Council services shift into a different gear for UCI
As we welcome the 2022 UCI Road World Cycling Championships to Wollongong, we’ll continue to deliver the services and facilities our community loves.
However, how our facilities operate or how community members get there may be a little different.
With the Olympic-scale event bringing an anticipated 300,000 people to our city across the eight days, it’s important to plan ahead, add extra travel time to your journey and consider alternate means of transportation during the event.
We also encourage our community to check the Wollongong 2022 website for road closure and event information and Transport for NSW website for public transport details.
Here's a summary of impacted services and programs and recommended alternate routes and transport options.
Beaches | Our lifeguards will be on the sand ahead of normal swim season at 9 of our 17 patrolled beaches. From Saturday 17 September, people can enjoy a swim at the following spots during their patrolled hours:
The remaining eight patrolled beaches will open per the normal swim season schedule the following Saturday 24 September. Remember, no flags = no swim. Before you head out, please plan your trip and factor in impacted traffic conditions – including road closures. For more information, visit our Beaches page. |
Beaton Park and Lakeside Leisure Centres | Both our Leisure Centres at Wollongong and Kanahooka will be open throughout the Championships so you can keep up your fitness routine. Beaton Park is in a prime front-row location, with races passing along Foley Street each day. Several surrounding streets will also be used for race routes. Opening hours will remain the same with our gym, pool and athletics track remaining open. But, there’s a special UCI Week group exercise timetable to take note of. Pedestrian access will remain available from surrounding areas. If you’re not walking, biking on catching public transport to our centre, please note vehicle access to our main driveway off Foley Street will be closed. But you'll still be able to access Beaton Park off Gipps Street, via Memorial Drive or the M1 Princes Motorway, and the northern end of Foley Street. Lakeside Leisure Centre will be open as normal throughout the Championships and is not impacted by race road closures. So, this may be the perfect time to try out Lakeside Leisure Centre in Kanahooka, with easy access from north or south using the M1 Princes Motorway. For more information visit our Leisure Centre website. |
Customer Service Centre | Our Customer Service Centre at 41 Burelli Street, Wollongong will be open as normal, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. However, surrounding streets will be intermittently closed during 17 to 25 September. We strongly encourage residents to visit Council’s website to raise and track customer requests and/or make payments. Please note, the bus routes outside of the building, including the 55A and 55C Gong Shuttle, will not be in use and alternative services and routes will be operating. For more information visit Transport for NSW website. |
Council car parks | There are a number of Council-owned and operated car parks around the Wollongong CBD, that will be closed to the public or have limited spaces. This includes the closure of the following off-street car parks:
See our Parking in the City Centre page for more details. |
Libraries | Our libraries will be open for all your library needs within their normal days and hours, but traffic changes vary daily and may affect how you get to your nearest library. If you’re looking to visit one of our branches, please consider extra travel time. This is also the perfect opportunity to try another library, if you have trouble getting to your usual spot. It’s important to note the following libraries will be heavily affected by the closure of surrounding streets:
We’ve seven locations across Wollongong, and our southern locations (Unanderra, Warrawong and Dapto) are outside race road closure areas, with access available via the M1 Motorway or public transport. There’s lots happening at our branches, including cycle-themed events and family fun activities. Check out the Library website for more information. |
Pools | Our heated pools at Corrimal, Dapto, Continental, and Beaton Park will be open as normal. From 17 September the Continental Pool will be open from 6am-6pm daily. Our pools at Berkeley, Western Suburbs, Thirroul and Port Kembla will open for the swim season from Saturday 24 September, 6am to 6pm daily. Helensburgh Pool will be open from Monday 26 September, 6am to 6pm daily. Stay up to date on opening and any closures on our Pools page. |
Russell Vale Golf Course | The Vale will be operating within their normal hours. However, depending on where you’re coming from, daily traffic conditions will be impact how you get here. Please allow for extra travel time if you’re looking to hit the green during the race. |
Wollongong Art Gallery | At the heart of the CBD, Wollongong Art Gallery will be operating as normal and open to all visitors – for free! And good news! To make the most of your visit to the city, the Gallery have extended their hours between 16-25 September as follows:
Please consider walking, biking or catching public transport to visit the Gallery as surrounding roads will be closed intermittently. For more information on what’s happening, visit the Wollongong Art Gallery website. |
Wollongong Youth Centre | Wollongong Youth Centre will be open to drop in during UCI week, with changes to programs and opening days and hours.
Structured programs will not be delivered during UCI. With close proximity to race routes, traffic conditions will impact your car journey and may cause delay in getting to the Centre. We recommend train or bus access. |
Wollongong Botanic Garden | Wollongong Botanic Garden will be open from 7am to 5pm everyday as normal. The Garden will be the prime location to get amongst the action, with it being on the race route from Saturday 17 September through to Sunday 25 September. Due to road closures, traffic conditions will be heavily impacted. Parking is limited on site and the usual 55A and 55C Shuttle Service bus that stops on Northfields Avenue will be replaced with three different routes. The Garden has seven pedestrian entrances. The best access to the Garden during the event is via the entry gates at 29 Madoline Street Gwynneville and along Northfields Avenue Keiraville. Robsons Road will also be open 17 to 23 September only. |
Resident bin collections | Bin collections will operate as normal in most areas across Wollongong. Residents are reminded to put their bins out in an unobstructed location the night before their collection day, as waste collections will be earlier in the mornings during the UCI week. Residents that will have their day shifted, will be notified of changes and alternative arrangements by letterbox drop. If you have any questions, please contact Wollongong Waste or phone 1300 362 360. |
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