October 26, 2015

Bold transport plans to smooth the path for campus expansion

The University of Wollongong (UOW) is bringing a fresh, community-minded approach to campus growth.

Following consultation and feedback from residents and planners, the proposed plan for an expansion of on-campus accommodation will include innovative approaches to transport, including additional car parking spaces, bike rental and car share schemes and a commitment to neighbourhood amenity.

UOW late last year entered into an agreement with the consortium, Living + Learning Partners (L+LP), for an accommodation expansion that will take the number of beds the University can provide to students to more than 2,500, an increase of close to 600 beds spread across nine properties and precincts. 

The revised application for the Stage 2 of the accommodation expansion is currently on public exhibition and will soon be considered by the Southern Region Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP). 

In response to community feedback, the University proposes to build a six-level car park as part of a major project to increase the amount and quality of parking on offer for residential students, and to develop the Wollongong campus into a vibrant destination of choice for students.

When combined with the retained ground-level spaces, a total of 614 spaces will be available in the south-western car park (P3) when it is operational in 2017. This includes 359 spaces in the multi-storey car park, of which 275 will be dedicated spaces for student residents. 

The expansion of P3 will bring the total number of parking spaces on campus to 3,424, an increase of 8.5 per cent.

When combined with sustainable transport initiatives, the University precinct will lead the way in liveability and access. UOW’s commitment to sustainable traffic and neighbourhood amenity also includes:

• Student resident transport information pack: this will be provided to students applying to live on campus before they arrive to promote the benefits of living on campus and the alternative transport options available. 
• Free bicycle hire: A fleet of bicycles will be operated and maintained for student use, free of charge.
• Car share scheme: UOW will engage with a commercial operator to manage a car hire scheme, similar to GoGet, and will initially commit to three car spaces. 
• Off campus parking survey: annual local street parking survey and participation in transport management studies.

Careful consideration of environmental impacts means the built environment for the new multi-storey carpark will not exceed the tree-top level, while the existing road layout and building footprint will be largely unchanged. 

While some spaces will be displaced to cater for new entry and exit points, there will be no net loss of general Pay and Display or UOW Permit Spaces once the car park is completed.

UOW Chief Administration Officer Melva Crouch said the University recognised the overall success of the combined measures would be the impact of parking on streets surrounding the campus.

“UOW will continue to conduct an annual local street parking survey and share those results with Wollongong City Council (WCC) and Roads and Maritime Services,” she said. “In conjunction with being an active participant in the Keiraville / Gwynneville Local Area Transport Management Study to address community concerns and provide valuable insights as we develop and refine the UOW Transport Strategy on an ongoing basis. 

“The University has been successful in implementing sustainable transport strategies that have led to a shift in the way students and staff get to campus. This includes supporting measures such public transport as well as providing bicycle parking and end of trip facilities.  

“Currently almost half (42 per cent) of campus commuters now use transport means other than a car, compared to less than one third (31 per cent) in 2007. We are determined to continue to implement fresh thinking and innovative models that maintain UOW as a great place to live, study and work, as well as being mindful of the local community.”

UOW consistently spends on average in excess of $1.4 million a year on transport initiatives. In 2015 alone, UOW will spend approximately $900,000 on shuttle buses to the Wollongong Campus.

Recent transport initiatives have included the $1.5 million upgrade to the bus interchange on Northfields Avenue and the addition of 79 spaces in car park P5.

UOW's transport snaphsot

UOW has been successful in implementing sustainable transport strategies that have led to a shift in the way students and staff get to campus.