Victoria’s Infrastructure Strategy

Three of the 19 Key features of the 30 Year Strategy (expressed as “Needs”) align very strongly with WATAG’s aims and aspirations.

Which is Good News!

These three “Needs” are summarised below.
Need 4: Enable physical activity and participation

Increase walking and cycling for transport and finalise and accelerate investment in the roll-out of Victoria’s Strategic Cycling Corridors and identified walking network improvements for completion within 0-15 years, working closely with local government.
Run three pilots in Melbourne and two pilots in regional Victoria to retrofit walking and cycling facilities in established suburbs with high levels of car dependence. A more extensive program could support the delivery of the ‘20-minute neighbourhoods’ concept championed through Plan Melbourne.

Need 5: Provide spaces where communities can come together

Need 6: Improve accessibility for people with mobility challenges

Many Victorians experience mobility restrictions of varying degrees, which can inhibit social and economic participation. Retrofit existing infrastructure and better design new infrastructure to improve accessibility
Departments and agencies should use Embed Universal Design principles to prepare clear Universal Design guidelines that can apply to all new and upgraded infrastructure. (Note: AustRoads guidelines are often used as “standards” by Whitehorse Council in the absence of Universal Design principles for shared use paths. This can lead to less than safe outcomes, or substantial over expenditure.)
Develop a prioritisation process for upgrading transport interchanges. This framework should focus on identifying upgrades that facilitate faster and easier passenger transfers and support a multi-modal network. (Note: Priority interchanges for upgrade are expected to include the Box Hill Metropolitan Activity Centre.)