Property Council Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Director Matthew Wales said the announcement - which comes in the same week as the release of the draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan - was an important blueprint for one of NSW's fastest-growing regions.
"Transport, housing, and jobs must move in step. The Port Kembla transformation and the new transport plan now need to be hard-wired together so that road, rail, and port upgrades line up with where the homes and jobs will happen across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven," Mr Wales said.
"This rezoning is a once-in-a-century opportunity to reshape the industrial landscape and firmly cement the Illawarra as Australia's next major economic engine room," Mr Wales said.
"The seven-month turnaround for a precinct of this scale is exactly the kind of leadership we need if we are serious about creating 20,000-plus future-proof jobs and new industry in regional NSW."
Mr Wales said the rezoning sent a powerful signal to global and domestic capital.
"Capital follows confidence, and finalising this rezoning tells investors that NSW is prepared to back big, complex, job-creating projects with clear timelines and a credible pathway through the planning system.
"Our members are already looking at what this means for new investment in renewables, advanced manufacturing, tech, data and logistics across the Illawarra."
Mr Wales said the announcement must now be matched with city-shaping infrastructure and delivery discipline.
"The Government is right to frame this as an integrated transport and infrastructure opportunity – not just a land use decision.
"To realise the full dividend, we now need long-term commitments on road and rail links, port access, utilities upgrades, digital backbone, and clean energy infrastructure so the precinct can be built out in a way that lifts the whole region.
"The Property Council will continue to work with the NSW Government, BlueScope, local councils and industry to support the next phase of master planning and delivery," Mr Wales said.
