Media Release 11 May 2025
Wollongong Greens Councillor for Ward 1 Jess Whittaker is calling on all levels of government to help address the need for safe pedestrian crossings throughout the Wollongong LGA.
“I am hearing from residents right across our wonderful city that they want to be able to walk, ride or scoot safely around their suburbs and communities,” Jess said.
“However, we as a council simply aren’t delivering the infrastructure effectively enough for them to do that.”
Jess pointed to Railway Street in East Corrimal, near the Park Road intersection, as a concerning example of the problem residents are facing in the city.
“We have a situation where the traffic is already exceptionally busy here, and kids can't cross the road safely on their walk to school because a steady stream of cars simply do not stop,” Jess said.
“As they come out of Park Road from the housing catchment, they simply take a chance and run across the road in between gaps in the traffic.”
“This situation is already bad, but parents are anxious it will worsen with the Corrimal Cokeworks development, unless urgent action is taken.
“We need a firm commitment from the state government and the developer to invest in infrastructure to support 1000-plus new residents, as well as existing residents in this suburb, with safe crossings and alternative active transport routes in the area.”
Local resident and Corrimal East Public School P&C member Bodelle van Mastrigt said Wollongong Council needs to address the issue before more people move to the area.
“Railway Street is impassable for pedestrians during the morning and afternoon peak,” she said.
“We need to take an urgent look at this stretch of road, as kids are taking unnecessary risks to get to school due to a lack of pedestrian crossings. Action needs to be taken before someone gets hurt.”
“My daughter was almost hit by a car and it’s only going to get busier once The Works are up and running. Pedestrian safety needs to be a priority and something needs to be done.
May 11 to 18 is National Road Safety Week, and Jess believes the conversation needs to be broadened wider than just how people behave when they’re behind the wheel.
“National Road Safety Week tends to just talk about driver behaviour, but it needs to be a broader conversation about how we make roads safer for everyone.” she said.
“The conversation needs to also be about improving our road amenities and safety in our city. Acting on these conversations will help deliver safer walking routes which will encourage kids to walk to school and people to take short trips without a car.”
“In Wollongong, 55% of trips under 1km are made by car, while 82% of trips between 1km and 2kms are driven.”
Draft integrated Transport Strategy 2024: https://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/council/news/articles/2024/may-2024/fast-five-facts-about-how-we-travel-and-why-we-need-to-change
