Frequently asked questions
- two lanes in each direction between Bong Bong and Bowral Streets,
- new service road between Banyette and Bowral Streets,
- improved streetscaping along Station Street including 100 trees and attractive underplantings – enabled by undergrounding of power lines,
- new kerbs, footpaths and lighting,
- new roundabouts at Bong Bong Street and Bowral Street,
- traffic lights at Boolwey Street to aid pedestrian access, and
- upgrade to the carpark at Bowral Station.
- Retention of seven healthy, established Pin Oaks along Memorial Park to maintain the eastern edge of the avenue
- Removal of eight aging, under-performing Pin Oaks
- Replacement by planting five healthy super advanced Pin Oaks to create a new western edge for the avenue.
- Extensive underplanting and landscaping to the streetscape entrance to Bowral.
What is the Station Street Upgrade project?
Station Street Upgrade (SSU) is an important local project, which will improve amenity, accessibility and traffic flows in and around the Bowral Town Centre, increasing parking spaces, enhancing streetscapes and improving pedestrian safety and public transport connections.
SSU improves the section of Station Street between Bundaroo and Bowral streets, creates two lanes in each direction between Bong Bong and Bowral St, adds a new service road between Banyette and Bowral streets, new roundabouts at Bong Bong St and Bowral St and traffic lights at Boolwey St. SSU also upgrades the carpark at Bowral Station.
Why is Council undertaking the Station Street Upgrade?
Bowral, and the Southern Highlands, has grown in popularity over the past 20 years, with more people wanting to easily move through and around Bowral and access the thriving town centre. After significant studies, an upgrade of Station Street was identified as the best solution to manage traffic associated with this growth.
What stage is the design up to?
A final design for Station Street Upgrade has been confirmed. The next step is appointment of a contractor, prior to the start of construction.
Who was involved in finalising the Station Street Upgrade design?
The Station Street Upgrade design was finalised by Wingecarribee Shire Council after inputs from local community and businesses, expert technical opinion, stakeholder requirements and other construction and safety considerations, and agreement from Transport for NSW.
Has community feedback been considered in the 2020 design?
The updated design has been developed from a wide range of inputs including community feedback, expert technical opinion, stakeholder requirements and other construction and safety considerations.
Most of the design exhibited in 2017 has been retained however requests for retention of the camellias at Bowral Station, concern about the avenue of Pin Oaks, stakeholder requirements and other construction and safety considerations have informed adjustments made at the northern end of Station Street. A slip lane has been removed from the roundabout at Bong Bong Street and traffic between the avenue of Pin Oaks maintained in two travel lanes.
Given those considerations, the confirmed SSU design improves the section of Station Street between Bundaroo and Bowral streets including:
Utilities will also be upgraded during the project, including undergrounding of powerlines, a significant benefit to future-proofing infrastructure and improving visual amenity along Station Street.
Has parking been considered for the Bowral Town Centre?
The Station Street Upgrade provides for the long-term parking needs of the Bowral Town Centre by improving access to businesses along Station Street and Railway Parade and providing 50 new car parks around the town centre, in line with the Bowral Parking Traffic and Transport Strategy.
Have the trees and other shrubs along Station St been considered in the 2020 design?
All vegetation in the construction area formed part of an independent Tree Impact Assessment, which included specific expert advice on the Pin Oak Avenue. After careful consideration the Pin Oak Avenue will be renewed using four strategies:
Council has worked with designers to retain as many highly valued camellias as possible where they stand outside Bowral Station. Of the 17 camellias, 11 will be retained, three will be removed and three transplanted nearby on Station Street.
Once complete, the Station Street Upgrade will create a new tree-lined boulevard along the town centre’s western edge, including plantings of 100 advanced trees.
Have pedestrians been considered in the 2020 design?
SSU has been designed with pedestrians in mind, providing better quality connections to the town centre, including new, wider footpaths, footpath lighting and more, safer pedestrian crossing points.
Has traffic flow been considered in the 2020 design?
The upgrading of Station Street will reduce traffic congestion, particularly at the northern entry to the town centre, improve overall travel times and increase reliability. The upgrade was informed by extensive traffic modelling and data collection at key intersections to assess performance of the final design.
Will Council and the contractor work with business to manage impacts during construction?
We appreciate feedback previously provided as part of our consultation process and will continue to engage with impacted stakeholders as we move towards construction.
Council will work especially closely with impacted businesses to ensure their needs are considered during construction. We will be updating the information we've collected about business requirements and offering one-on-one meetings.
How is the Station Street Upgrade being funded?
Station Street Upgrade is funded by Wingecarribee Shire Council, local developer infrastructure contributions and an Infrastructure NSW grant as part of the Restart NSW Illawarra Infrastructure Plan.
Can funds allocated to Station Street Upgrade be used for other Council projects?
The funds being used for Station Street Upgrade cannot be allocated to other projects, due to specific conditions attached to those funding sources.
When was the community consulted about the Station Street Upgrade and how has the design changed since then?
The most recent consultation was undertaken in 2017. See www.yoursaywingecarribee.com.au/ssu1 for details.
Most of the design presented at this time has been retained however requests for retention of the camellias at the Bowral Railway Station, concern about the avenue of pin oaks, stakeholder requirements and other construction and safety considerations saw adjustments made at the northern end of Station Street.
A slip lane has been removed from the roundabout at Bong Bong Street and traffic between the avenue of Pin Oaks maintained in two travel lanes.
When was the Station Street Upgrade design confirmed?
Ultimately the design was approved by way of Council resolution in February 2018.
Further endorsement was provided by Council resolution in March 2020 for the modified roundabout design (including impacts to Pin Oaks) – which is the only amendment to the approved design from 2018.
Is the Station Street Upgrade project still active?
Interim Administrator, Mr Viv May, resolved at the 12 May 2021 Council Meeting that Wingecarribee Shire Council no longer proceed with the Station Street Upgrade Project.
There were a number of resolutions made relating to the project.
The associated report can be viewed in the Business Paper and resolutions in the Minutes at www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Council/Council-Meeting-Minutes-Agendas.