The New South Wales Government has awarded three Get NSW Active grants to Wollongong City Council, to improve active transport in the city.
The grants will fund key projects for the Grand Pacific Walk, West Wollongong, and Mount Ousley, including:
- A new $1.55 million shared path along the Grand Pacific Walk at Austinmer, linking to other nearby attractions including Little Austinmer Beach, Bells Point and Pinecourt Park, and providing better wayfinding to Austinmer Train Station
- A new $350,000 separated cycleway that will fill a key missing link in the cycling network between Gwynneville, Keiraville, West Wollongong and other key destinations including Wollongong CBD, Wollongong Railway Station (via Denison Street) and the coastal cycleway
- A new $167,000 footpath along the eastern side of Gaynor Avenue between the existing paths at Mount Ousley Road and Helen Street, to provide a safe and easy link between a primary school, the local TAFE campus, two local high schools, and shops
New line markings will also be installed to commemorate the 2022 UCI Road World Championships as a permanent reminder of the historic event. The coloured-line will mark the course, encouraging more riders of all ages and abilities to give cycling in Wollongong a go.
Wollongong City Council Lord Mayor, Gordon Bradbery, said, “Wollongong City Council has a strong commitment to improving active transport options in our city. We want to make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to walk, scooter, ride or skate their way through their community.
“As a UCI Bike City, we want to continue to support cycling at all levels and that includes having infrastructure to support world-class athletes, as well as kids using our skateparks and parents taking their children for a ride along our shared pathways.
“These grants will add a lot of value to the work Council is already doing in this space. For example, the grant to add another link to the Grand Pacific Walk will help us achieve Council’s long-term project that aims to link the southern end of the Royal National Park to Lake Illawarra.”
Wollongong City Council General Manager, Greg Doyle, said that coming off the back of the 2022 UCI Road World Championships, it was good to see continued investment by the New South Wales Government to improve active transport.
“The 2022 UCI Road World Championships was an inspiring event for many members of our community, and it was an incredible opportunity for us to welcome the world’s best cyclists to our corner of the world,” Mr Doyle said.
“Wollongong City Council’s focus on improving active transport, and in particular cycling, is a city-wide goal that extends beyond the Championships. We’re grateful to continue to receive support from the NSW Government and we look forward to being able to use this support as an opportunity to extend our active transport options around the city.”
Feature image: Wollongong City Council.
