Walking for transport

Action 1.6, Action Plan for Walking 2022–2024

Department/Agency: Department of Transport and Main Roads and Department of Housing

Status: Complete

Collaborate to improve walkability in suburbs with relatively high levels of social housing, with an initial focus on walking network planning. Promote the learnings within government.

Overview

The Department of Transport and Main Roads worked with the Department of Housing to identify suburbs with high levels of social housing and prioritise planning for walking networks in these neighbourhoods. These areas are characterised by households that have lower than average levels of car ownership, which makes walking an important option for getting around.

Achievements

Department of Transport and Main Roads funded walking network plans for 11 different locations around the state. One of the criteria for selecting projects was whether they were located in one of the Department of Housing precinct plan suburbs, which include higher than average levels of social housing.

Analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data on car ownership in public housing and public transport availability reveals that tenants in social housing are more likely to live in households with low car ownership.

Active transport such as walking supports affordable living outcomes for households by lowering their transport costs. More broadly, 27% of Queenslanders do not have a driver's licence. For some people, walking may be their only option for accessing essential everyday destinations such as shops, schools, kindergartens and healthcare.

For this project, the Department of Housing was a stakeholder in preparing walking network plans for Kippa-Ring Station, Moorooka Station, Springwood Bus Station, Townsville University Hospital and the Warrina Arcade precinct in Townsville. Previously the Department of Housing also participated in the development of a walking network plan in Mount Isa.

Working with the Department of Housing helped planners understand a variety of perspectives about the difficulties of walking in these precincts, such as the lack of direct routes into shopping centres and poor lighting. Planning direct, safe, accessible and comfortable walking networks supports an important transport mode in these areas.

Next steps

Department of Transport and Main Roads will include indicators of social disadvantage in its assessment criteria for future funding that supports walking network planning.

Both departments will collaborate to promote opportunities to support walking network planning with the aim of creating vibrant places and spaces and supporting higher density and delivery of diverse housing forms.

More information

• Walking network planning guidance.
• Mapping the best routes for walking (Action Summary 1.4).