Cycling, Walking and Horse Trails Plan

Expression of Interest – Project Brief

May 2019

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1. Project Outline:

Indigo Shire Council is seeking to appoint a consultant to develop a shire wide Cycling, Walking and Horse Trails Plan.

This plan will provide recommendations for the Council to support participation in all forms of walking cycling and horse riding for recreation and active travel across the municipality. The primary focus of the plan is to improve the health and wellbeing of the community and to enhance connectivity to improve social connections within and between townships. An infrastructure assessment will ensure

Council has a strong understanding of the build environment supporting cycling, walking and horse trail riding and the gaps to address in the future. Innovative ideas to enhance participation in these activities will align with Council’s Recreation Plan focus on inspiring more residents to be active more often across the Shire.

The Plan will also consider the influence, contribution, and impact of the forthcoming development of the to Rail Trail, and Beechworth to Yackandandah Epic Mountain Bike Trail projects.

Council acknowledges that trails in state and national parks in the Shire are also used by motorised vehicle enthusiasts, and whilst this project will consider that use, the main focus of the project will be on the non-motorised activities of recreational cycling and walking in urban and rural areas of the shire, state and national parks, and recreational use of trails by horse riders.

2. About Indigo Shire

Location 270km north east of

Region North East

Area 2040 sq km

Length of roads 1491km

Population 16,034 (ABS Census Data 2016)

Indigo Shire is located in Victoria’s North East and borders the Murray River and the Australian Alps.

Indigo is renowned for its natural beauty and historic towns. Thousands of tourists visit the area each year to sample the Shire’s food and wine, relish in the area’s history and visit the many well-known festivals and events.

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Industry in Indigo is mainly rural in nature including agriculture, viticulture and horticulture. There are more than 1000 individual businesses based in the Shire. Whilst the number of manufacturing businesses is low, employment in this sector is high as Nestle/Uncle Toby’s, manufacturer of cereals and health food products based at , employs over 700 people. The recent departure of Murray Goulburn operations from resulted in job losses in the dairy industry of close to 150 individuals in 2017. Indigo Shire’s economy relies on its rural and tourism base and its regional association with - and .

Townships and localities include Allans Flat, Barnawartha, Barnawartha North, Beechworth, Brimin,

Browns Plains, Bruarong, Carlyle, Charleroi, Chiltern, Chiltern Valley, Cornishtown, , Huon, Indigo Valley, , -Tangambalanga, Lilliput, Norong, Osbornes Flat, Rutherglen, Sandy

Creek, Silver Creek, Staghorn Flat, Stanley, Upper Sandy Creek, Wahgunyah, ,

Yackandandah.

Indigo Shire is committed to health and wellbeing in the community. Council provides access to leisure and recreational facilities and services in response to the cultural, social, recreational and demographic diversity in the community.

Indigo Shire has a wealth of natural resources conducive to recreation activation at its doorstep. In recent consultations with community regarding regular activities residents participated in, overwhelming responses include free and low cost activities utilising outdoor spaces currently accessible to the community. This includes horse riding bike riding and walking. The popularity of

Cycling, Walking and Horse Trails Plan – Expression of Interest 3 these activities exists currently and can be significantly enhanced via improved planning, awareness and encouragement initiatives resulting from this strategy.

3. Outcomes and Deliverables

The appointed consultant will be required to develop a detailed methodology as part of the expression of interest process.

The Plan will aim to:

 Assess the national and state level environment for recreational and active walking and cycling and horse trail riding

 Review the Council’s existing strategies, policies and practices associated with recreational and active walking, cycling and horse trail riding;

 Review and document the existing levels of recreational and active walking, cycling and horse trail riding in the municipality and determine the community use of walking and cycling as a means of active transport and recreation;

 Clearly articulate the benefits of walking and cycling and horse trails riding ;

 Undertake a high-level review of existing horse trails and walking and cycling infrastructure and identify key issues and opportunities at a township level for Allan’s Flat, Barnawartha, Beechworth, Chiltern, Kergunyah, Kiewa/Tangambalanga, Rutherglen, Sandy Creek, Stanley, Wahgunyah and Yackandandah. The review should provide a basic condition assessment and consider connectivity, surface type, and barriers to participation;

 Identify the participation levels, trends and infrastructure requirements to support a horse- riding network throughout the municipality;

 Review and consider behaviour change strategies to improve cycling and walking participation for active transport and recreation;

 Identify a long-term vision and strategies to achieve this vision. Strategies and recommendations should reflect municipal wide and town specific requirements;

 Establish a principal bicycle network and principal walking network for Barnawartha, Beechworth, Chiltern, Kiewa/Tangambalanga, Rutherglen, Wahgunyah and Yackandandah;

 Develop an assessment framework with a path hierarchy and priority matrix which can be used by council as a strategic tool to assess and evaluate the priority of future projects identified by the community. This tool will highlight likely resource implications and potential funding opportunities for implementation of the recommended actions and strategic directions.

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 Consider the possible tourism and economic benefits of improving cycling, walking and horse trail riding participation and infrastructure within the municipality to complement the major Rail Trail and Epic Mountain Bike projects.

4. Stakeholder Engagement

The appointed consultant will be required to develop a proposed stakeholder engagement plan as part of the expression of interest submission.

The stakeholder engagement plan should include, but not be limited to, engagement with the following:

 Indigo Shire Councillors and Council Officers

 Indigo Shire Community

 Relevant recreation and sporting organisations

 Relevant commercial operators

 State government departments

 North East Region Councils

 Sports North East

5. Background Studies

The following research and reports should inform the preparation of the Strategy:

 Indigo Shire Council Plan 2017-2021

 Active Indigo Recreation Plan 2018-2026

 Indigo Shire Youth Consultation Report

 Indigo Shire Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan

Cycling Optimisation Masterplan  Indigo Shire Placemaking Plans  Indigo Shire Environment Strategy  Beechworth to Yackandandah Rail Trail Background Documents  Epic Mountain Bike Trail Background Documents

 Relevant studies and plans by sporting associations and Regional Sports Assemblies

 Studies in participation and recreation by relevant institutions

 Relevant State government policy

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 Other studies and publications as identified

6. Timeframe and Milestones

Indigo Shire Council is seeking submissions that will deliver a completed Cycling, Walking and Horse Trails Plan by 1 March 2020.

Milestone Date Appointment of consultant 14 June 2019 Draft plan for Council consideration January 2020 Final Plan completion 1 March 2020

The appointed Consultant is expected to provide a detailed project timetable in consultation with Council prior to commencement.

8. Project budget and payment of fees

The budget for the total project, including community consultation and allocations of travel and accommodation, is $35 000 including GST.

Payments will be made in instalments in line with key milestones and agreed to at the commencement of the consultancy contract.

9. Intellectual Property and copyright

At the completion of this project, the Consultant must deliver to Indigo Shire Council all contract material brought into existence as part of, or for the purposes of, performing the consulting service. This material must include, but not be limited to, reports, documents, maps, information and data stored by any means. The Consultant, its employees or agents must not disclose or make public any information or material acquired or produced in connection with or by the performance of the consulting service without prior approval in writing of the Indigo Shire Council.

10. Project management

For all day-to-day project management issues contact will be made with Council’s Community Development Coordinator.

11. Conditions of engagement

Conditions of engagement include:

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(a) Terms for payment of fees as outlined in this Brief.

(b) Fees for the project will include the cost of all services provided by the Consultant and all out of pocket expenses incurred by the Consultant.

(c) Any variation to this brief will be agreed between Council and the Consultant subsequent to engagement or if changes are required during the project, prior to such work being undertaken by the Consultant.

(d) The report and all background documentation will be the property of Indigo Shire Council and will remain strictly confidential until released by Council.

(e) The Consultant will accept an offer of engagement by means of signing an agreement with Indigo Shire Council to provide professional services in accordance with this Brief and the agreed fee.

(f) Indigo Shire Council reserves the right to dismiss the Consultant if there is a failure to meet timelines or failure to undertake work (or portions of it) specified and agreed to on appointment.

13. Responding to this brief

A response to this Brief must include:

(a) A statement of the Consultant’s understanding of the brief;

(b) An outline of the engagement approach to be used, including proposed consultation with stakeholders, the community, relevant agencies and interest groups. Please include the number of community meetings and consultations, and meetings with Council officers and Council, that will be undertaken;

(c) A description of tasks and methodology for the project implementation;

(d) A project timetable with milestones;

(e) A statement of the Consultant’s expertise relevant to this project;

(f) A resume of all staff and other consultants to be used in the project including qualifications and experience in similar projects;

(g) Confirmation that the project can be delivered within the identified budget and cost breakdown for each stage of the project;

(h) Previous completion of similar projects and the phone numbers and details of three (3) referees;

(j) Details of appropriate professional indemnity and personal liability insurance held by the organisation;

(k) Declaration of any conflict of interest and how this will be managed.

14. Submission Details:

All expressions of interest should be addressed to:

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Community Development Coordinator

PO Box 28

Beechworth VIC 3747

Expressions of Interest may also be emailed to: [email protected]

Expressions of Interest close at 5pm on Monday 10th June 2019

Contact:

Sven Erikson

Community Development Coordinator, Indigo Shire Council [email protected]

Phone: 1300 365 003

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