Illawarra Residents Voice Transport Frustrations in Strategic Plan Feedback
Residents of the Illawarra region have expressed significant concerns about local transport infrastructure, as revealed in public feedback for Transport for NSW's Draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan. The consultation period, which began in December last year, allowed community members to pinpoint trouble spots on an online map, with submissions closing on February 9.
Rail Services Under Scrutiny
Among the most prominent issues raised were slow and inefficient rail services. One commenter, identified as Red Nail34, highlighted that the journey from Wollongong to Unanderra takes twenty minutes by train due to shared tracks, calling for immediate improvements. Others advocated for duplicating the South Coast rail line in the southern Illawarra area and extending electrification from Kiama to Nowra.
"We need ALP to get organised and fund the final electrification section from Kiama to Nowra," a local resident stated. "That way more trains can run south and north every day."
Infrastructure Dividing the City
Another critical concern focused on how transport infrastructure physically splits Wollongong city. User DLC pointed out that the railway line and Princes Motorway create a division in the 2500 postcode area, leading to limited crossings that exacerbate congestion and hinder walking and cycling access.
To address this, suggestions included creating a shared path under the rail line at Gipps Street, which could improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists. Additionally, DLC proposed additional accesses to and from Memorial Drive as a potential solution to alleviate main street traffic in Fairy Meadow, where congestion on the Princes Highway has been increasing.
Official Response and Future Steps
Cassandra Ffrench, Executive Director of Partnerships and Integration South at Transport for NSW, emphasised the importance of community input. "Feedback received during consultation will help guide the priorities and actions in the final plan, and provide valuable insights into local transport needs," Ms Ffrench said.
She noted that the draft plan outlines potential short, medium, and long-term progress opportunities, aiming to improve transport options in alignment with future population growth and demographic changes. Top themes from the feedback so far include calls for more frequent and reliable public transport services, safer roads, reduced congestion on key routes, and better active transport connectivity.
This public engagement underscores the growing demand for enhanced transport solutions in the Illawarra region, as residents seek to address ongoing issues with rail and road networks that impact daily commutes and community accessibility.
