Council has prepared a draft Integrated Transport Strategy as part of our strategic planning project, Future Hepburn.

Council's Local Transport Forum (2018) highlighted major transport issues in the Shire. This prompted the development of a Benchmarking study in 2019 and the design of an Integrated Transport Strategy.

Feedback has been received through the:

• Community Vision and Plan 2021-2025
• Future Hepburn township structure plan surveys in 2023
• Rural Hepburn and Township Structure Plan consultation in 2024.
  

Good transport is critical to the liveability of Hepburn Shire for residents and visitors. Council is committed to promoting and facilitating a variety of transport options for all parts of the community.

Currently, car travel is the main method of movement around the Shire, resulting in emissions and high transport costs for households in an area with an older population with relatively low income.

The Integrated Transport Strategy addresses issues and opportunities for active transport such as public transport, walking and cycling as well as private car and freight routes. It will also focus on service levels and infrastructure suitability for each option.

Council’s role in transport planning

Council’s role covers areas that it can influence directly, through its planning and service delivery activities and indirectly through advocacy and partnerships with other responsible agencies.

What is an Integrated Transport Strategy?

The Integrated Transport Strategy is a document that sets out overall principles with a series of actions attached. This document guides Council's future decision making on transport services and infrastructure in the Shire.

The principles proposed in the Draft Integrated Transport Strategy are:

• People-centered transport
• Fairer transport
• Greener, healthier transport choices
• Safer movement and places
• A connected shire
• Vibrant economy.

A note on ‘wheeling’

We are using the term ‘wheeling’ instead of ‘cycling’ or ‘bicycle riding’. This is because there are many other forms of wheeled personal transport – they include mobility scooters, wheelchairs, prams and strollers, skateboards and other emerging forms, including electric-powered versions.

A note on ‘active transport’

Active transport relates to people embracing physical activity as a healthy way to get around for all purposes, including recreation. It includes walking and ‘wheeling’ as defined above.

We know our community is passionate about local transport and how it affects access to services, places and people. The community contributions from 2023 have now been collated and integrated into the draft document. This draft is now open for review and comment.

Read our Transport Discussion Paper 2023, which was developed to outline the current transport needs and challenges facing Hepburn Shire, along with ways that these may be addressed.

Maps generated from the Integrated Transport Strategy Background report.