Making it easier to walk, scoot and cycle
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16 August 2018 - Media release
Campaspe Shire Council is developing an Active Transport Strategy to make it easier for people to choose walking and cycling more often.
Mayor, Cr Adrian Weston said we want to understand what is preventing residents from walking and cycling and what are the priorities and needs. With the Campaspe population having a higher obesity rate than average, 33 per cent compared to the state average of 19 per cent, it’s important more than ever to be active in the community, and walking or cycling, instead of driving is a good starting point.
“We want your views and ideas on how we can get more people walking and cycling more often to create healthier, more connected, safe liveable communities,” Cr Weston said.
Active transport can be many things to many people and making it easier for people to choose active transport more often will create more opportunities to participate and extend the benefits for individuals and society.
“The strategy will guide the priorities to increase walking and cycling in the community. This could be through identified infrastructure, services or education programs to help residents make active transport their first choice,” the Mayor added.
Council is inviting the community to be part of the conversation.
“With 25 per cent of our community living less than 2.5 kilometres from work, we need to find out what barriers are in place to prevent our residents from cycling or walking,” Cr Weston said.
Walking for transport and recreation also includes use of independent mobility aids such as wheelchairs and motorised scooters. Cycling includes all types of pushbikes used for everyday cycling, commuting, recreation and sport, this includes electric bicycles, tricycles, recumbent cycles and cargo bikes which are all becoming more common.Throughout the community engagement period there will be many opportunities for residents to have a say and let council know what would help them choose active transport more often in Campaspe Shire.
Two drop-in sessions are planned for later this month where council staff will be available to chat about the project and help residents use the online tool to capture feedback. Details of the sessions are:
Wednesday, 29 August - Echuca, Hare Street, outside Cotton On, between 11am and 2pm
Thursday, 30 August - Kyabram, Bradley Street, outside Woolworths, between 11am and 2pm
Information gained will support the development of the Active Transport Strategy for the shire, as well as localised plans for townships.
With a typical Campaspe household owning 1.72 vehicles, higher than the state average of 1.58 cars, understanding how and why people drive rather than walk or cycle is important for the development of this strategy.
“Using an interactive, visual mapping tool, CrowdSpot, residents will be asked to input their geographic location and map how they travel, and where they travel,” Cr Weston said.
“It’s a fun and easy way for residents to provide input so that specific issues, as well as more general barriers and concerns, can be identified and targeted solutions be put in place.
Comments close on Friday, 14 September.
Once the community’s ideas and stories are captured, this will be reported through a draft Active Transport Strategy and presented to council, together with supporting township plans to be produced early next year. The draft strategy will be open for further public comment prior to final adoption along with additional consultation in the development of local plans.
Further information about the Active Transport project and mapping tool is available on council’s website, through the ‘Have your say’ section.