Latest plan for Corrimal Coke Works revealed at community meeting

An artist impression of the main entrance into the 700 dwelling residential development proposed for the former Corrimal Coke Works site.

A REVISED planning proposal for the Corrimal Coke Works site has been revealed by developers at a community information session today (Saturday).

Legacy Property and the Illawarra Coke Company (ICC) plan to develop around 700 homes on Railway Street, which they claim will preserve significant historical features of the former 18ha industrial site, improve rehabilitation of remnant bushland, while providing housing diversity.

Details of the updated plans and summaries of technical studies conducted by consultants were revealed to the community today at a pop-up community information sessions.

The latest plans for the former Corrimal Coke Works site were launched on Saturday.

Following earlier consultation with the community and key stakeholders, developers have produced a revised proposal for the site, next to Corrimal Railway Station. The latest proposal includes a greater mix of housing diversity, increased heritage preservation and features more open space, with the inclusion of an additional park and community garden.

Illawarra Coke Company Director Kate Strahorn said ICC and Legacy Property have always been conscious of the importance of engaging with the community for the proposal.

“We incorporated feedback received from the community during meetings and workshops in December 2018 for this updated planning proposal which we hope to submit to Wollongong City Council shortly,” she said.

“We will also review feedback from the weekend’s community information sessions before submitting to Council the full suite of technical studies and our revised planning proposal.”

An artist impression of the proposed “heritage Plaza” in the residential development proposed for the old Corrimal Coke Works site.

Legacy Property Head of Strategy & Acquisition Mike Williams said housing diversity and public open space have been recurring comments in relation to creating a new community in Corrimal.

“Our plans celebrate Wollongong’s coastal lifestyle, the site’s heritage, and foster housing choice, affordability, and the natural elements,” he said.

“The planning proposal responds to the housing needs of the area and provides the genuine ability for people to age in place.

“The site will include a diverse range of housing types including medium-density, townhouses and residential apartments suitable for the full spectrum of multi-generational households. This a great location to accommodate regional growth in Wollongong’s northern suburbs.

“We have also conducted robust technical studies using specialist consultants that have demonstrated that potential issues relating to heritage, traffic, flooding, contamination and the environment can be effectively managed.”

Ms Strahorn said the plans include high quality open spaces that pay homage to the site’s unique heritage.

“Our partnership is committed to the community benefits of the site’s concept plan including more pedestrian and cycle ways, open space and environmental rehabilitation, protection, and biodiversity and the retention and adaptive re-use of heritage buildings,” she said.

“We have always embraced the comments of the community and believe this plan will provide a suitable and sustainable environment for the continued benefit of Corrimal.”

A second park, Corrimal Village Park, has been proposed for the residential development on the site of the old Corrimal Coke Works.

AT A GLANCE

• The former Corrimal Coke Works property is 18ha offering approximately 12.5 ha of flat, readily developable land with the benefits of road and rail connectivity to the Wollongong and Sydney CBDs.
• Corrimal Coke Works was identified as a key site in Wollongong City Council’s Corrimal Town Centre Plan 2015-2025.
• Adjacent to Corrimal Train Station, the site can offer public transit-oriented development and deliver much needed housing diversity. The site is within walking distance of the Corrimal town centre, Corrimal High School and Corrimal East Primary School, major sporting fields at Robert Ziems Park and Memorial Park, community facilities (Corrimal pool, library and community centre) and Corrimal Beach.
• The proponents say the rezoning will provide greater housing diversity for the region, promoting affordability with high quality open spaces whilst protecting and enhancing local environmental resources.

The Corrimal Coke Works site

HERITAGE

• The Coke Works history will be recognised and celebrated by retaining heritage elements in the proposed heritage plaza including the preservation of the brick heritage stake, C1 Coke oven ram tracks and the remnant power house.
• Studies have included a Heritage Impact Assessment and initial Heritage Conservation Strategy for the site

FLOODING

• Technical flood modelling and assessment has been completed for the site. North Corrimal Creek which was previously realigned in the 1970s, will be realigned along the west of the site which will reduce flooding on Railway Street and properties on Cross Street
• The new Creek Section provides capacity to contain flows resulting from a 100-year flood
• The project will not result in increased flooding upstream or downstream of the site and there is no impacts on the downstream water quality or capacity
• The geomorphological assessment has also validated the creek alignment in order to achieve a sustainable long-term, healthy creek for the area

TRAFFIC AND CYCLEWAYS

• Detailed traffic modelling and a safety risk assessment has been undertaken, based on Transport for NSW and RMS requirements. Local roads and intersections have sufficient capacity for additional traffic, however the Memorial Drive and Railway Street intersection will need to be upgraded and road improvements carried out.
• A new intersection will be constructed where the site is accessed from Railway Street to significantly mitigate traffic impacts

CONTAMINATION & REMEDIATION

• Extensive testing has been undertaken in line with NSW legislative requirements. Laboratory testing found that the samples are indicative of a typical urban condition.
• Remediation of any identified areas of contamination will be undertaken.
• An independent site auditor will ensure the land complies with the required remediation action plan.

ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT

• Detailed environmental studies have been undertaken.
• The majority of the site comprises cleared land and planted native and exotic vegetation. These areas present a low ecological constraint in terms of future development.
• Two key native vegetation areas have been identified – in the south eastern and north western portions. Both areas contain Forest Red Gum Thin-leaved Stringybark Grassy Woodlands. Both areas are below one hectare in size and in poor to moderate condition, but meet the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 listing of Illawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodland, which is listed as endangered.  These will be retained with only minor impacts and restoration work will improve their condition and improve overall biodiversity outcomes.
• The Grey-headed Flying-fox is present on site within the southern ecological area to be preserved. Additional investigations found no presence of Green and Golden Bell Frogs or Microbats on the site.
• The existing creek and riparian area is heavily modified and degraded, and dominated by weed species. The creek realignment will provide additional areas of native vegetation and additional habitat for native species.
  

  The old Corrimal Coke Works chimney stack, one of the heritage items proposed to the retained in the residential development.