake entrance channel since it was permanently opened by the Lake Illawarra Authority in 2007. The study was funded by NSW Government, Wollongong and Shellharbour City councils. What was discussed at our meeting on Monday, and Shellharbour Council’s on Tuesday, were the next steps to progress the implementation of a long-term entrance management option.

Council resolved to write to the NSW Government requesting that it resource and undertake a Strategic Business Case to deliver a long-term management solution for the Lake Illawarra entrance with participation from both Wollongong and Shellharbour City Councils. The Strategic Business Case is to consider Option 4 and Option 5 or variations thereof from the Lake Illawarra Entrance Channel: Management Options Assessment report against a ‘Leave as is’ base case.

We’re also going to continue to collaborate with the NSW Government to prioritise the delivery of key informing studies to inform the Strategic Business Case. These studies include Cultural Values and Threats, Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan, and further documentation on the ‘Leave as is’ scenario, including confirmation of asset management and maintenance responsibilities for infrastructure.

Read the report: Agenda of Ordinary Meeting of Council - Monday, 26 May 2025

Item 9: Lease of Atchison/Auburn streets carpark to Transport for NSW

As part of Council’s focus on improving access opportunities and parking in our city’s foreshore areas, a new lease will be granted to Transport for NSW for the relocation of the bus layover site from Marine Drive.

This project has been many years in the making and will see the establishment of a new bus layover in the Council-owned carpark at Atchison and Auburn streets close to Wollongong Train Station.

Read the report: Agenda of Ordinary Meeting of Council - Monday, 26 May 2025

Item 14: Tender Port Kembla Beach Stormwater Quality Improvement Device

We’re responding to residents’ feedback and have awarded the tender for a stormwater quality improvement device in the existing box culvert drainage line under the carpark near the King George V playground.

The new device has been purposely designed to capture the debris which would ordinarily wash onto Port Kembla Beach during rain events.

Read the report: Agenda of Ordinary Meeting of Council - Monday, 26 May 2025

Item 10: Licence Agreement – Illawarra Stingrays Football Club.

We’ve been working with the Illawarra Stingrays Football Club for a number of years as they looked for a home ground for competition and training.

At Monday’s meeting, Council agreed to support a new 21-year licence for the club on Community Land at Lakelands Oval in Dapto. The licence will provide stability and support the development of football for all ages and genders in the Illawarra region.

It will also support the Stingrays who are the regional Women’s National Premier League NSW football club in the Illawarra and cater from under 10s through to Women’s First Grade.They’ve established the Illawarra as a leader in Women’s elite level football while actively promoting grass roots football for the benefit of all females.

Read the report: Agenda of Ordinary Meeting of Council - Monday, 26 May 2025

If you’d like to see all the items discussed at the meeting, the full Agenda is available on Council’s website. Alternatively, a live webcast of the meeting is also available.