The grand opening of the Wollongong Regional Tennis Centre, events re-invigorating our CBD streets, and a sold-out short film festival are among the highlights of a quarterly report tabled at Monday night's meeting of Wollongong City Council.
The Quarterly Review Statement outlines Council's progress in a wide range of priority areas over the January-March (2026) period, along with current financials and budget. It is the third quarterly review Council has delivered since adopting a new four-year Delivery Program (2025-29) in June last year, and reports that 127 of 130 projects and actions are either complete or progressing on track.
The report groups priorities under the four guiding principles of the Community Strategic Plan, which aims to build a sustainable, liveable and connected city that is home to an inclusive and vibrant community.
February saw the long-awaited opening of the Wollongong Regional Tennis Centre,hot on the heels of the Australian Open. The now 15-court facility positions Wollongong as a destination for international, national, and state-level events, while also supporting the future development of tennis in NSW.
February also saw the completion of Stage 1 of the Cleveland Road upgrade at Fowlers Road, West Dapto, delivering a four-lane road with new drainage, lighting, and a shared path. As West Dapto continues to grow, completion of the first of a three-stage road upgrade is another important step in improving road and pedestrian connections for these developing communities.
The free, family-friendly 'Keira Laneway Live' street event attract around 3000 people to Keira Lane in the CBD in March, while the Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival was a sell-out hit with 1000 people in attendance.
Council's urban greening efforts received a major boost in January, with significant funding secured under the NSW Government's Greening our City grant program. The funding will support accelerated delivery of more than 1500 new trees in priority suburbs with lower canopy cover, including Dapto, Berkeley, Port Kembla, Warrawong, and Primbee.
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said the Quarterly Review Statement makes for pleasant reading.
"As a council we don't spend too much time looking backwards, but the quarterly review highlights the progress we are making across a range of important community projects and priorities," Cr Brown said.
"It outlines some major milestones and achievements but also provides important updates on our progress towards future goals. It's pleasing to see that all bar a handful of projects and objectives are on track for completion as scheduled.
"We completed the refurbishment of Helensburgh Pool and presented the initial design plans for the new Helensburgh Community Centre and Library to the community.
"I know sporting fields and facilities are a major talking point in the community, so the opening of the Tennis Centre was a huge milestone for Wollongong. We've also completed important drainage works at JJ Kelly Park and St James Park at Coledale, and it was great to see the Illawarra Stingrays move into their new home at Dapto.
"In addition to major projects, the Statement outlines solid progress in asset renewal works outlined in our four-year Delivery Program, with significant upgrades to footpaths, roads and stormwater infrastructure completed or underway.
"We're getting on with the job, but I think it's important to thank our hard-working Council staff and our community for working with us to make Wollongong the best it can be."
