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City of Wollongong

Major boost to Wollongong’s foreshore parking

Tuesday 7 June 2022

Family picnics in Lang Park, a swim at City Beach, or catching a game or concert will be made easier thanks to the introduction of more than 70 new car spaces along Marine Drive in Wollongong’s foreshore precinct.

The spaces will be marked out following the 2022 UCI Road Cycling Championships on 18-25 September when the existing bus parking space opposite City Beach’s Ted Tobin Observation Deck will be converted into car parking. The additional spaces will bring the total available parking spots along Marine Drive to 325, an increase of 30 per cent.

The change has been made possible following Transport for NSW’s update to bus parking on Marine Drive which has been moved temporarily to on-street locations within in the city while planning for permanent locations for bus layover/s is completed. This temporary change to bus parking is to support the delivery of the 2022 Road World Championships event in September.

Between May and August works will be carried out along Marine Drive to realign the popular thoroughfare to create a straight, safe section of road leading to the finish line that meets UCI regulations. The stretch will provide an exciting and competitive course that provides spectators and television viewers with vision of Wollongong’s spectacular foreshore area.

“We’re grateful to Transport for NSW and bus operators for working with us to support the successful delivery of this event, which is being described as Wollongong’s own Olympics,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“The move of the bus parking to on-street locations around the city centre is temporary and is being done to allow the preparatory works for the races to be completed and the running of the Championships during event time. We understand that this temporary change to the bus parking locations may feel inconvenient for some of our residents and businesses. In the coming months, Council will be working with Transport for NSW, bus operators, residents and businesses on a long-term solution to the bus parking and layovers in the City. We need to work together to achieve the best outcomes for our community.”

Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle said Council is committed to a long-term plan for the activation of the foreshore area as a world-class space for community and visitors. Mr Doyle said the move provides the City with an exciting opportunity to improve parking opportunities for this high-profile foreshore location in the long term.

“We know our community want better access to the city’s foreshore areas and we consistently hear feedback, including in the draft Community Strategic Plan, about wanting more car parking in this location. We are responding to this with a short to medium term solution by marking out these additional car spaces post-World Championships and then we’ll look at how we might improve this precinct into the future.

“It really is exciting because, if you imagine the average car parked here has four passengers, this step means we’re making it easier for almost 300 people to park here and have easy access to our beaches at any given time.’’

“If you drill down into some of Council’s key works at the moment, we’re investing significantly in our city’s foreshore areas along the Blue Mile – whether that be through the development of a Master Plan for Stuart Park that is currently underway and the planned Master Plan for Lang Park, the construction of a new North Wollongong Surf Club building and seawall, or improvements to Marine Drive,’’ he said.

“Each of these sections are important pieces of a puzzle that will ultimately provide our residents and visitors an easily accessible and attractive place to live nearby, and to visit for social activities, exercise and entertainment.

Council remains committed to investing in improvements to active and public transport which will create improved connection to our foreshore areas.

“We are very mindful of the fact this is a well-used space and that residents, businesses, local bus operators and NSW Government agencies are all key stakeholders in this space,” Cr Bradbery said.

“Being the host city for the 2022 UCI Road Championships is providing us with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step back and make sure that we’re presenting the best Wollongong has to offer to the global audience that will attend and tune into this exciting event. It is also allowing us to make sure that the event’s legacy is a city that continues to improve its liveability.’’

Transport for NSW’s changes to the bus parking and layover areas along Crown, Burelli, Harbour and Market Streets came into operation on Monday 23 May.

Looking for more information?

Bus timetabling and transport operations: transportnsw.info | 131 500

Planned road works: wollongong.nsw.gov.au/uci | council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au | 02 4227 7111

UCI Road World Championships event: wollongong2022.com.au |community@wollongong2022.com.au 0484 280 049


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