New apartment buildings in Wollongong's CBD will be prohibited from having gas connections for cooking or heating after June 30, under changes proposed by the council to revitalise the city centre. Buildings will need to be fully electric unless a pressing need with evidence is demonstrated for a process that cannot be done with electricity.
The council says removing gas from CBD apartments will help reduce carbon emissions and asthma in residents. The push for fully electrified buildings is part of a series of planning changes open for public consultation until July 6.
Other changes include removing the requirement for high-rise buildings to have retail tenancies on the ground floor in mixed-use zones, though an active street interface with features like multiple entries, awnings, and public spaces will still be required. Developer contributions for commercial office buildings will be reduced from 2% to 1% of project value, and payments for buildings over $20 million can be delayed until occupancy certification.
Height and floor space bonuses will be available for tourism-related buildings such as hotels or cinemas if developers demonstrate design excellence. Zoning boundaries will be amended, and the reduction of employment-generating commercial space in the commercial centre zone will be prevented. The group of buildings between 100 and 120 Keira Street, including Amigo's Tex-Mex restaurant and Lupa pizzeria, will be heritage listed.
Lord Mayor Tania Brown said the changes aim to unlock the lifestyle and economic potential of the city centre, covering tourism, commercial space, hospitality, night-time economy, infrastructure, housing, and sustainability. The council adopted a city centre urban design framework in 2020, and these changes are the implementation package approved in October 2025.
Questions remain about enforcement for apartment developments, as the NSW government has taken over assessment and consent for residential buildings over $30 million. An information session will be held on June 18 at 5pm at the city library theatrette.
