WOLLONGONG'S parking woes could soon become worse, with a council report predicting traffic could jump by almost half in the next 20 years. The boom could be so great an extra 6000 parking spaces will be needed in the city centre by 2026, the Woll
Author: MEGAN LEVY
Date: 08/08/2005
Publication: Illawarra Mercury
WOLLONGONG'S parking woes could soon become worse, with a council report predicting traffic could jump by almost half in the next 20 years.
The boom could be so great an extra 6000 parking spaces will be needed in the city centre by 2026, the Wollongong City Council report reveals.
That's twice as many as presently available at the University of Wollongong campus.
The prediction follows revelations in the Mercury last week that Wollongong motorists forked out nearly $1.25 million in parking fines in the past financial year.
The figure surprised Wollongong Lord Mayor Alex Darling, who said improved public transport in the city centre was a solution.
Councillor Darling believes burgeoning development in the city, including the redevelopment of the Dwyers site, will be the stimulus for a free shuttle bus service around the CBD and the university.
"We have got to get this shuttle bus service working in Wollongong," he said.
"It is something that's simmering away there. We're watching the development of the city. It's probably premature to put it in right here and now, however Wollongong is a city, and we have got to conduct ourselves like a city."
The Access and Movement Strategy study was carried out as part of the City Centre Revitalisation Strategy.
From a transport perspective, the prognosis is not good. While Wollongong's population is expected to increase by 31 per cent by 2026, transport demand is expected to outstrip that growth at 44 per cent, due to increased car ownership.
"Such traffic growth will result in serious congestion of the road network, particularly at key access points to/from and within the city centre," the study states. Travel speeds to and around the city centre will decrease by 13 per cent because of "severe congestion and increased delays".
"If current trends continue the city centre will be a difficult place to visit characterised by long delays to traffic as well as reduced amenity due to traffic domination of the overall environment," the study says.
It recommends the council develop a financial plan for future parking stations, including public/private partnerships, on-street parking charges and developer contributions. The city's public transport system also needed to be improved.
Cr Darling said Wollongong's sprawl meant it was becoming difficult to get from one side of the city to the other.
The free shuttle service could run on two set loops every 15 minutes, one loop servicing the city centre, while a second would shuttle between the university and the city.
"We have got to link up with the university, that's essential. There are 18,000 people on campus, and a lot of those people believe Wollongong is North Wollongong railway station."
Cr Darling said the shuttle service could be funded by business and retail sector contributions.
2026 snapshot
A snapshot of Wollongong's transport in 2026, compared with 2001.
Population:
2001: 180,359 people
2026: 236,657 people
Vehicle kilometres travelled:
2001: 7,310,715km
2026: 9,099,633km
Average speed:
2001: 55km/h
2026 50km/h
Vehicle carbon dioxide emissions:
2001: 1,590,642kg
2026: 2,091,854kg
Fuel used:
2001: 692,628 litres
2026: 846,098 litres
Source: Wollongong City Centre Access and Movement Strategy