Residents fed up with drunken UOW students yelling in the streets

But “unruly, drunken behaviour” around the university in recent years is a more pressing issue for some of these residents.

Jules Panozzo of Robsons Road is particularly concerned with this “increased bad behaviour”.

“On any given night there are groups of drunk partygoers who are yelling and loitering in the street after a night out at the uni or one of the uni organised events, often leaving behind bottles in people’s yards,” she said.

Miss Panozzo who has lived in Keiraville and Gwynneville most of her life, has seen the area change rapidly in recent years.

“The residents want the UOW to support a better drinking culture within the uni itself and have greater security that expands to the surrounding neighbourhood, so the police don't have to be involved and we believe that a solution would be Kooloobong Village and surrounding streets being alcohol free zones at all times,” she said.

“The lack of parking has also become a real issue in the area with the new development and 1200 students who live on campus and park their cars on the surrounding streets.”

A UOW spokesperson said a multi-storey parking facility was constructed with spaces allocated for the exclusive use of Kooloobong Village student residents, alleviating demand for parking on nearby streets.

Read more: Road closures aim to reduce University of Wollongong congestion

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery understood residents’ concerns and did not condone the bad behaviour of some students.

But Cr Bradbery said the dynamics of being a university city meant there would always be some students who overstep the mark in terms of behaviour.

“I’m not condoning it as this happens not just around the university but through the city,” he said.

“We’ve just got to get used to the idea there is going to be a lot of young people who are here not only to learn but to have a good time...and managing that is a real challenge.”

Read more: Call for more parking at North Gong station

The Lord Mayor said the council was working with the university to address some traffic and parking issues in the area.

Resident Bess Moylan though isn’t satisfied.

“Finally the Council has decided to look at traffic issues, but it seems slow to understand that there are really concerns about access to parking,” she said.

“And now the university wants to put even more pressure on the area by increasing the Kooloobong sports oval's hours of use.

“Maybe a review of timed parking, and better enforcement of parking times would help stop our area being as a free university car park.”

UOW and the council will engage in community consultation over the coming weeks with regards to Kooloobong Oval as part of the university’s proposed Voluntary Planning Agreement.