Wollongong city council has rejected a bid for it to investigate the possibility of a light rail network.
According to the local paper Illawarra Mercury, councillor John Dorahy pitched the idea of a light rail for the Wollongong CBD and for improved connectivity to the outer suburbs on Monday night.
The motion received no support and was criticised as too expensive. According to the Illawarra Mercury, deputy mayor Tania Brown called it a pipe dream.
“It is not council’s responsibly to fund a feasibility study. Studies cost money and we do not have rail expertise on staff, so we would have to outsource this at considerable expense,” said Brown.
Another councillor, David Brown, suggested that the light rail was not necessary.
“I think [light rail] is a solution is search of a problem, Wollongong does not have a congestion problem at present. It’s not hard to get from suburb to suburb, its not hard to get around the CBD… especially because of our beautiful green bus,” said Brown.
Brown also pointed out that a light rail system could cost $545 million just to link Wollongong hospital to the beach, going off Sydney’s light rail figures.
Brown did, however, suggest the idea be considered as part of the city’s next 10-year plan. This motion was supported by other councillors.
