To address the need to coordinate land use and transport planning around safe, accessible and direct walking networks, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) published the state’s first walking network planning guidance in 2021. TMR has supported the rollout of the guidance with local government funding grants to develop walking network plans and training on how to apply the guidance. TMR will have led more than 20 walking network plans (WNP) projects in identified priority precincts. In total, State and local governments have prepared, or are preparing, more than 100 WNPs across the state with a focus on improving connectivity for communities experiencing road safety concerns, social disadvantage and/or mobility challenges.Inclusive Mapping has been incorporated into the WNPs user experience and data-led works to create more inclusive walking environments.
From this first two years of applying the guidance and through seeking feedback from stakeholders, TMR has revised the process focussing on success factors. The newly published updated guidance includes:
- case studies based on user experience: including in remote, indigenous and rural applications.
- improved guidance for network planning options: radial, precinct and corridor
- instructions for preparing plans in locations with fewer than 10,000 residents
- added stakeholder engagement options
- a change in wording from ‘priority works program’ to ‘action program’ to more accurately describe the implementation stages of the guidance
- instructions on how to seek plan endorsement and publication.
TMR continues to work with local government and other partners to refine the planning process and identify ways to deliver the identified improvements to the walking networks to deliver an integrated network accessible to all.