“World’s current largest industrial land transformation project” progresses

The NSW government has released a rezoning proposal covering 200 hectares of underutilised land on the southern edge of the Port Kembla Steelworks, which it says is a major step forward for “[t]he world’s current largest industrial land transformation project”.

The proposed precinct on the surplus land would attract new activity “across advanced manufacturing, clean and renewable energy, education, and data and logistics”, according to a statement from the government on Friday.

Several historic buildings “will be preserved and repurposed” to maintain the site’s industrial legacy “alongside its transformation into a modern and innovative precinct”, with the operations of the steelworks and the port to continue uninterrupted. 

The nearby No. 1 blast furnace started running in 1928.

“This site has the potential to make the most significant difference to the Illawarra’s industrial landscape since steelmaking commenced nearly 100 years ago and the biggest change to our local economy since the University of Wollongong became an independent institution 50 years ago,” said state planning minister Paul Scully on Friday.

“This site is about the same size as Monaco and has the potential to transform the local economy and create 30,000 jobs.”

Wollongong's CBD hosts approximately 25,000 jobs.

The Port Kembla Land Transformation Project was released by Bluescope in 2023 and was fast-tracked in April this year as a State-Assessed Rezoning Proposal. 

A Cabinet-endorsed Working Group – led by Scully and including NSW government agencies, Wollongong City Council and BlueScope – is overseeing strategic coordination of the project.

The proposal is now on public exhibition for stakeholder feedback, which is being accepted until October 5. More information is available here. 

Picture: credit Facebook/Paul Scully

Further reading

BlueScope unveils vision for Port Kembla Steelworks land