Wollongong City Council is seeking community feedback on a proposed amendment to planning controls that would enable an application for the operation of a café at 190 Military Road Port Kembla to be lodged.
The Planning Proposal currently on exhibition proposes a site-specific amendment to the Wollongong Local Environment Plan (2009) that would include a café as an additional permitted use of the site currently trading as 'Cakes by Rach'. The Planning Proposal will retain the current R2 Low-Density Residential zoning of the site.
It comes after Council, in June, resolved to progress the proponent-led Planning Proposal based on staff assessment, community feedback received through a preliminary notification process, and advice from the Wollongong Local Planning Panel.
The Planning Proposal was subsequently submitted to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) for a Gateway Determination. This was issued by the Department on 20 August.
The Determination requires that the Planning Proposal be formally exhibited for a minimum 20 working days. This will occur between 27 August and 26 September 2025.
Following the exhibition period, a report will be prepared for Council to consider the feedback received and provide a resolution on how to proceed. Should the Planning Proposal be endorsed by Council, the amendments to the planning controls will be finalised.
The proponent-led Planning Proposal request was initiated by the property owner after a development application (DA) seeking consent to operate a food and drink premises was assessed and refused in October 2024 as use of the site as a café is not permissible under its current zoning (low density residential).
Council first advised the property owner and business operator in September 2022 that they did not have consent to operate the site as a café under its current zoning. Compliance and enforcement action was subsequently held in abeyance to allow the property owner and business operator to explore planning approval pathways.
Council deemed documentation provided sufficient to proceed with the Planning Proposal request that was lodged on 12 February 2025. Enforcement action will continue to be held in abeyance as the Planning Proposal process progresses.
Should the Planning Proposal be successful, a fresh DA will be required for the ongoing operations of the café. Community feedback will be considered as part of both the Planning Proposal and the DA assessment processes.
The Planning Proposal for 190 Military Road, Port Kembla is on exhibition from Wednesday 27 August to Friday 26 September 2025.
The proposal, key documents, FAQs and the online submissions form can be found at Council's Engagement website
Information can also be accessed online via:
- Wollongong City Council Documents Library
- NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure's NSW Planning Portal
Hard copies of the proposal can also be viewed at:
- Warrawong and Wollongong Library branches during opening hours.
