Cut the Commute

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Wollongong Transport Coalition (WTC) commends the Editorial of the Illawarra Mercury for 15 July:

“Our readers have made it loud and clear through the columns of these pages as part of our Cut the Commute campaign”. For full article click HERE

Wollongong Transport Coalition (WTC) would like to thank the Lord Mayor and Councillors of Wollongong City Council who are completing a six year term of office, and looks forward to working with the new Council.

 WTC also commends the unanimous motion passed by Council on 29 May 2017 moved by Councillor Merrin and as amended as follows:

1.     Given the recently-released analysis of the economic, social and environmental advantages to Wollongong of improving rail transport in the region, in comparison to building the M1 Motorway in southern Sydney, Council write to Local Members, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, The Hon Andrew Constance MP, and the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, The Hon Melinda Pavey MP, requesting

a.    that public transport and freight rail options be included in the business case for theM1 Motorway;

b.    all relevant information pertaining to the costs and benefits of rail improvements in the Illawarra to be released to the public; and

c.    advice on how the Government will reduce rail travel times between Wollongong and Sydney.

2.     The letters also outline

a.    the great opportunity the recently announced Federal Government National Rail Program which has been designed specifically for Regional areas is for our region;

b.    the assurance that Wollongong Council recognises the great opportunity for growth to the Illawarra if the rail corridors linking Wollongong to other areas, such as Sydney and South Western Sydney were developed to a standard that would enable our rail infrastructure to meet the current demands and the future needs of the area;

c.    that the recently-announced Federal funds for rail infrastructure would fit perfectly, if they were achieved, into the future expected residential and business needs for this region;

d.    that those funds would help to facilitate the completion of the long overdue and much-needed revamp of the Illawarra rail line.

3.     Council ensure that these letters are prepared and sent as soon as possible.

Opposition leader pledges cash

As reported by the Illawarra Mercury on 21 January2015

Half of the proceeds from the long-term lease of Port Kembla port will be spent in the Illawarra under a NSW Labor government, Opposition Leader Luke Foley promised on Wednesday.

Labor has pledged that $380 million would be returned to the region if it is elected to government on March 28, compared with the $100 million allocated by the Liberal government.

Mr Foley said a dedicated Illawarra Infrastructure Investment Fund would be established to oversee the distribution of funds.

However, the government says the announcement lacks substance because the money has already been allocated to projects and no specific infrastructure commitments were made.

Mr Foley said the Illawarra had been ‘‘short-changed’’ when Port Kembla port was leased for $760 million in April 2013 and the region only received $100 million.

WTC Comment 

The $100 million committed prior to the sale was shown later to be inadequate. Wollongong needs more, with some of the proceeds of the long term port lease to be applied to improving rail access to Port Kembla.

This includes completing the Maldon Dombarton link, for which expressions of interest close soon.

Wollongong needs a fast train, please

Illawarra Mercury  EDITORIAL August 28, 2012

                   

It was many moons ago that a delegation of Wollongong's business elite took an ambitious proposal to the state government calling for a very fast train to service the Illawarra region.

The MagLev-type train would have whisked commuters from Wollongong to Sydney in something like 22 minutes.

Memories of that proposal have been revived recently by Premier Barry O'Farrell, who wants a fast train between Sydney and Canberra to service a second major airport, and Sydney rail planners, who propose one of the world's fastest metro-style train lines between Rouse Hill and Chatswood.

Meanwhile, a Wollongong fast train remains a dream as weary South Coast commuters continue to make the daily trek to Sydney on what has been described as the country's slowest network.

Apart from electrification of the line to Wollongong way back in 1985 and later to Dapto (1995) and Kiama (2001), not much has changed since the days of steam trains.

We can only live in hope that one day governments, both state and federal, will finally realise the vision of those Wollongong businessmen who had the foresight and plan for a world-class rail network between two of our biggest cities.

NOTE An accompanying article observes that the 72 km Perth Mandurah train journey takes just 48 minutes as opposed to 78 or so minutes from Thirroul to Central - also 72 km.  Also Gold Coast to Brisbane and Melbourne Geelong trains, again about 72 km, take about 60 minutes.

If you have a concern about our slow trains, please post here.

Please consider signing this petition: http://www.fastrail.com.au/ 

Overturned grain truck blocks Mt Ousley

On Friday 30 March, a grain truck, with dog trailer, overturned on Mt Ousley south of the Mt Pleasant overpass. This blocked Mt Ousley road for more than ten hours, with traffic congestion on Bulli Pass extending as far back as Waterfall (see Illawarra Mercury for 31 March 2012).

WTC looks forward to advice from the authorities as to who pays for the clean up of Mt Ousley, and what is being done to:

• get more grain onto rail, and to
• improve safety of grain truck operations

More Support for Maldon-Dombarton

Coverage in the Illawarra Mecury

2 April

Maldon-Dombarton line could speed passenger rail

31 March

Overturned truck blocks Mt Ousley

21 March:

Editorial Illawarra Mercury, Rail link key to region's prosperity

21 March

Maldon-Dombarton link critical for future growth

Quote: Port Kembla’s chances of becoming the state’s second container port servicing Sydney are slipping away because of delays in the approval of the Maldon-Dombarton rail line, Australia’s peak shipping group has said.

Shipping Australia chief executive Llew Russell said the longer it took for a decision to be made on the rail link, the more likely it was that Newcastle would win the race to become Sydney’s overflow port.

‘‘We think any delay in the completion of this railway is of concern,’’ Mr Russell said.

‘‘We would be worried with any undue delay.’’

His comments came a day after Prime Minister Julia Gillard identified the Maldon Dombarton rail project as one of the Federal Government’s major infrastructure initiatives.