Start with the mapping
On most Illawarra blocks, the first planning question is lot size. Around the lake it is flood mapping. Land close to the water may be mapped as a flood control lot, and the NSW Housing Code sets its own standards for that. Those standards affect floor levels, construction and sometimes whether the faster complying development path is open at all.
We look the address up before anyone draws a plan. That means you know the constraints before paying for design, and it avoids the unpleasant discovery at lodgement that the plan needs reworking.
Whose council
Lake Illawarra is shared by two council areas, Wollongong City and Shellharbour City. A block on the northern side of the lake and one on the southern side may therefore be assessed by different councils, with different mapping and different development control plans. We confirm which council applies and check its controls rather than assume.
Granny flats on the lake edge
The size rules are the usual ones. A secondary dwelling can only be complying development on a lot of at least 450 square metres, with up to 60 square metres of floor area (measured to the outer face of the external walls). Our post on granny flat size and setback rules in NSW sets them out in full.
Lakeside flats have two extra considerations. First, flood mapping can change the floor level and the materials. Second, damp air and salt-influenced moisture mean fixings, flashings and window hardware should be specified for a waterside setting. The granny flats service describes the build, and the granny flat cost page explains what a price includes.
Extensions and renovations
Houses around the lake range from older single-storey homes to newer builds. Extensions usually go out at ground level where the block allows, because it avoids the structural check that a new upper level needs. The home extensions service explains the approvals we handle.
Older houses near the water often show damp. Before a renovation it is worth reading our guides on damp and mould in older Illawarra homes and ventilating an older Illawarra house. A renovation that opens the walls is the right moment to fix moisture problems properly, including extraction in wet rooms. Our home renovations service shows how a whole-house job is run.
Ground conditions
Low ground near water can mean soft soil or a high water table. That affects footings, so a site check and an engineer's input come before the final price. We would rather price the footings properly than leave them as an allowance that grows later.
Nearby
For neighbouring areas on the lake, see Warilla for single-storey and granny flat work on flat blocks, and Oak Flats for bathrooms and older-home renovations.
Questions from Lake Illawarra
Can I build a granny flat on a lakeside block?
Often yes, but flood mapping comes first. Land near the lake may be mapped as a flood control lot, which has its own standards in the Housing Code. We check the address before a design is drawn, so you know the limits.
Which council covers my Lake Illawarra block?
The lake is shared between Wollongong City Council and Shellharbour City Council, so it depends on which side of the boundary your address sits. The council decides the development application path where complying development does not apply.
Does a flood control lot stop me extending?
Not necessarily. It sets standards that apply to the work, such as floor levels and materials, and it may change the approval path. The aim is to find out early so the design is right the first time.
Why do you ask about drainage and soil on a lakeside site?
Low land near water can have a high water table and soft ground, which affects footings and how water leaves the site. The engineer's report picks the footing type once the ground is understood.
Is moisture a bigger problem near the lake?
It can be. Damp air gets into older houses, and ventilation matters in bathrooms, laundries and underfloor spaces. We cover this in our posts on damp, mould and ventilation in older Illawarra homes.