Councillors have voted to give the University of Wollongong $185,000 for its new $1.5 million bus terminus, even though some argued the cash would be better spent completing a traffic study for the area.
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The bus bay, which is due to be completed by next month, is one of the first measures included in the university's "notional master plan" for the street, which would transform the institution's Gwynneville entryway with high-rise buildings and student accommodation.
The upgrade includes a wider pedestrian area, upgraded shelters with extra covered waiting areas, a new shared path and connection to the footbridge.
The university approached the council and Roads and Maritime Services for a contribution to the project costs, according to council staff, who said a $185,000 contribution was "reasonable" as some of the upgraded areas affected council land.
Labor councillor David Brown agreed the council should support the university's move to improve transport in the city and commended them for being a "good corporate citizen".
However, he also suggested the council write to MPs and ministers about funding for Keiraville and Gwynneville traffic studies, which UOW and the council have already agreed to partially fund.
Liberal councillor Michelle Blicavs also flagged the importance of the traffic studies, which have been requested by residents surrounding the university for years. However, she said the council's contribution to the bus stop should only be $85,000, so that $100,000 could be immediately transferred to a fund to start the long-awaited access strategy.
She said reserving $100,000 would allow the council to begin the study sooner than planned without a change in the council's budget and would represent a "win-win" for all parties.
But councillor Ann Martin said the council needed to direct "goodwill" towards the university, to encourage it to be more active in the city. "I don't think $185,000 is too much money to contribute to a project that will have benefits broader than the university," she said. "My view is that the traffic study is a cost of development, and as such the uni should bear the cost, which is perfectly normal for a major development."
Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery suggested the whole $185,000 for the terminus be funded, but that $100,000 should be brought forward to fund the traffic study on the proviso that Roads and Maritime Services made a similar contribution.
"I will not support [this study] on the basis that we're going it alone, there are four other parties and people need to know that it is not the council that is the impediment ... this needs a collaborative approach and hopefully this is a way this may be achieved," he said.
Councillors voted 8-3 to accept Cr Brown's motion combined with Cr Bradbery's suggestion.