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