Cr Dorahy has put forward a motion at Monday night's council meeting calling for research into automating pedestrian lights in the CBD.

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It would mean pedestrians would not need to press the button to start the cycle for the lights to change.

At present there are two sets of lights in the Wollongong city area that are automated - at the two intersections at Wollongong Hospital.

There are also automated lights at the main entrance to BlueScope and to the Springhill site.

The change to lights at the hospital was brought in by Transport for NSW to reduce the risk of COVID infections.

The same logic is behind Cr Dorahy's motion, which is similar to one he put forward in April of last year but which was voted down.

"One of the arguments they put up last year was that it would cause traffic chaos and congestion," he said. "To be brutally honest I think that's a load of poppycock."

That earlier motion called for council to look into automating pedestrian crossings across the local government area, while Monday night's request is limited to the city CBD.

"With the introduction of the Delta variant and the issue of contact points really making it more virulent I thought it's probably a good time to reconsider it and hopefully get some support from the council," he said.

He said he had observed people trying to avoid direct contact with crossing buttons, instead using an elbow or a mobile phone.

"I've seen some young people jump up and push it with their foot," he said.

"People are very cognizant of the touch points and trying to avoid catching the virus so I just think it's a no brainer given that there are a number of crossings that already have the automatic sequencing."

Cr Dorahy's motion asks council officers to look at all traffic lights in the CBD within the boundaries of Bridge Street/Springhill Road to Bourke Street, and Harbour Street to Mangerton Road.

A report should be provided to council on which of those crossings could be automated and how long it would take to install.

"I think, for the health of our community residents, visitors and workers around the place it would be a really good step for council to make," he said.

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