THE Land and Environment Court battle over the $3 billion Calderwood development is set to enter another hearing day later this month, after the case failed to finish on time.
Lawyers for developer Lend Lease and opponents NSW Planning and Wollongong and Shellharbour councils had expected to have questioned all the witnesses and put forward closing arguments by last Friday, after the hearing began in Albion Park on Wednesday.
However, lengthy debate between the parties and the need for additional expert witnesses to clarify contested points caused lawyers to agree they would need a further hearing day, set down for March 28.
Last April, the Planning Assessment Commision (PAC) rejected Lend Lease's stage-one application.
The subdivision had concept plan approval. Stage 1 had 231 residential lots and 120 medium-density dwellings.
The PAC cited the project's inconsistency with the Illawarra Regional Strategy, which prioritises West Dapto, as well as potential flooding issues.
Lend Lease lodged an appeal. The Department of Planning and Infrastructure recently sent letters to those who had made submissions, saying, "the PAC is now satisfied that the Stage 1 project may be approved subject to appropriate conditions".