Townsville Thuringowa Integrated Regional Transport Plan
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Overview:
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The Townsville Thuringowa Integrated Regional Transport Plan is the result of collaboration between the former Queensland Transport, the former Queensland Department of Main Roads, Townsville City Council and Thuringowa City Council. The plan is a signature project of the broader regional planning exercise which produced the Townsville–Thuringowa Strategy Plan.
Download the Townsville Thuringowa Integrated Regional Transport Plan or the priority cycle routes.
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Location:
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Northern Queensland
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Benefits:
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The plan's objectives are to:
- enhance quality of life through provision of improved non-motorised transport and public transport services
- support economic growth by developing efficient and integrated transport networks
- support specific major industrial development through sustainable transport initiatives.
These objectives will be achieved by:
- developing policy to be implemented through existing statutory processes
- incorporating 'best practice' land use and transport planning principles
- integrating planning for a new infrastructure to fit within a transport and regional planning framework
- conducting feasibility investigations
- recommending regulatory mechanisms
- providing education and information campaigns.
The plan takes into account issues raised in the Townsville–Thuringowa Strategy Plan Transport Vision, the background technical papers to the plan, and community consultation findings.
Three broad themes for the future of transport in the Townsville–Thuringowa region emerged from this data.
They were:
- Transport and land use planning
- The existing transport system
- New infrastructure.
Future strategies and actions will fall under a framework comprised of these three themes.
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Regions:
- Northern Region
Project info
The plan was finalised in late 2001 and an ongoing updating and revision process keeps the plan relevant. See the publications section for amendments.
The plan establishes Townsville and Thuringowa's current and future transport needs and a range of strategies and actions to address these needs. The plan emphasises the integration of land use, transport, and community and government needs to produce an overall framework for the future.
As the largest urban area in Queensland, outside the south-east corner, the Townsville–Thuringowa region requires an efficient transport system which allows for the rapid and reliable movement of goods to and from overseas and national markets, and provides local access for commerce and business. The transport system must also allow for the mobility and access needs of residents and tourists.
Motorised travel can have adverse environmental and social impacts on the community. A transport planning challenge is to achieve the personal and business benefits of travel while maximising the environmental benefits available from fully integrating transport and land use planning.
The plan has confronted these challenges. It provides a detailed transport strategy for the Townsville–Thuringowa region for the next 15 years and overarching strategies until the year 2050. A long-term approach to transport development is necessary because many transport projects have long lead-in times. Planning is necessary to ensure land is available when required, the necessary processes to achieve community acceptance can be followed, and complex feasibility studies and project planning can be undertaken.
While long-term planning is useful, the plan also recognises major changes could arise, which may influence the form of development. Long-term coordination with other infrastructure and town planning is important, as it must be able to adapt to changing technology, social conditions, values, resource constraints and other factors.
Study overview
The plan's study area includes Townsville and Thuringowa.
The plan represents the commitment of the Queensland Government, Townsville City Council and the City of Thuringowa to develop and implement an integrated transport plan for the region.
Community info
The plan has been developed through an extensive consultation process with the community and stakeholders. Every effort has been made to include their suggestions in the strategic framework.
Contact details
- Email:
- planning.projects@tmr.qld.gov.au
- Phone:
- +61 7 4720 7223
- Fax:
- +61 7 4720 7327
- Post:
- Regional Manager (Integrated Transport Planning) Northern
Department of Transport and Main Roads
PO Box 1293
Townsville Queensland 4810
