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Wollongong City Council

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Namestring
Wollongong City Council
Legal namestring
Wollongong City Council
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
1947
Descriptiontext

Wollongong City Council is a local government authority established under the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), headquartered at 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, and operating as a statutory body of the NSW state government. It serves the Wollongong local government area, delivering statutory planning, development assessment, building certification, subdivision certification, waste management (FOGO, recycling, problem waste), community facilities (libraries, leisure centres, botanic garden, art gallery), environmental programmes, and transport infrastructure to residents, businesses, developers, builders, and community organisations. Exclusive statutory responsibilities for development assessment and principal certifier appointments within its jurisdiction constitute the structural core of its operating position, with private certifiers unable to serve as Principal Certifier for Wollongong subdivision works.

The Council's service portfolio spans 10 core product families: subdivision services, occupation certificates, waste management, development applications, an Online Self Service Portal, community facilities, pet services, building certification, environmental services, and transport and parking services. Service delivery occurs through physical assets across the LGA (headquarters, branch libraries, leisure centres, community centres, kerbside collection network), the Council's own digital self-service portal, and the external NSW Planning Portal for development applications. The website integrates a Google Translate widget for multilingual access. The Council is governed by elected councillors and employs between 1,001 and 5,000 staff; it is not a publicly traded entity.

Revenue is generated from a mix of rates, government grants, statutory fees, and service charges. The published fee schedule provides visibility on a fraction of this revenue stream: $455 for wood heater installation approval; minimum $2,450 plus $615 per lot for subdivision works certificate applications; $286 additional inspection fee; $965 for strata subdivision applications; $830 for Torrens subdivision applications; plus per-lot and ancillary fees. Headcount band, fee density, and comparable NSW council benchmarks together imply a mid-sized municipal budget, though no audited revenue, ratebase, or budget figure is disclosed in the input material.

Short descriptiontext

Wollongong City Council is a NSW local government authority serving residents, businesses, developers and community organisations in the Wollongong LGA, delivering statutory planning, building certification, waste management, community facilities, and digital self-service through its headquarters and the NSW Planning Portal.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
1,001–5,000
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersWollongong, Australia
HQ citystring
Wollongong
HQ countrystring
Australia
HQ regionstring
Oceania
Markets served

Serves global market

Offices1 record

Each record includes

City, Country, Type, Description, Source

Keyword5 values
local government services, development assessment, building certification, waste management, community facilities
Industry5 codes
1Mayor/City Manager & General Administration
CodeBPAIACAAPrimaryYes
2Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities)
CodeBPAIACAFPrimaryNo
3Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration
CodeBPAIACAHPrimaryNo
4Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services
CodeBPAIACAIPrimaryNo
5Street & Public Space Litter Collection (Municipal Cleaning)
CodeBPALAAAEPrimaryNo
NAICS code4 codes
  • Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development925120
  • Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs92411
  • Administration of Environmental Quality Programs9241
  • Waste Collection56211
SIC code3 codes
  • Refuse Systems4953
  • Sanitary Services4950
  • Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings7340
Product category
Local Government Services
Marketing channels5 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels4 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components5 values
Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Pricing details3 tiers
1Principal Certifying Authority Fees for Subdivision Works
ModelOne time/ perpetual licenseBilling cadencePay-as-you-go
Notes

Minimum Application Fee $2,450.00; Application Fee per lot $615.00; Additional Inspection Fee $286.00

wollongong.nsw.gov.au
2Subdivision Certificate Fees
ModelOne time/ perpetual licenseBilling cadencePay-as-you-go
Notes

Strata Subdivision Application Fee $965.00; Torrens/Community Title Application Fee $830.00; Additional lots above one $250.00-$360.00; Boundary Adjustment $670.00; Security deposit release application $575.00

wollongong.nsw.gov.au
3Wood Heater Installation Approval
ModelOne time/ perpetual licenseBilling cadencePay-as-you-go
Notes

Installation of Wood Heater $455.00

wollongong.nsw.gov.au
GTM typeB2B and B2C
B2B and B2C
Offering typeServices
Services
Core offering1 text field

Wollongong City Council is a local government authority delivering statutory municipal services across the Wollongong local government area (NSW, Australia). Its core deliverables include development assessment and approval, building certification and occupation certificates, subdivision processing, household waste management (FOGO, recycling, problem waste), community facilities (libraries, leisure centres, botanic garden, art gallery), parks and sportsgrounds, beach and pool facilities, animal management, environmental management, and transport infrastructure.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Product overview1 text field

Wollongong City Council operates as a local government authority providing a comprehensive suite of civic services to residents. The council offers a multi-channel service portfolio centered on development and building certification services (subdivision, occupation certificates, development applications, building certification), waste management (FOGO, recycling, problem waste), community facilities (libraries, leisure centres, botanic garden, art gallery), environmental services, transport infrastructure, and digital self-service portals. The service architecture is unified under the council brand, with services accessible via physical offices, online portals, and the NSW Planning Portal integration. Core municipal functions include development assessment, building inspections, waste collection, parks management, and community services.

Product and service11 records
1Subdivision Services
CategoryStatutory development and certification
Description

End-to-end subdivision processing for Torrens, strata, and community title subdivisions, including subdivision works certificates, Principal Certifier appointments, land restriction endorsements, road naming, and subdivision certificates, for property developers and landowners.

2Occupation Certificates
CategoryStatutory building certification
Description

Certification issued by the Principal Certifier after verifying all building inspections are complete and works meet development consent and Building Code of Australia requirements, required before occupying a new building; for property owners, builders and developers.

3Waste Management Services
CategoryWaste and recycling
Description

Household waste management service including kerbside recycling, Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) collection, problem waste disposal, a community recycling centre, and waste education programs; for Wollongong LGA residents.

4Development Application Services
CategoryStatutory development and certification
Description

Online submission, tracking, and amendment service for development applications, including owner's consent requirements, checklists, and notification processes, lodged via the NSW Planning Portal; for property owners, developers and applicants.

5Online Self-Service Portal
CategoryDigital customer service
Description

Digital portal enabling residents and customers to report issues, pay rates, update details, pay invoices, and manage accounts, secured with multi-factor authentication.

6Community Facilities
CategoryCommunity facilities and recreation
Description

Council-operated community facilities including libraries, leisure centres, the botanic garden, art gallery, tourist parks, community centres, and sportsgrounds; available to Wollongong LGA residents and visitors.

7Pet and Animal Management Services
CategoryAnimal management
Description

Animal management services including pet registration, adoption services, lost pet recovery, dog beaches and parks information, and foster care programs; for pet owners and adopters in the Wollongong LGA.

8Building Certification
CategoryStatutory building certification
Description

Building certification services including construction certificates, Principal Certifying Authority appointments, building inspections, and compliance verification; for builders, owners and developers undertaking construction in the Wollongong LGA.

9Environmental Services
CategoryEnvironmental management
Description

Environmental management including sustainable living programs, trees and plants policy, flood management, coast and waterways protection, and climate action initiatives; for Wollongong LGA residents and businesses.

10Transport and Parking Services
CategoryTransport and parking
Description

Transport infrastructure management including parking facilities, e-scooter and e-bike programs, road safety initiatives, public transport information, and kerbside EV chargers; for Wollongong LGA residents, commuters and visitors.

11Wood Heater Installation Approval
CategoryHome installation approvals
Description

Approval service for wood heater installations in residential properties in the Wollongong LGA, charged at a one-time application fee.

Recent move6 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Expansion highlight6 records

Each record includes

Type, Description

Peers10 records
TypeDirect peer
Description

Neighbouring Illawarra-region NSW council operating under identical state legislation with comparable service scope including waste collection, development assessment and community facilities.

TypeDirect peer
Description

NSW coastal council of similar size with comparable focus on coastal infrastructure, environmental management, community facilities and statutory planning services.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Adjacent NSW coastal local government authority of comparable size and service profile, providing statutory planning, waste, community facilities and environmental services to a similar LGA demographic. Most directly comparable peer given geographic proximity and population scale.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Western Sydney NSW council with comparable suburban scale, development pipeline and service breadth under the same NSW planning and local government framework.

TypeBroad incumbent
Description

The largest and most digitally mature NSW local government authority, delivering the same statutory services plus advanced commercial/community programs; a useful benchmark for digital transformation and fee structures.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Large metropolitan NSW council operating the same core municipal services under identical legislation, useful as a peer for scale and digital service delivery benchmarks.

TypeRegional player
Description

Smaller neighbouring Illawarra/South Coast NSW council offering a similar statutory service mix (development assessment, waste, leisure facilities) within a more compact LGA.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Larger NSW coastal LGA delivering the same core municipal functions (development assessment, building certification, waste, recreation, community services) under the same NSW local government and planning legislation.

TypeRegional player
Description

NSW regional council with comparable mix of urban and rural service delivery including waste, community facilities and development assessment, useful for regional LGA benchmarking.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Adjacent NSW coastal/regional LGA with similar mixed urban-rural service portfolio, including subdivision certification, FOGO programs and extensive community facility networks.

Market position
Strengths4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Weaknesses3 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat3 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights6 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Segment4 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile4 records

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
No
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

Integration2 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Description, Source

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
No data
No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Wollongong City Council

Local Government Serviceswollongong.nsw.gov.au

Wollongong City Council is a NSW local government authority serving residents, businesses, developers and community organisations in the Wollongong LGA, delivering statutory planning, building certification, waste management, community facilities, and digital self-service through its headquarters and the NSW Planning Portal.

What Wollongong City Council does

Wollongong City Council is a local government authority established under the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), headquartered at 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, and operating as a statutory body of the NSW state government. It serves the Wollongong local government area, delivering statutory planning, development assessment, building certification, subdivision certification, waste management (FOGO, recycling, problem waste), community facilities (libraries, leisure centres, botanic garden, art gallery), environmental programmes, and transport infrastructure to residents, businesses, developers, builders, and community organisations. Exclusive statutory responsibilities for development assessment and principal certifier appointments within its jurisdiction constitute the structural core of its operating position, with private certifiers unable to serve as Principal Certifier for Wollongong subdivision works.

The Council's service portfolio spans 10 core product families: subdivision services, occupation certificates, waste management, development applications, an Online Self Service Portal, community facilities, pet services, building certification, environmental services, and transport and parking services. Service delivery occurs through physical assets across the LGA (headquarters, branch libraries, leisure centres, community centres, kerbside collection network), the Council's own digital self-service portal, and the external NSW Planning Portal for development applications. The website integrates a Google Translate widget for multilingual access. The Council is governed by elected councillors and employs between 1,001 and 5,000 staff; it is not a publicly traded entity.

Revenue is generated from a mix of rates, government grants, statutory fees, and service charges. The published fee schedule provides visibility on a fraction of this revenue stream: $455 for wood heater installation approval; minimum $2,450 plus $615 per lot for subdivision works certificate applications; $286 additional inspection fee; $965 for strata subdivision applications; $830 for Torrens subdivision applications; plus per-lot and ancillary fees. Headcount band, fee density, and comparable NSW council benchmarks together imply a mid-sized municipal budget, though no audited revenue, ratebase, or budget figure is disclosed in the input material.

Wollongong City Council firmographics

Firmographics
Name
Wollongong City Council
Legal name
Wollongong City Council
Website
https://wollongong.nsw.gov.au
Company type
Private
Founded year
1947
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
1,001–5,000 employees
Short description
Wollongong City Council is a NSW local government authority serving residents, businesses, developers and community organisations in the Wollongong LGA, delivering statutory planning, building certification, waste management, community facilities, and digital self-service through its headquarters and the NSW Planning Portal.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Wollongong City Council industry classification

Industry
Product category
Local Government Services
NAICS
Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Waste Collection (56211)
SIC
Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
akta.pro primary industry
Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)
akta.pro secondary industries
Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH), Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI), Street & Public Space Litter Collection (Municipal Cleaning) (BPALAAAE)

Keywords

  • Local government services
  • Development assessment
  • Building certification
  • Waste management
  • Community facilities

Where Wollongong City Council is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
Wollongong
HQ country
Australia
HQ region
Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

Wollongong City Council business model

Business model
GTM type
B2B and B2C
Offering type
Services
Cost components
Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

ModelBillingPrice
One time/ perpetual licensePay-as-you-goPrincipal Certifying Authority Fees for Subdivision Works
One time/ perpetual licensePay-as-you-goSubdivision Certificate Fees
One time/ perpetual licensePay-as-you-goWood Heater Installation Approval

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Wollongong City Council product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Wollongong City Council is a local government authority delivering statutory municipal services across the Wollongong local government area (NSW, Australia). Its core deliverables include development assessment and approval, building certification and occupation certificates, subdivision processing, household waste management (FOGO, recycling, problem waste), community facilities (libraries, leisure centres, botanic garden, art gallery), parks and sportsgrounds, beach and pool facilities, animal management, environmental management, and transport infrastructure.

Product overview

Wollongong City Council operates as a local government authority providing a comprehensive suite of civic services to residents. The council offers a multi-channel service portfolio centered on development and building certification services (subdivision, occupation certificates, development applications, building certification), waste management (FOGO, recycling, problem waste), community facilities (libraries, leisure centres, botanic garden, art gallery), environmental services, transport infrastructure, and digital self-service portals. The service architecture is unified under the council brand, with services accessible via physical offices, online portals, and the NSW Planning Portal integration. Core municipal functions include development assessment, building inspections, waste collection, parks management, and community services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

  • Subdivision Services End-to-end subdivision processing for Torrens, strata, and community title subdivisions, including subdivision works certificates, Principal Certifier appointments, land restriction endorsements, road naming, and subdivision certificates, for property developers and landowners.
  • Occupation Certificates Certification issued by the Principal Certifier after verifying all building inspections are complete and works meet development consent and Building Code of Australia requirements, required before occupying a new building; for property owners, builders and developers.
  • Waste Management Services Household waste management service including kerbside recycling, Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) collection, problem waste disposal, a community recycling centre, and waste education programs; for Wollongong LGA residents.
  • Development Application Services Online submission, tracking, and amendment service for development applications, including owner's consent requirements, checklists, and notification processes, lodged via the NSW Planning Portal; for property owners, developers and applicants.
  • Online Self-Service Portal Digital portal enabling residents and customers to report issues, pay rates, update details, pay invoices, and manage accounts, secured with multi-factor authentication.
  • Community Facilities Council-operated community facilities including libraries, leisure centres, the botanic garden, art gallery, tourist parks, community centres, and sportsgrounds; available to Wollongong LGA residents and visitors.
  • Pet and Animal Management Services Animal management services including pet registration, adoption services, lost pet recovery, dog beaches and parks information, and foster care programs; for pet owners and adopters in the Wollongong LGA.
  • Building Certification Building certification services including construction certificates, Principal Certifying Authority appointments, building inspections, and compliance verification; for builders, owners and developers undertaking construction in the Wollongong LGA.
  • Environmental Services Environmental management including sustainable living programs, trees and plants policy, flood management, coast and waterways protection, and climate action initiatives; for Wollongong LGA residents and businesses.
  • Transport and Parking Services Transport infrastructure management including parking facilities, e-scooter and e-bike programs, road safety initiatives, public transport information, and kerbside EV chargers; for Wollongong LGA residents, commuters and visitors.
  • Wood Heater Installation Approval Approval service for wood heater installations in residential properties in the Wollongong LGA, charged at a one-time application fee.

Companies that use Wollongong City Council

Customer profile

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Wollongong City Council technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Wollongong City Council partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Wollongong City Council competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

  • Shellharbour City Council: Neighbouring Illawarra-region NSW council operating under identical state legislation with comparable service scope including waste collection, development assessment and community facilities.
  • Northern Beaches Council: NSW coastal council of similar size with comparable focus on coastal infrastructure, environmental management, community facilities and statutory planning services.
  • Lake Macquarie City Council: Adjacent NSW coastal local government authority of comparable size and service profile, providing statutory planning, waste, community facilities and environmental services to a similar LGA demographic. Most directly comparable peer given geographic proximity and population scale.
  • Penrith City Council: Western Sydney NSW council with comparable suburban scale, development pipeline and service breadth under the same NSW planning and local government framework.
  • Blacktown City Council: Large metropolitan NSW council operating the same core municipal services under identical legislation, useful as a peer for scale and digital service delivery benchmarks.
  • Newcastle City Council: Larger NSW coastal LGA delivering the same core municipal functions (development assessment, building certification, waste, recreation, community services) under the same NSW local government and planning legislation.
  • Shoalhaven City Council: Adjacent NSW coastal/regional LGA with similar mixed urban-rural service portfolio, including subdivision certification, FOGO programs and extensive community facility networks.

Broad incumbents

  • City of Sydney Council: The largest and most digitally mature NSW local government authority, delivering the same statutory services plus advanced commercial/community programs; a useful benchmark for digital transformation and fee structures.

Regional players

  • Kiama Municipal Council: Smaller neighbouring Illawarra/South Coast NSW council offering a similar statutory service mix (development assessment, waste, leisure facilities) within a more compact LGA.
  • Cessnock City Council: NSW regional council with comparable mix of urban and rural service delivery including waste, community facilities and development assessment, useful for regional LGA benchmarking.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Wollongong City Council social profiles

Digital presence

Wollongong City Council financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Wollongong City Council leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Wollongong City Council funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Wollongong City Council M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wollongong City Council

What does Wollongong City Council do?

Wollongong City Council is a local government authority delivering statutory municipal services across the Wollongong local government area (NSW, Australia). Its core deliverables include development assessment and approval, building certification and occupation certificates, subdivision processing, household waste management (FOGO, recycling, problem waste), community facilities (libraries, leisure centres, botanic garden, art gallery), parks and sportsgrounds, beach and pool facilities, animal management, environmental management, and transport infrastructure.

Is Wollongong City Council a public or private company?

Wollongong City Council is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was Wollongong City Council founded?

Wollongong City Council was founded in 1947. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.

Where is Wollongong City Council based?

Wollongong City Council is headquartered in Wollongong, Australia, in the Oceania region.

Who are Wollongong City Council's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Shellharbour City Council, Northern Beaches Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, Penrith City Council, Blacktown City Council, Newcastle City Council and Shoalhaven City Council. City of Sydney Council is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Kiama Municipal Council and Cessnock City Council.

Does Wollongong City Council have an API?

No public API is recorded for Wollongong City Council.

What industry is Wollongong City Council in?

Wollongong City Council's product category is Local Government Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAA, Mayor/City Manager & General Administration, with a secondary code of BPAIACAF, Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities). Its NAICS code is 925120 and its SIC code is 4953.

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Live signals
Mirage NewsWindang Foreshore Works Plans Move ForwardWollongong City Council and the NSW Government each committed $4 million to foreshore stabilisation works at Windang, with work starting in early 2027. The project aims to prevent shoreline undermining and improve public safety, while longer-term solutions are being investigated.Mirage NewsEnding Erosion Of Windang ForeshoreThe Minns Labor Government and Wollongong City Council are working to end erosion on the Windang Foreshore, with construction expected to begin in early 2027. The project will cost $8 million total, with $4 million from each party, to restore safety and public access. The work will take about nine months.Mirage NewsWollongong Council Opposes Proposed $16M Funding CutWollongong City Council opposed a proposed funding cut of $16 million per year to its budget, which would drop its Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grant allocation from $23.8 million to $7.7 million. The council's submission to the NSW Local Government Grants Commission argues the cut poses risks to financial sustainability and service delivery, with no reconsideration of its budget or projects.Mirage NewsOpen Street Thirroul Returns November 28 in WollongongOpen Street Thirroul returns to Wollongong on 28 November, condensed to a single day from the two-day 2025 event. The council received $350,000 from the NSW Government's Open Streets Program for the three-year initiative, with activities including music and family-friendly events.Mirage NewsWollongong Council Flies Nepal Flag After DisasterWollongong City Council will fly the flag of Nepal from its Civic Flagpole on Saturday from 10am, following a glacier collapse in Nepal that killed over 1,400 and left 6,000 missing. The gesture honors the Nepali community's ties and shows solidarity with those affected.The Times of IndiaIn 2024, Australian couple bought a 1,840-sq-m block to live next door to family; two years later, council says two modular homes make an ‘estate’, leaving them paying rent and mortgage on a home they can’t buildAn Australian couple bought a 1,840-square-metre block in 2024 to build a second modular home next to their sister, but Wollongong City Council rejected the application, citing a 'manufactured housing estate' rule. They remain paying rent and mortgage without a home. NSW government reforms aim to create a single approval pathway for all housing.Mirage NewsCouncil Urges Beach Safety as Patrol Season LoomsWollongong City Council urged beach safety as patrol season begins, with flags going up at 17 beaches from Stanwell Park to Windang on 26 September. Over 150 lifeguards will complete nearly 29,000 patrol hours, and 1.2 million people visited patrolled beaches in 2025-26, with 334 rescues.Mirage NewsWollongong Council Pledges City Centre Skate ParkWollongong Council is preparing tender documents for the design and construction of a city centre skate park at East MacCabe Park, after selecting it as the preferred site. The project is programmed for delivery within the current financial year, with demolition of Pioneer Hall and acquisition of Keira Street properties underway.Mirage NewsWest Dapto Microbat Exclusion Underway - WollongongWollongong Council is excluding Southern Myotis microbats from a culvert on West Dapto Road, with at least 20 bats (possibly 25) confirmed. The council has no definitive reopening date for traffic, though the project is 82% complete. Alternative habitat sites are being prepared for the bats.Mirage NewsCouncil Advances Microbat Plan on West Dapto RoadWollongong City Council is advancing a Microbat Management Plan to facilitate the safe departure of a threatened Southern Myotis microbat colony from a culvert on West Dapto Road. Construction to reopen the road is 82% complete, with works continuing after reopening. The council will monitor temperatures above 12 degrees for four nights before sealing gaps.