A deal has been struck to keep the Gong Shuttle free, just days before fares would likely have been introduced.
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The deal will see no fares on the popular service for the next three years.
The University of Wollongong and Wollongong City Council – who were each chipping in $350,000 a year in funding – have agreed in principle to a proposal put forward by Transport for NSW.
All that remains is for the three parties to sign on the dotted line.
The news of the deal comes just five days before the likely introduction of fares.
Transport for NSW had initially planned to introduce fares on January 29 this year.
After Mr Ward’s intervention, the government agreed to delay the fares until July 1.
Had an agreement not been reached before then, then people would have to pay to ride the Gong Shuttle.
The last-minute deal sees timetabling changes to reduce the frequency of some services, which will bring the shuttle costs into line with the amount of funding offered by the university and council.
Weekday and Saturday services will remain unchanged, with all the changes occurring on Sundays and public holidays.
On those days services will run between 9:40am and 5:20pm, instead of starting at 8am and finishing at 6pm.
Buses will continue to run every 20 minutes between 10am and 5pm.
“We are pleased that this agreement has been reached and we thank Wollongong City Council and the University of Wollongong for their contribution to the operation of this service,” Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward said.
“The additional funding provided by Wollongong City Council and the University of Wollongong will mean that the majority of services provided by the Wollongong Shuttle will remain unchanged during its busiest times.”
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery was pleased such an “important” service would remain free.
“What a long drawn-out process,” Cr Bradbery said.
“I still think the state government should have forked out the full amount for it. We don’t get many transport services down here compared to other parts of the state.”
The University of Wollongong was approached for comment on the deal but had nothing to add to Mr Ward’s statement.
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.
