Council adopts Thirroul DCP

A NEW set of controls and guidelines for development in the Thirroul town centre has been endorsed by Wollongong City Council following the adoption of an amended development control plan (DCP) for the precinct.

Councillors agreed to support DCP 55 Thirroul Town Centre after Council officers made a number of changes resulting from comments submitted by residents and land owners during a public exhibition of the document from October to January.

A total of 424 individual submissions were received as a result of the period as well as two petitions and two form letters supported by more than 2000 and almost 400 signatories respectively.

The DCP includes new controls designed to allow development to a scale required by the State Government with provision for the desire expressed by residents to preserve a village feel' in the area and views to the Illawarra escarpment and ocean.

This has been achieved primarily by retaining a two-storey height limit for the southern sector of the town centre but allowing up to three storeys in part of the northern portion, with third storey set backs' to be six metres from frontages.

A number of traffic management principles have also been taken into account to improve flow through in the area including consolidated parking areas on each block, two new traffic signals and roundabouts, and anew street between McCauley Street and Raymond Road.

As a result of a significant number of comments in opposition, plans to create a town square in the heart of the town centre were deleted from the DCP late last year.

Lord Mayor Alex Darling said the endorsement of the DCP represented the finalisation of hard work by both Council and community members, adding he hoped support from all parties would be given to elements resulting from the compromises reached.

The Thirroul Village Committee have cautiously welcomed the adoption of the DCP.