IRT revises Towradgi plan to 153 homes worth over A$200m
IRT has dropped seniors' living on two Towradgi sites for 153 homes, estimated at over A$200m, Region Illawarra reports. A state significant DA is planned.
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IRT has switched its plans for two Towradgi, Wollongong (Illawarra) sites from seniors’ living to a mixed residential and affordable housing project of 153 homes, Region Illawarra reported this week. The outlet puts the estimated cost at more than A$200m.
The change follows the Wollongong Local Planning Panel’s April decision not to approve IRT’s seniors’ living proposal, according to Region Illawarra. The outlet says that proposal came after more than seven years of planning and design work.
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Why it matters
The outlet reports IRT chief executive Ross Gallagher saying the shift applies only to this site, and that seniors’ living remains central to what IRT does.
The new scheme is described as a residential and affordable housing development, with about 15 per cent of homes set aside as affordable, per the outlet. It will be assessed by the NSW Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Department as a state significant project, rather than by the local planning panel that handled the earlier proposal.
The numbers
Region Illawarra reports the project spans two sites.
- Murranar Road site: the parcel covering 17, 17A and Lot 505 Murranar Road plus 1-3 Edgar Street, home to Murranar Lodge Retirement Village. Plans include an 11 m residential flat building with 39 apartments, 30 of them affordable, plus 88 three-storey townhouses.
- Towradgi Road site: 43-47 Towradgi Road, where Towradgi Park Lodge Retirement Village stands. Plans include nine two-storey townhouses and an 11 m building with 17 apartments, six of them affordable.
Adding the outlet’s component counts (39 apartments, 88 townhouses, nine townhouses and 17 apartments) gives 153 homes, matching its total. The outlet reports 36 affordable apartments across the two buildings, which is a different basis from its “about 15 per cent” figure, and we have not reconciled the two.
On height, Region Illawarra says the current limit is 9 m, and the NSW government’s in-fill affordable housing bonus would allow up to 11.7 m.
What’s next
IRT has lodged a scoping report and is progressing technical studies and community engagement, according to the outlet. It hopes to lodge a State Significant Development Application in early 2027.
Two community sessions are listed. A drop-in session is planned at Towradgi Surf Club on Thursday 19 November from 4pm to 6pm, and an online session on Monday 23 November from 6pm to 7pm. Region Illawarra says registration is through a link in its article, by email or by phone.
Gallagher is reported as saying IRT will keep working through individual circumstances and options with residents at both sites.
In the same region, UOW paid A$442.6m to exit a student housing deal, according to the Illawarra Mercury.
Quick answers
What is the latest on IRT Group?
IRT has dropped seniors' living on two Towradgi sites for 153 homes, estimated at over A$200m, Region Illawarra reports. A state significant DA is planned.
What are the key numbers in this story?
homes: 153; estimated cost: A$200m+; planned lodgement: 2027.
Where does this information come from?
This story cites Region Illawarra. Every source is linked on the page.
On the record
The outlet's component counts (39 + 88 + 9 + 17 homes) sum to 153, matching its stated total.
Our data · regionillawarra.com.au
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