Pedestrian and cycle access over Towradgi Creek into Corrimal residential development a ‘no-brainer’

CALLS for a shared cycle/pedestrian pathway to link the Corrimal Coke Works residential development to Towradgi would improve safety and enable children to walk to school.

Community group Safe Streets to School have successfully lobbied Wollongong City Council to look into a ‘voluntary planning agreement’ for the developer to build the shared pedestrian and bicycle route over Towradgi Creek allowing children safer access to nearby schools and reducing vehicle traffic on surrounding roads.

The ‘agreement’ would be a condition of approval and would require the developer to provide funding for improved pedestrian access.

Illawarra Coke Company Pty Ltd and Legacy Property plan 550 residences for the former industrial site, which will include a mix of apartment blocks and townhouses.

Safe Streets to School Wollongong spokesperson, Jon Lindley said the cokeworks site is like an island, cut off on all sides by traffic on Railway Street to the north, Memorial Drive to the west, Towradgi Creek to the south and the South Coast Railway line to the east.

“We are happy that councillors listened to our concerns and now included a recommendation for a Towradgi creek shared pathway,” Mr Lindley said.

“We wonder what can be done, so that it does not need a community group like us to push for obvious links to enable children to walk to school.

“It is a no-brainer that new developments should not only provide for people getting around in cars.

“To make the area conducive to public transport, there needs to be connections and linkages for people to cross these barriers.”

The group is also pushing for a pedestrian crossing to be paid for by the developer on Railway Street.

Mr Lindley said the group believes a pedestrian crossing is needed for Railway Street. He said as the residential subdivision is now going on public exhibition, it is not too late for the community to push for the inclusion of a pedestrian crossing as a developer’s requirements for approval.

“It is beyond belief that there is not even a pedestrian crossing proposed for Railway St – something residents have been asking for years,” Mr Lindley said.

Subscribe to the latest Bulli & Clifton Times stories

PAYPAL TIP JAR

YOU can support the The Bulli & Clifton Times and/or the Looking Back local history websites with a donation through PayPal. Your generous patronage of my work and research, however small it appears to you, will greatly help me with my continuing costs, and help support independent journalism and local news media. You can leave a small tip here of $2, or several small tips, just increase the amount as you like. Your support helps provide an independent and free source of local news and information.

A$2.00

OR DONATE BY DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD

Don’t have PayPal? Instead, you can make a small donation towards the publishing of The Bulli & Clifton Times and/or the Looking Back websites with your credit or debit card. If you would like to support my work, you can leave a $2 donation here by tapping or clicking on the button below. Your generous patronage of my work and research, however small it appears to you, will greatly help me with my continuing costs.