The response in the region to Infrastructure NSW's report was muted, with concerns raised about time frames and whether government will fund the recommendations.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery was pleased about the report but said the next step was to see what the O'Farrell government would do with it.
"Our priorities have certainly been taken up and our voice has been heard," Cr Bradbery said.
"The thing you have to remember that Infrastructure NSW have just issued a report and a series of recommendations. We need to be conscious of the pointy end, which is 'will the government deliver on these recommendations?' "
He was particularly pleased with the recommendation that the Maldon-Dombarton rail line be largely funded from the private sector.
He was also happy that the report gave a more immediate priority to reducing rail travel times to Sydney than to the "pipe dream" of the F6 extension.
"That's a high priority as far as this council is concerned," he said.
"I'd prefer to have a decent rail system up and running to get freight and passengers to sydney a lot easier.
"The future of land transport lies in rail, in getting people off the roads."
Dom Figliomeni, the CEO of the Port Kembla Port Corporation, was "disappointed" that Infrastructure NSW felt the Maldon-Dombarton line would not be needed for 10 years, especially given that it will take five years to build.
"I think within 10 years it definitely will be needed," Mr Figliomeni said.
"Based on the forecast and the potential customers I think 10 years is the absolute [cut-off] date.
"I think beyond that and there will be some real serious issues with increased congestion."
Mike Leask, Illawarra Business Chamber CEO, said his major issue was the extended timeframe of some of the projects, such as the F6 extension and the Maldon-Dombarton line.
"The timelines seem a bit too far away - most people would probably want a shorter time frame," he said.
But he added that the state now had an infrastructure road map of sorts.
"I think the key message here is that it is a plan, and it's now something for us to work towards," Mr Leask said.
"That's where there's an element of certainty - at least there's a plan there. When there's no plan at all you are dealing with dreams, with pie in the sky.
"Now that we have an integrated plan. I think that's the beginning of starting to move forward."
Keira MP Ryan Park felt the region was largely snubbed by the report.
"I don't see it as a huge win for the Illawarra by any stretch," Mr Park said.
"I don't see anything in here for us to get overly excited about. We've known about the challenges around Maldon Dombarton. We know about the challenges around the F6 and we certainly know about the challenges with the rail line.
"This doesn't really offer any definitive answers. It essentially says we need to look at these areas and make them a priority."
In particular Mr Park questioned the likelihood of achieving a one-hour train trip to Sydney without spending a lot of money.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward saw the inclusion of the Princes Highway upgrade to the Jervis Bay turn-off as a vindication of his efforts.
"There is a recommendation that vindicates my stance on the Princes Highway ..." Mr Ward said.
"What this independent report compiled by experts does is recommend that that road be included in our infrastructure strategy, that it be funded and that it be completed.
"That is fantastic news for the Illawarra and the South Coast."
