We are preparing an Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS) as part of our strategic planning project Future Hepburn.

Transport is a major issue throughout Hepburn Shire. This was clear from the Local Transport Forum held in Trentham (2018), which prompted Council’s Local Transport Benchmarking Study in 2019. Further feedback has also come from:

• Hepburn Together Community Vision and Plan 2021-25
• Future Hepburn township structure plan surveys in 2023.

Good transport is critical to the liveability of Hepburn Shire for residents and visitors.

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.

As well as traditional transport infrastructure and facilities, the ITS will include recreational and active transport such as walking and cycling trails and promote economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.

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 will plan for a local transport system that can efficiently and safely connect people to their everyday needs, catering for residents, workers and visitors alike. It will recognise the need for better transport connections within and between townships in the Shire and beyond.

The strategy will also cover recreational infrastructure such as walking and cycling trails and will address how good transport can promote economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.

Emerging principles for drafting the 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.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey or dropped a pin on the interactive map. Submissions have now closed for this round of engagement.

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

Community feedback and input, together with research and future engagement will guide the development of this strategy.

In November 2023, we will provide a report outlining your feedback and findings from the survey.

The draft Integrated Transport Strategy will be released in early 2024 for public feedback. This will be the second of the two stages of community engagement.

After this second phase of community engagement has been completed, a revised strategy and ITS implementation plan will be considered by Council for adoption.