Eight councils, including Illawarra's, move to form LG8 for united strategic clout
Latest stats show they've processed thousands of DAs in FY2024-25, representing billions in investment
A new collaboration between the Illawarra and Macarthur regions is taking shape, with Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown confident the emerging alliance could give the region greater influence in Sydney and Canberra.
Eight councils - Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Wingecarribee, Shoalhaven, Camden, Campbelltown and Macarthur - are working under the provisional title “LG8” as they consider formalising a joint platform.
The group’s objective is to strengthen their voice on shared regional priorities such as housing, job creation, productivity and infrastructure.
The tentatively titled LG8 - the mayors of eight neighbouring councils, including Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama are joining forces. Pic supplied.
“While all of our councils are part of existing strong local government alliances, this new collaboration has the real potential to complement and extend these great partnerships,” Cr Brown said.
The prospect of closer ties with Macarthur’s mayors, sometimes referred to informally as the “Mac Pack,” has been on Cr Brown’s agenda since her 2024 election.
“The Camden mayor [Councillor Ashleigh Cagney] and I were both put on a panel at the local government election to encourage women to become councillors,” she said, noting that the idea of a broader partnership emerged from those early discussions.
Transport has quickly become a focal point. Last week, RDA Illawarra-Shoalhaven CEO Selena Stevens warned that inefficiencies in road and rail links between the Illawarra, Macarthur and western Sydney are constraining economic growth.
The regions are also positioning themselves ahead of the opening of the $5.3 billion Western Sydney International Airport in 2026, with the terminal and airfield construction now complete.
LG8 councils power through billions in DAs
The state government’s DA assessment figures for FY2024-25 reveal encouraging signs across all eight councils in the Illawarra, Macarthur, Shoalhaven and Highlands. Collectively, they processed thousands of development applications, representing billions of dollars in investment into the region. In alphabetical order …
Camden combined scale with strong performance, handling 673 applications worth $645 million. Average assessments were wrapped up in just 71 days against an 89-day target, with a healthy 76% compliance rate.
Campbelltown leads the way on efficiency, finalising applications in an average of 85 days: 30 days faster than its 115-day benchmark. With 86% of applications meeting expectations, the council has set a regional standard for reliability. This supported more than $421 million in new developments.
Shellharbour also stood out for consistency, completing 378 applications worth $204 million in 73 days on average — well under its 111-day benchmark. Its 82% compliance rate places it among the region’s most dependable performers.
Shoalhaven handled the heaviest workload at 860 applications, representing more than $500 million in development value. Despite this pressure, the council maintained an average assessment time equal to its 110-day benchmark and achieved a 71% compliance rate.
Wollondilly was the fastest overall, completing applications in just 69 days on average, beating its 72-day expectation. In all, 77% of 745 applications handled within target timeframes, with a value of $322 million.
Wollongong recorded the highest overall economic contribution, overseeing $742 million in new development — the single largest investment value among the eight councils. With 831 applications assessed, its ability to process such a significant pipeline demonstrates capacity to manage growth in a major centre.
Smaller councils also registered clear wins. Kiama, while handling the lowest total development value at $105 million, achieved a 69% compliance rate on its 172 applications while Wingecarribee, despite extended assessment times, set the wheels in motion for $330 million in new projects.
What we’re listening to
Mix in history and leadership and you get the podcast, How to Take Over the World, complete with its tagline: “learn from history's greatest leaders”. Not every episode lives up to that billing but there’s 138 to choose from, so if Mr Beast doesn't thrill you, perhaps Joan of Arc, Michael Jordan or Napoleon might do it for you. In all the podcast places.
Hot ticket
If you you’ve missed Premier Chris Minns in town over the past week or so, then catch him in Kiama on Monday. It’s an 8am start at the Kiama Pavilion, for Business Illawarra members only. To take part in take part in the interactive Q&A, and connect with business leaders from across the region, you need to register before 1pm, Friday, August 22. Click here - stat!