Ms Goward has written to Transport Minister David Campbell, local bus companies and Wollondilly MP Phil Costa to lobby for a twice daily return service from the Southern Highlands through Wollondilly to Wollongong.

“There are in excess of 500 students based in the Wollondilly-Wingecarribee region, and on the basis of those numbers a dedicated bus service beginning at Moss Vale, travelling through Picton and thus to Wollongong appears to be readily feasible,” Ms Goward said.

University of Wollongong student Meghan Barrell said that if each student travelled to Wollongong three times a week in their own vehicle, it would equate to 3000 trips all up.

“Picton Road is already well-known for fatal accidents,” she said.

“We are simply overloading it with traffic.”

Another student, Kelly Pinkerton said the bus service was even more of a necessity given the challenge of climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions, but that it also had to be cost effective for students.

Ms Goward said many Highlands students relocated to Wollongong to avoid the hassle of travelling and were therefore not counted as possible users of the proposed route.

“This invisible number results in greater stress on Wollongong’s labour and housing markets and is entirely avoidable were better commuting arrangements available,” she said.

Ms Goward is still waiting for a reply from Mr Campbell and Mr Costa.