IT’S no secret Wollongong is growing rapidly and how people travel around the city will be an important planning path into the future.

Wollongong City Council have drafted a Wollongong Integrated Transport Strategy to support the city’s growth and is inviting community feedback.

The Strategy looks at how to plan, invest, and improve transport infrastructure and services across Wollongong to support how people will move around.

The existing plans focus on transport in a site-specific or transport-specific way, like the Cycling Strategy 2030, the Wollongong Pedestrian Plan, and various Town Centre Masterplans.

This 10-year Strategy takes a different approach and looks at transport city-wide and how Council can work with Transport for NSW, and the community to ensure safe, sustainable, accessible, and affordable transport options are available for a growing and diverse city.

The Strategy aligns with Council’s long-term community strategic goal of having affordable and accessible transport. It was informed by Council’s existing strategy and planning documents and feedback received from several workshops with key stakeholders and neighbourhood forums.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said that to ensure the city is liveable now and into the future, the Strategy focuses on a shift away from the approach of predict and provide planning to one of a vision and validate.

“The Draft Wollongong Integrated Transport Strategy recognises that the current transport network was developed by focusing on historical trends of the community’s transport needs,” Cr Bradbery said.

“This has resulted in a road network that prioritises privately used cars.

“Recent data collected by Council’s consultants has shown that 79 per cent of our residents are using private cars for most of their trips, with 55 per cent of residents using car travel for trips less than 1km. There’s an opportunity to reduce this number by supporting more sustainable options like walking, cycling or public transport.

“The Strategy looks forward to ensure that a range of viable transport options are available for our community so that private car use isn’t always the first choice.”

The Strategy outlines six goals; competitive public transport, everyday needs within 15 minutes, sustainable transport options, all ages and abilities can get around with ease, increased use of active modes and a connection to Country and sense of place.

Cr Bradbery said the Strategy’s goals and actions will intervene in the current path. He said if Council does nothing, it will result in increased congestion on roads, longer journey times and higher spending on road upgrades.

“The Strategy’s call for change supports a connected and safe city to move around in. It looks to reduce our environmental impact, bring economic benefits, and acknowledge the Dhawaral Country we travel on every day,” he said.

“The Strategy has outlined actions we can take to achieve the goals. It includes building upon our transport links and providing education about topics like road safety and active transport benefits. We’ll also continue to work and advocate for our community with key agencies such as Transport for NSW to provide better public transport.”

Council manages transport networks across the city, and works with the State Government’s agency Transport for NSW on integrating Council-owned transport assets like local roads and pathways with State-managed roads and public transport services and infrastructure.

“Transport is an ongoing discussion and plays an important part in community life. So, I encourage residents to take part in the engagement and share their thoughts, whether it’s online or at one of our drop-in sessions,” Cr Bradbery said.

The exhibition is open until Monday 27 May 2024.

For more information, find a drop-in session, and to provide feedback visit Our Wollongong website.

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