IN response to government health orders delaying the public opening of the Corrimal Coke Works Community Information Centre, Illawarra Coke Company (ICC) and Legacy Property have harnessed technology to create a virtual information centre to support community engagement.
Designed to encourage people to explore the proposal, the virtual room provides a wealth of visual aids and information boards.
The 360 degree digital re-creation of the Community Information Centre allows viewers to scroll around the room, read information boards, view artist impressions and access video of what will become the region’s first 5-Star Green Star Rated community.
It can be found at https://corrimalcokeworks.com.au/
Residents have two weeks remaining to comment on a proposal for more than 500 homes to be constructed on the former coke works site in Railway Street.
Feedback to Wollongong City Council on the redevelopment closes on Tuesday, August 31, 2021.
Illawarra Coke Company Pty Ltd and Legacy Property are seeking planning approval to rezone the site located at 27 Railway Street Corrimal, to enable residential development, conservation and open space.
Changes to the original plans for the site include a reduction in the height limit from six to four storeys; the number of residences reduced from 760 to 550; a mix of apartment blocks and townhouses; the buildings will no longer encroach into the 100 metre buffer zone around the flying-fox camp, and more of the industrial heritage features preserved or interpreted.
ICC Director Kate Strahorn said the virtual Community Information Centre was a unique opportunity to connect with residents and business owners in a COVID safe manner.
“We have actively engaged with the Corrimal community since embarking on this redevelopment in 2014 and continue to believe in the importance of giving everyone easy access to information so they can see for themselves what we are trying to achieve on the site,” she said.
“COVID-19 health restrictions mean we cannot open our Community Information Centre in the Corrimal Shopping Centre but we know people have questions and are confused by some of the information which is being widely shared.
“This is our way of giving people the opportunity to learn more about the proposed redevelopment in their own time and, when they’re ready, to ask questions or provide feedback to us directly. Our Community Liaison Representative is available to answer all questions either through the chat icon on screen or by phone.”
Legacy Property Head of Strategy and Acquisitions Mike Williams said the virtual community centre could help residents understand the vision behind the Draft Planning Proposal (rezoning) for the Corrimal Coke Works which is on formal public exhibition until August 31, 2021.
“The Corrimal Coke Works redevelopment has the potential to make a lasting, positive impact on Corrimal and is designed to be shared by all residents of the region, enhancing social connectivity and boosting economic outcomes,” he said.
“We encourage the community to take the time to understand the proposal, review the materials available and to talk to our staff to learn more.”
While welcoming concessions made to the original proposal for the site, Corrimal Community Action Group (C CAG) continue to raise concern over traffic management and other environmental factors related to the residential development.
C CAG president Anne Marett says as a result of community demands, the current plan is an improvement on the previous proposals.
“There are still a number of important issues that must be resolved before the community can accept it,” she said.
“The issue of greatest concern to the community is still the traffic this development will generate, all through one access point on Railway Street.
“This issue has not been dealt with. We don’t accept that Railway Street can handle the increased number of vehicles.”
You can also learn more about the development proposal and give feedback by visiting the Our Wollongong website until August 31, 2021.
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