Engagement Findings - City Centre Movement and Place Plan

Thank you to everyone who participated in planning for how we get around the City Centre in future.

We heard a mix of support and concerns across several key themes:

Support for active transport
Respondents expressed strong support for improving walking and cycling infrastructure, recognising the benefits for public health, safety, and environmental sustainability. Many welcomed the vision of a pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly city centre.

Concerns about cycling infrastructure
Concerns were raised about the perceived overemphasis on cycling infrastructure, with some noting underutilised cycle paths and potential impacts on parking and traffic flow. There were also calls for better separation between pedestrian and cycle spaces to improve safety.

Public transport improvements
These were widely supported, with requests for more frequent and reliable bus services, improved connections, and better integration with train services. The free Gong Shuttle was highlighted as particularly valuable, with suggestions for expanding its routes. Some respondents proposed introducing light rail, though others preferred enhancing the current bus network.

Parking and traffic flow concerns
Parking and traffic flow were major concerns, with fears that reducing parking would negatively impact businesses and accessibility. Respondents called for more parking stations, park-and-ride facilities, and measures to maintain traffic flow while reducing car dependency.

Implementation challenges and practicality
Many respondents expressed doubts about the practicality of the plan’s implementation, seeking more detailed timelines, funding information, and practical solutions. They questioned whether infrastructure improvements would be sufficient to support the proposed shift away from cars.

Safety for pedestrians and cyclists
Respondents stressed the need for safer pedestrian crossings, improved lighting, and more separated cycling lanes to reduce potential near-miss incidents in shared spaces.

Impact on local businesses and residents
Concerns were raised about the potential impact on local businesses and residents, particularly the reduction in parking and changes to traffic flow. Respondents urged Council to ensure the plan caters to the needs of those reliant on cars for accessibility.

Environmental sustainability
Environmental sustainability featured strongly in the feedback, with support for reducing car dependency and expanding green spaces. Respondents called for the introduction of electric buses and other sustainable transport options.

Revitalising the city centre
While many supported the idea of a more pedestrian-friendly city centre, they stressed that transport improvements alone would not revitalise the area. Calls were made for more shops, cultural events, and efforts to address vacant buildings.

Accessibility for all
Accessibility was another key concern, with respondents highlighting the need for inclusive infrastructure, including wider footpaths, better crossings, and improved wheelchair access. Ensuring that the city centre remains accessible for all was seen as vital to the plan’s success.

Mixed reactions to cycling
Opinions on cycling were mixed, with some strongly supporting cycling infrastructure, while others felt it was excessive and underused, suggesting it should not take priority over other transport modes.

Engagement participation
	1,757 Visits to the website
	208 Surveys completed
	41 Emails received
	62 Face-to-face conversations
	313 Voices heard

If you would like to find out more on what the community said regarding this project, you can review the Engagement Report.

Next steps

Your feedback is important and is one factor of the decision-making process for Council. There is a whole range of things that are important in how we make a decision. The graphic below shows some of the factors we consider in our decision making:

We’ll use the feedback we've received to refine and complete the Draft City Centre Movement and Place Plan before presenting it to Council for adoption. Once the Plan is adopted, we will begin working on delivering the proposed actions. We’ll continue to invite input from the community as we progress with delivering the Plan’s actions.

Engagement on this project has now closed, for any future enquiries related to this project, please contact our Transport and Infrastructure Planning Manager on 02 4227 7111 or at council@wollongong.nsw.gov.au. As this project progresses, you will be able to see updates on our media channels.

In community engagement, your feedback is a way for you to share your thoughts and ideas on a particular issue or Council project. We’d love to know what you thought about your experience when you engaged with us. We'll use your feedback to help improve the way we engage in the future. Tell us how we did by completing the feedback form.