Advocacy

The Illawarra Region is entering a period of unprecedented growth, with $33 billion in construction and infrastructure development planned for completion by 2040. This includes projects to reduce sovereign risk around steelmaking; developing sustainable supplies of renewable energy; delivering housing and services for 65,000 new residents and improving the connectivity of the region by road, rail and digitally. In this Pre-Election Submission, RDA Illawarra has used its considerable local knowledge and regional network to develop recommendations for the NSW State Government on four key themes:

Delivering critical Infrastructure
Development of the Port of Port Kembla
Improving public transport for a growing Population
Fulfilling Housing demand

Illawarra Priorities include:

Picton Road Duplication Divided highway over full length - Funding Request $650m

South-West Illawarra Rail Link (SWIRL) Direct Rail Link from Port Kembla to South-West Sydney – Funding Request $30m

Port Precinct Master Plan Develop an overall strategy for Port Kembla precinct and industrial lands – Funding Request $25m

Public Transport Develop a 30-Minute City for residents of the Illawarra and provide a more liveable city – Funding Request $10m

Housing Addressing the housing shortage that is now both a social and economic issue for the region - 500 additional social houses over 5 years

RDA Illawarra made a submission in response to the Six Cities Region Discussion Paper. Our submission is available here.

The Six Cities strategy aligns well with the 2020 Illawarra-Shoalhaven City Deal Prospectus and its successor the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Greater Cities Partnership Prospectus. These initiatives have been developed in collaboration with local councils and industry peak bodies, giving true ‘grass roots’ support to the initiatives included.

RDA Illawarra supports the Dendrobium Mine Extension Project and is of the opinion that it is essential to the State for economic and social reasons. Our submission is available here.

RDA Illawarra supports the Dendrobium Mine Extension Project and is of the opinion that it is essential to the Region, State and Nation for the following reasons:

1. Rejection of the Application would be harmful to the regional economy, resulting in significant job losses at South 32, BlueScope and the Port Kembla Coal Terminal.
2. Approving the application will generate more jobs and secure investment in the region.
3. Sovereign manufacturing risk to the steel industry is mitigated.