The layout of the new Wollongong bus layover site in Atchison Street. Photo: NSW Government.
Work is due to start in coming months on Wollongong’s new bus layover site in Atchison Street.
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is planning for the layover to be relocated from Lang Park on Marine Drive to the new site in time for the World Triathlon Championships in October.
Layover areas provide meal and bathroom facilities near route termination points for bus drivers to take breaks. The Marine Drive site, a “temporary” fix for the past 30 years, services about 200 bus layover stops per day.
The Atchison Street site will provide 11 bus parking spaces, a public shared pathway to link to Auburn Street, multiple exit and entry points for buses, toilets and lunchroom facilities.
It will result in the loss of the current 31-space paid-parking area.
TfNSW is working with Wollongong Council on the changes and finalising the Review of Environmental Factors and the new bus schedules.
The change to the layover will require updates to timetables. Revised timetables will be made available before any service changes are introduced.
Planning Minister and Wollongong MP Paul Scully said the relocation of the now decades-old temporary bus layover to a new permanent home in Atchison Street was a win for the city.
“The change will not only allow a major global event to take place in the city in October but it also allows beachside parking to be returned to the public for locals and visitors alike while providing new facilities for bus drivers and a better bus service to the city,” he said.
“There has been a lot of cooperation between Transport for NSW, Wollongong City Council, Premier Illawarra, Dion’s Bus Service and the Transport Workers’ Union to get to this point but the positive engagement will deliver a good outcome for bus passengers, a safe location for drivers and a better allocation of scarce parking in the city.”
Lang Park will be the base for the World Triathlon Championships, to be held from 14-19 October.
Featuring 13 races over four days, including elite, under-23, junior, para triathlon and age group events, it is expected to attract more than 6000 participants from 43 countries.
The council’s infrastructure and works director Joanne Page said Lang Park had been identified as a key recreational space for residents and visitors.
“Council has a long-term vision to improve accessibility to this precinct’s beaches, parks, restaurants and cafes and entertainment venues. This includes providing much-needed additional foreshore parking,” she said.
“Council continues to have constructive conversations with Transport for NSW about their works schedule. There are no immediate changes to how licence holders use the Atchison Street car park at this time. We are committed to keeping licence holders updated as this project moves forward.”
For more information on the layover project, click here.
