policy
Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Development Referendum: Effects on Wollongong Port Kembla Jobs and Infrastructure
The referendum asks voters to approve changes to how state infrastructure funds are allocated across the Illawarra Shoalhaven region, with direct consequences for construction work at Port Kembla and service delivery in Wollongong suburbs.
How we reported this
The NSW government has scheduled the Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Development Referendum for the October 2026 state election. Residents in Wollongong will vote on whether to endorse new rules for distributing infrastructure grants that currently support the Port Kembla renewable energy zone and linked industrial sites.
The referendum arises after the 2025 state budget revised spending priorities for regional transition projects. BlueScope steel operations and port-related contractors have received targeted assistance under existing programs, and the ballot question seeks to lock in or alter those arrangements for the next decade.
Employment and service implications for Wollongong households
Passage of the measure would direct a greater share of funds toward renewable installation and port logistics upgrades. Local advocates note this could sustain shift work for tradespeople employed by firms contracted to the renewable zone while maintaining demand for support services such as bus routes serving the port and nearby suburbs including Cringila and Port Kembla.
Rejection would leave allocation decisions with the existing ministerial process. Policy analysts say this maintains current funding splits between steel transition support and broader housing supply projects in the Illawarra Shoalhaven area.
Budget figures and next steps
The 2026 NSW budget papers list $87 million for Port Kembla zone works over four years, with the referendum outcome determining whether that amount stays ring-fenced or becomes subject to annual review. The legislation states that any approved change takes effect from 1 July 2027.
Electoral officials will finalise the exact wording of the ballot question by the end of July. The Electoral Commission of NSW will then distribute an information booklet to every enrolled Wollongong address outlining the two options and their projected effects on regional grant distribution.