economic profile transportation

Transportation

Motorways

The Wingecarribee Shire is traversed by major transport links – both rail (main Southern Line) and road (Hume Highway). It is also just a short descent to the coastal centres of Wollongong (Illawarra Highway and Unanderra – Moss Vale rail line) and the Shoalhaven (Moss Vale Road).

The impact of the F5 and the F7 has increased the number of commuters to Sydney. The dominant form of transport is road transport and cars for both business and personal travel. Some rail transport is operated in conjunction with heavy industry including cement, stock feed mill, transformers and concrete sleeper manufacture although road freight is by far the major transport mode.

Ports

Port Kembla is a multi-purpose port and is a link to export markets for southern and south western New South Wales (NSW). The maximum dimension (LOA) for ships entering Port Kembla Harbour is 290 metres or up to 300 metres with harbour master approval.

Major facilities at Port Kembla include a coal loader, grain terminal, and a new multi-purpose berth with associated ship loaders. There is direct rail access to both the inner and outer harbours from Moss Vale.

Port Kembla was named Australia’s Port of the Year 2000 as part of Lloyd’s Australian Shipping and Transport Awards.

Map S3 - Illawarra, NSW South Coast and Southern Highlands

This map covers the area South of the Sydney metropolitan area, and further South and West. It is principally commuter territory and heavily industrialised, although inland is very scenic countryside and there is spectacular rural scenery between Sydney and the Southern Highlands.Train services are operated primarily by Cityrail. Campbelltown to Picton, Moss Vale and Goulburn, services are operated by modern diesel-railcars.

These are also air-conditioned but do not offer buffet services. Diesel-trains run shuttle services connecting with electric trains at their terminus (usually Campbelltown).A regular diesel-hauled tourist train operates over the highly scenic Moss Vale to Unanderra railway.

The Cockatoo Run operates return trips from Sydney to Robertson and Moss Vale via Wollongong.

Local Services

Berrima Buslines operates services for the public and school students. Bus routes and timetables cover most towns and villages. Population densities in rural areas inhibit the viability of frequent daily services and after hours or weekend services. A north/south route runs daily every hour or so linking main towns and limited times daily to and from villages. Students in rural areas can experience long journey times due to distance and route.

Kennedy’s Bus Service operates daily to and from Moss Vale to Nowra.

Southern Highlands Taxi Service operates across the Shire and offers maxi taxi and wheelchair accessible vehicles. Ranks are located in all Shire towns. State funded taxi fare subsidies are available for children with a disability and eligible veterans.

Southern Highlands Community Transport Service coordinates bus and car transportation provided by volunteers for the elderly, people with a disability and others who are transport disadvantaged. While services are not means tested, funding criteria restricts availability.

Wingecarribee Health Service coordinates transport for health service clients who are transport disadvantaged. Community Transport as a main provider, requires funding to subsidise costs.

City Rail operates limited services daily through stations at Yerrinbool, Mittagong, Bowral, Burradoo and Moss Vale providing access to and from Sydney and including airport stations. The journey to Sydney takes over two hours and involves a platform transfer.

State Rail Authority bus services link Colo Vale and Hill Top to rail services at Picton. A daily bus service also operates from Moss Vale to Wollongong. The rail link to Wollongong is restricted to tourism and freight.

Country Link Rail and Express Coach Services operate daily to and from Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne and to destinations along these routes.

Bowral to Sydney Airport Bus operates daily to Sydney CBD and airport, which is within a one and a half-hour drive from the centre of the Shire.

Community service providers and church groups also operate small buses for client and group transportation such as the Wingecarribee Adult Day Care Service, Southern Highlands Illawarra Disability Trust.

Households in the Wingecarribee Shire are highly dependent upon private motor vehicles with 92.2% owning one or more vehicles compared to 85% for NSW.

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