Creating walkable environments

New footpath connecting East Shores leisure precinct to Gladstone's city centre (Image credit: Gladstone Regional Council)

Department/Agency: Department of Transport and Main Roads

Priority area: Building, connected comfortable and safe walking environments for all

Action 2.1: Implement a program of pilot projects to support walking such as connected network plans, minor infrastructure, amenity, shade and encouragement programs. Evaluate outcomes and publish case studies.

Overview

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) worked with two pilot local governments to prepare walking network plans and priority works programs. The pilots received funding for implementing priority works. These included missing footpaths, kerb ramps, tactile ground surface indicators and shade trees. The pilots tested processes for identifying and prioritising walking needs. They demonstrated that there is strong community interest to improve walking environments. 

Achievements

TMR issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) to 10 local governments inviting them to pilot new walking network planning guidance (see Action Summary 1.4) in selected localities. TMR received significant interest: a total of 15 submissions from the invited councils. The successful bids were from Gladstone Regional Council and Mount Isa City Council (city centre focus for both).

The pilots received grant funding of $150,000 to commence implementation of the priority works program identified by the walking network plan. During the stakeholder engagement, participants nominated, and ranked priority works along the preferred walking routes they had identified. These were assessed using the method established by the pilot guidance. The selected works included:

• Gladstone Regional Council: constructed new accessible footpaths, kerb ramps and tactile surface ground indicators to complete two missing links. The first is along Tank Street and connects a central park, school and shops with leisure facilities including an aquatic centre. The second is along Lord and Flinders Streets and connects the East Shores leisure precinct with the city centre.
• Mount Isa City Council: planted street trees in shade gaps identified throughout the city centre. Council has also used the funding to complete preliminary designs along an important walking corridor to connect the aquatic centre and fun park with the city centre and suburbs to the east. This corridor is also on the Principal Cycle Network Plan.

The pilots included an evaluation of the walking network plans and works programs, which were both outcomes of the funded work. TMR has published case studies of the pilot experiences and learnings.

Next steps

Both local governments will continue to implement their priority works programs. They will continue to evaluate changes to the environment to assess safety, comfort, accessibility and the numbers of people who are walking.

TMR will promote the case studies as part of its suite of walking network planning guidance.

More information

The case studies are published as part of the Walking Network Planning pages on the TMR website.

The TMR website also has a comprehensive listing of Pedestrian and Walking Guidance and Resources.