policy
Housing Supply Referendum Guide: Effects on Wollongong Development Approvals
Wollongong residents will decide on changes to planning rules that could alter the pace of new housing construction around Port Kembla and the BlueScope steelworks site.
How we reported this
The NSW legislation introducing local ballot measures on housing supply reform will let voters in the Wollongong local government area decide on streamlined approval processes for new dwellings starting in 2027. The measure targets zones near the Illawarra Shoalhaven regional development corridor and applies directly to projects that exceed 50 units.
Why the referendum reaches Wollongong now
State planning changes have accelerated because the BlueScope industrial transition plan requires coordinated housing supply to support workforce relocation. The 2025-26 NSW Budget papers list the Illawarra as one of five priority regions for accelerated rezoning tied to renewable energy infrastructure at Port Kembla.
Under the proposed rules, ballot approval would shorten the assessment period for compliant developments from 18 months to nine months when projects include at least 20 percent affordable units. Local residents in suburbs such as Cringila and Unanderra would see applications for sites within two kilometres of the steelworks processed under the new timeline if the measure passes.
What the numbers show for daily costs
The Productivity Commission has found that each additional 1000 dwellings approved under similar fast-track schemes in regional NSW reduced median rents by an average of $18 per week within 18 months. Wollongong currently lists 1242 rental properties on the market, according to the latest Domain rental report, with vacancy rates at 1.8 percent.
Policy analysts note the legislation states that councils must publish quarterly progress reports on approvals if the referendum succeeds. This reporting would cover developments linked to the Port Kembla renewable energy zone workforce housing targets.
Voters will receive an official information booklet by 15 February 2027. Polling places will open across the Wollongong electorate on 27 March 2027, with the outcome determining whether the new approval pathway applies to the next round of Illawarra Shoalhaven housing projects.