On Monday night, Wollongong City Council supported an ambitious 10-year plan that aims to strengthen the way people can get from A to B and stay anywhere in between.
A long-awaited Wollongong Transport Strategy 2025 – 2035 has been endorsed and outlines how Council can advocate, plan, invest and improve our transport network.
This is the first transport strategy to capture the entire Local Government Area. It's a progressive step forward to ensure our network is future-ready, people-focused and can complement Wollongong's growing population.
Underlying the strategy are six goals that address its focal vision: 'Wollongong is a liveable city where everyone has viable and sustainable transport choices that provide connected journeys across Traditional Lands that are safe, reliable and accessible'.
Joanne Page, Director Infrastructure and Works Manager said she appreciates the ongoing conversation around transport and believes the strategy is a positive way forward to support our city.
"Transport is a highly emotive topic amongst our community, as it affects daily life and the liveability of our city," she said.
"We understand there are complexities associated with transport so inviting our community to be part of that conversation and hear directly from them was important to us.
"Following public exhibition in April 2024 with our community and stakeholders, we used this feedback, as well as extensive data and research, to shape a strategy that reflects a future we're aspiring to achieve."
The strategy outlines the following six goals:
- Achieve competitive public transport
- Integrate sustainable transport and land use
- Ensure all ages and abilities can get around with ease
- Increase the use of active modes
- Foster a connection to and sense of Place
- Collaborate to deliver change
Ms Page said our city is growing but the harsh reality is to build a sustainable, connected and accessible network, we must change our current planning approach.
"We'll be improving the safety and reliability of all our transport modes so there are viable options to driving the car," she said.
"These changes will challenge our travel behaviours, but in the long run, it will benefit us in more ways than one. We want Wollongong's transport network to thrive, and this strategy ensures we're on the right path to do so."
The strategy adopts a 'vision and validate' approach which moves away from a traditional 'predict and provide' approach. In alignment with this approach, the vision we've set will be implemented using Strategic Directions.
These directions set the mode-based priorities, categorising our opportunities for actions under key transport modes - Movement and place, Walking, Bike riding and scooting, Public transport, Parking and Freight, loading and servicing.
A key part in delivering these directions is collaboration with community and government agencies. Within the transport network, there are State Government assets and roads and connecting links with neighbouring LGAs.
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown welcomed the newly endorsed Wollongong Strategy and is keen to use it to underpin our advocacy for our LGA's projects.
"This LGA-wide strategy has been in the works for a while, as we wanted to make sure we've the right vison. I'm pleased with our sustainable approach and specifically creating more opportunities in enhancing things like walking, biking and public transport," she said.
"From behaviour changes to infrastructure improvements, we know this Strategy is not going to be delivered overnight. That's why with a strategic document in place, we know what our position is, and we can continue our advocacy at every government level."
