The government has come up with a solution to keep the Gong Shuttle free.
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Transport for NSW sent the proposal to both the University of Wollongong and Wollongong City Council, who are now both looking through it.
The proposal sees a change to the timetabling of the shuttle.
“I’m delighted to advice that we will not need to change the operation of the Monday-Saturday timetable,” Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward said.
“I was very keen to preserve those days as they were obviously the most popular.
“Because there is a funding shortfall I wanted to make sure that we did the greatest good for the greatest number and ensure if there were changes to be made that they didn’t impact the busiest times.”
According to the proposal, all the changes to the free service occur on the Sunday and public holiday timetable – removing services at the start and of the day.
Instead of beginning at 8am, the first bus will run at 9.40am. Services will wind down from 5pm with the last bus running at 5.20pm, as opposed to 6pm in the current timetable.
Between 10am and 5pm, the free bus will run every 20 minutes.
“The changes to the Sunday timetable align with the general business hours on a typical Sunday,” Mr Ward said.
These changes are estimated to save around $95,000 a year due to the reduction in paying Sunday double-time penalty payments.
Mr Ward said this amount would cover both the funding shortfall and cost escalations expected to occur over the three-year period of the agreement.
READ MORE: UOW funds could save Gong Shuttle
He thanked both the university and council for their co-operation, as well as Labor MPs Ryan Park and Paul Scully and Liberal councillor Cameron Walters.
It is now up to the university and council to decide whether to accept the offer.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery called it a “good outcome”.
Cr Bradbery and general manager David Farmer have been delegated to negotiate and make any decision on a deal.
“I’m yet to go through the detail with the general manager and the deputy mayor Cr [David] Brown but I’m optimistic this is an acceptable outcome in terms of retaining the service,” Cr Bradbery said.
“Especially regarding meeting the needs at peak times, that was more our concern.”
A University of Wollongong spokesman said they welcomed the proposal and were “optimistic” of being able to reach an outcome soon.
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
