Wollongong’s significant population and its economic transformation from heavy industry to the knowledge-based sector offers many competitive advantages to the businesses based there. The Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities will explore these advantages and discuss strategies to further develop Wollongong – and other regional centres – during site inspections and a public hearing in Wollongong this Friday.
Committee Chair, Mr John Alexander OAM MP, said the Committee’s inquiry has a strong focus on promoting development and private investment in regional centres.
"We are examining the Australian Government’s role in refocussing urbanisation on regional centres and are interested in examining the factors critical to Wollongong’s success with the hope they may be applied elsewhere," Mr Alexander said.
Committee Deputy Chair, the Hon. Sharon Bird MP, said the Committee is also interested in learning about the world class cities research underway the University of Wollongong.
"There is some very important work being done by Wollongong University institutes such as the Sustainable Building Research Centre or the SMART Infrastructure Facility," Ms Bird said.
"The Sustainable Building Research Centre is particularly focussed on retrofitting existing buildings to enhance their sustainability, which is critical to lowering carbon emissions in cities.
"Similarly, the SMART Infrastructure Facility has state-of-the-art laboratories working with public data to identify the infrastructure of the future."
Public hearing details: 9.30 am – 2.50 pm, Friday 23 March 2018, Level 9 Function Room, Wollongong City Council, 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong
9.30 am: Wollongong City Council
10.10 am: SMART Infrastructure Facility, University of Wollongong
11.10 am: Regional Development Australia—Illawarra
11.50 am: Healthy Cities Illawarra
1.30 pm: Dr Lyn Phillipson & Dr Chris Brennan-Horley, University of Wollongong
2.10 pm: University of Wollongong (AUSCCER) - University of Sydney (Architecture, Design & Planning) ---
