Bikes in the mall, 30 km/h city streets - draft strategy reimagines Wollongong CBD transport

Bikes in the mall, more raised pedestrian crossings and a 30 km/h speed limit around the harbour are just a few ideas which Wollongong City Council is investigating in a bid to improve transport in the city.

Council is asking the community for feedback on the draft Wollongong City Centre Movement and Place Strategy, which prioritises public and active transport to reduce pressure on the road system at peak hours.

The draft strategy was discussed at council’s latest meeting, prompting plenty of debate, with opinions divided on many of the proposed measures.

Councillors David Brown, Tania Brown and Dom Figliomini all took issue with some of the details – but acknowledged that something must change to keep the CBD accessible.

“I have many misgivings about this report … I think every city needs a vision and I support the need for a visionary document, but every visionary document I’ve been involved in has a cost to it,” Cr Figliomini said.

“This plan has no costs, it’s not quantified, it’s very narrative in its nature, there’s no information, and if it went out to public exhibition I would have difficulty responding because I don’t know what the impacts are.”

The proposal for a 30 km/h speed limit within the area bounded by Campbell Street, Throsby Drive, the rail line, Ellen Street, and the foreshore (excluding Corrimal Street) drew the most ire.

Crs Elisha Aitken and John Dorahy strongly opposed the move.

“It is the proposal that would be most hated,” Cr Aitken said.

“Clogging and slowing down streets is not a desirable outcome.

“Have you ever driven at 30 km/h? It’s frustrating.”

Cr Cath Blakey supported the speed reduction and said a little extra frustration for drivers could save pedestrians’ and cyclists’ lives.

“There have been three fatalities involving pedestrians and cyclists in the Wollongong CBD in the past two months,” she said.

“On average there’s a crash that needs a police or ambulance response every eight or nine days in the CBD.

“Slower speeds are an important safety measure – and let’s be honest, once you factor in traffic and intersections it’s about as fast as you end up going anyway.”

The draft transport strategy is split into actions to support walking, cycling, public transport and car use, as well as short, medium and long-term actions.

Actions to support walking in the draft plan include investigating kerb buildouts to provide shade along Market Street, and sections of Harbour, Crown, Keira and Church streets and installing more raised zebra crossings, also called “wombat crossings” and improving existing footpaths.

Actions to support cycling in the draft plan include formalising the existing separated cycleways in Smith and Kembla streets, intersection upgrades to provide cycleway continuity, installing secure casual bike parking and bike parking rails and connecting cycle paths across the city.

The majority of councillors supported moves to improve public transport infrastructure, but acknowledged it was a State Government responsibility.

Cr Dorahy said he believed light rail could be the solution for connecting West Dapto with the rest of the local government area.

Cr Figliomini said he did not believe it was possible to shift people away from cars without better public transport.

“It’s an hour from Port Kembla to the CBD by bus, and if you miss it you have to wait an hour for the next one – or you can drive there in 15 minutes,” he said.

“We need to look at how we improve public transport and bring people into the CBD more efficiently.”

All councillors except Cr Aitken voted in favour of the draft plan going on exhibition.

To make public transport more effective the council wants to investigate options for a service between Wollongong train station and Wollongong harbour, and to relocate the temporary bus layover from Lang Park.

A Wollongong City Council spokesperson said the strategy would go on display on the council website later this month (July) for a minimum of 28 days.