Lachlan Shire Active Travel Plan 2016

Lachlan Shire is located in the Central West Region of NSW and is home to around 6,775 people. The shire is spread over a large area of almost 15,000 square kilometres and includes the towns of Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo and Tottenham and villages of Albert, Burcher, Tullibigeal, Fifield and Derriwong.

The Lachlan Shire is Wiradjuri Country and Indigenous people form an important part of the community, with approximately 16% of the population being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander decent.

Travel patterns are dispersed across the Lachlan Shire and the road network comprises approximately 4,300 kilometres of roads. The road network can become quite busy, particularly around the summer harvest, cotton harvest, during peak shopping times, school zone times and around weekend sporting and community events.

Many people in the Lachlan Shire choose to walk or ride to work or school and to other destinations such as their local shops, cafes, club, hotel, post office and town swimming pool. Using human power is a cheap and easy form of transport and brings other benefits such as improved fitness and personal health, positive environmental and road safety outcomes as well as social and economic benefits.

Lachlan Shire Council has a Pedestrian and Cycling Plan, prepared in 2009. There is a need to widen the focus of active travel and update the plan to suit the current situation.

The new Lachlan Shire Active Travel Plan identifies a range of infrastructure improvements and social initiatives, aimed at enhancing pedestrian and cycling safety conditions and opportunities. Given there are limited funds available to undertake this work, the Plan proposes targeted improvements that are assessed to have the greatest benefits and user support.

Stakeholder engagement has already commenced through surveys, workshops and meetings with various agencies, interest groups and residents. Feedback received so far provides valuable insight on pedestrian and cycling behaviour, attitudes and aspirations. It suggests the community is supportive of a more comprehensive and safer active movement network throughout the Lachlan Shire.

Lachlan Shire Council is particularly interested to ensure that the major towns have an Active Travel Plan to guide infrastructure projects and initiatives into the future. Council is ideally positioned to enhance the local pedestrian and cycling network throughout the shire, particularly around the areas of highest pedestrian and cycling activity.

Active Travel Plan 2016
Summary and Action Plan