A massive upgrade of a school in the Wollongong CBD will make an already “horrendous” traffic situation worse, according to a resident.
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Wollongong Public School had lodged redevelopment plans with Wollongong City Council that will allow its student intake to increase by around 40 per cent.
The changes, which are under consideration by council, would allow for an extra 161 students and 23 more staff members.
This is a concern for Graeme Vickery, who lives in Church Street, across the road from the school.
Mr Vickery described the current traffic conditions as “horrendous” as parents use the 160-metre section of Church Street between Smith and Market streets to drop off and pick up children.
He said it was so bad that he had trouble getting out of his own driveway every morning and afternoon due to parents parking there.
“I can’t get in,” he said. “We can have three cars parked in our driveway, just hovering and waiting to pick their kids up.
“That means you can’t access your own driveway between 2.30 and 3pm.”
He said he tried to avoid having to leave his home during the morning and afternoon school runs, because of people parking in his driveway.
“Those times are going to be quarantined, aren’t they?” he said.
“If you’ve got an appointment at those times, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get out or return.”
Mr Vickery said it wasn’t unusual to see traffic “gridlocked” in Church Street, with a line of cars formed by a parent stopping in the middle of the road.
He said this led to other drivers in the queue having to overtake or make a u-turn.
In a school newsletter, the principal said police had discussed these issues.
“They were particularly concerned with the number of drivers who stop in the through line of traffic and wait for a space to become available, blocking all traffic behind them,” the newsletter stated, adding this was illegal.
A Department of Education spokeswoman said the upgrade will take place in the existing footprint of the school.
She said measures were in place to handle traffic issues.
"The school works very closely with Wollongong City Council, and the council’s traffic committee to ensure that access to the area remains free at crucial times during the day,” she said.
“The school executive and teachers assist each afternoon to effectively manage the school pick up and drop off zone to ensure student safety and the minimum disruption to traffic.”
While she said it was expected that many of the future students would walk to school, as building continues, “there may be the opportunity to provide additional pick up and drop off zones along the school boundary”.