Context

The relocation in mid 2007 of Optus employees from nine sites across Sydney to one new build campus in Macquarie Park provided the imperative for developing the Transport Strategy. Early analysis of baseline data by Optus showed a significant transport infrastructure ‘gap’ existed. The driving question was, simply, “how do we get over 6,000 people to work at a new site in a suburban business park with 2,002 employee car parking spaces?”

The goal was to ensure a seamless transition for the relocation in terms of staff travel and, thus, the effective and efficient operation of the company. This meant having measures in place from day 1 of site occupation, and making every effort to ensure employee’s existing travel patterns were disrupted as little as possible.

It was recognised early on that the Transport Strategy therefore needed to focus on filling the transport infrastructure ‘gap’ (i.e. ensuring employees could, literally, get to work) as well as providing evidence to employees that their journey to work would not necessarily be as difficult or as different to their existing commute as perceived.

Detailed development of the Transport Strategy was shaped by the following factors:

1. limitations on the amount of on-site parking (from planning consent) & restricted public parking options (residential parking schemes, on-street metering)
2. the high level of familiarity amongst employees (prior to the move) of commuting by public transport, walking and cycling*;
3. relatively limited public transport commuting options to Macquarie Park at the time of the relocation**;
4. concern from employees about their new commute;
5. local traffic congestion issues;
6. Development Approval (DA) transport mode share targets for the new site***; and
7. Optus’ vision for a campus with a minimal environmental footprint.

* 62% of employees in 2005 staff travel survey commuted to work by non-car modes (survey response rate: 46%).
** Due to the delayed opening of the new Epping to Chatswood Rail Link (opened in February 2009)
*** The DA targets were designed on the basis of the Epping Chatswood Rail Link being open and fully operational.

Following completion of the relocation in late 2007, the objectives of the Transport Strategy have been re-aligned to meet day to day issues and the overarching vision is articulated as “making your journey to work as simple as possible whilst reducing our impact on the environment and the local community”.