The five projects at the centre of Wollongong's $588m infrastructure blueprint
West Dapto anchors city’s four-year capital works program
Wollongong City Council has opened a sweeping infrastructure blueprint for public exhibition, outlining a $157.7 million capital works program next year and $588.9 million over four years.
The Draft Delivery Program 2025–2029 and Operational Plan 2026–2027 set out a pipeline shaped by two pressures: rapid growth in West Dapto and the mounting cost of maintaining ageing infrastructure. New roads, bridges and community facilities in the growth corridor are competing with the renewal backlog, as rate revenue - capped at a 3.9 per cent increase for ‘26–27 - struggles to keep pace.
Council's response is a staged pipeline, not a fully funded build-out. Flagship projects are still on the table, but delivery timelines depend on external funding, developer contributions and broader economic conditions.
The concentration of spending is also clear. Five major projects account for more than $439 million. They are:
West Dapto infrastructure expansion - $134.32m
West Dapto is Wollongong’s largest urban growth project — a decades-long transformation of the city’s south-west that began in 2011 and is expected to deliver approximately 19,800 new dwellings and 57,400 additional residents over 40 to 60 years.
The four-year capital commitment funds road upgrades, bridges, intersection works and the new Darkes Town Centre Sporting and Community Hub. Most of that money comes from developer contributions and NSW Government grants, including the Housing Acceleration Fund and Resources for Regions.
Council is candid that long-term financial projections may need revision given uncertain development timing and fragmented land ownership across the release area.
Transport services program - $132.56m
At $132.6 million over four years, Transport Services is council's broadest capital commitment, covering roads, bridges, footpaths, cycleways, car parks, retaining walls and street lighting across the LGA. The focus is active transport — better connections to schools, town centres, hospitals and public transport to reduce car reliance. In 2026–27, the priorities are road pavement reconstruction across multiple suburbs, ageing bridge and boardwalk renewals, and new shared paths and cycleways.
Council is also continuing to extend the Grand Pacific Walk, with construction stages planned at Austinmer and Coledale.
The program also includes $10.975 million in retaining wall and seawall renewals in 2026–27 alone — a front-loaded spend reflecting the condition of coastal and escarpment infrastructure at sites including North Wollongong Beach and Lawrence Hargrave Drive at Wombarra.
Waste management & Whytes Gully new cells - $70.95m
Whytes Gully Waste and Resource Recovery Park at Kembla Grange absorbs the bulk of this four-year commitment. The 2026–27 spend of $4.575 million is weighted toward design rather than construction, the new Landfill Cell Stage 2B-3 and Eastern Gully capping works are in design phase, with construction to follow in later years. Supporting works include a sewer upgrade, and the ongoing Helensburgh former landfill rehabilitation — a reminder that legacy waste sites carry environmental obligations long after they close.
On the collections side, the continued FOGO rollout is the headline service commitment, underpinned by the Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2024–2034. The landfill gas management system, designed to capture emissions, ties the whole program to Council’s broader net-zero targets.
Infrastructure strategy and support - $51.72m
This is the strategic management layer behind Council’s $7.28 billion asset portfolio: funding the technical planning, condition data analysis and long-term program governance that underpins every other capital project in the plan. The core action for this cycle is the review and implementation of the Asset Management Strategy and Plan 2025–2035, which incorporates updated condition and performance data to sharpen investment priorities.
Beyond asset stewardship, the program carries two explicit advocacy functions: lobbying government for financial assistance to accelerate priority infrastructure projects, and seeking external funding to support Council’s Infrastructure Delivery Program.
Libraries capital program - $50.01m
Two major builds dominate the program. The Southern Suburbs Community Centre and Library in Warrawong draws $11.5 million from the Strategic Projects Restricted Asset in 2026–27, with Helensburgh Community Centre and Library receiving $2.86 million — both entering construction this year. The document frames these as integrated community anchors, not single-purpose facilities. The broader $50 million envelope covers both new builds and renewal of the city’s seven existing branches.
The service ambition runs wider than the capital spend. Council is actively pursuing UNESCO Learning City status, with “The Lab” digital learning space delivering programs in employment skills, digital inclusion and innovation from within the library network.
Beyond traditional infrastructure, the draft plan reveals several niche or highly specific cultural and community commitments:
Comic Gong Festival: Council has committed to continuing the popular pop culture and comic festival in 2026–27 and 2028–29.
Amy Monument, Thirroul Beach: $40,000 has been set aside in 2026–27 to commemorate the 1898 shipwreck of the brig Amy off Thirroul Beach.
Myna Bird Control: Council’s Natural Area Management program targets priority pest species including rabbits, deer and myna birds.
Aquatic services: With its nine ocean rock pools, seven patrolled beaches, two heated swimming pools, lifeguard services and surf education programs has a total capital budget over four years of $10.81m
Wollongong Biennial Acquisitive Sculpture Award: A cultural commitment with a $140,000 allocation to acquire new sculptures for the city’s public art collection.