Walking and Cycling Strategy Rural City of Wangaratta Demand and Consultation Findings 10/05/19 About this document This document is the Demand and Consultation Finding for the Wangaratta Walking and Cycling Strategy prepared by @leisure Planners. The views expressed in this document are those provided by the community and stakeholders. They do not necessarily reflect the views held by @leisure or Council. Acknowledgements @leisure would like to acknowledge the support and assistance provided by the community and staff, to this project in particular: • Monique Hillenaar Community & Recreation Officer • Brad Gill and other staff who have contributed to the project • Residents community groups and other organisations who were consulted, came to meetings, completed surveys or contributed other information. ã All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, by any means, without the prior written permission of the Rural City of Wangaratta and @leisure DEMAND AND CONSULTATION FINDINGS 1 10/05/19 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 3 2 DEMAND FOR WALKING AND CYCLING ......................................... 4 2.1 Context and demographics influences 4 3 COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ...................... 10 3.1. Methods and responses 10 3.2 Household survey findings 11 3.3 Key themes raised by different stakeholders during interviews 12 3.4 Telephone Interviews-Issue/Opportunities by Location 20 3.5 Drop-in session notes 24 3.6 Summary of submissions made 25 3.7 Notes from previous reference group meetings 31 3.8 Notes from the staff workshop April 2019 35 3.9 Vic Roads and Transport for Victoria workshop April 2019 37 3.10 Notes from meeting with other stakeholder groups 39 3.11 Other stakeholder engagement 43 2. APPENDICES ................................................................................... 45 Appendix 1. List of suggestions made about improvements to infrastructure in specific locations 45 Appendix 2. Detailed on-line survey findings 64 DEMAND AND CONSULTATION FINDINGS 2 10/05/19 1. Introduction 1.1.1 The project @leisure planners assisted Council to prepare a Walking and Cycling Strategy for 2019 to 2029 to increase the number of people walking and cycling in Wangaratta. What will the plan do? The plan will identify the following: • Ways to make walking and cycling easier and more enjoyable for more people • Priority improvements to the quality, safety and continuous nature of facilities to better connect people to where they want to go • What can be done to create a culture of cycling and walking in Wangaratta planning and management functions • How to encourage more people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to ride and walk for longer and more often. Why is Council doing this plan? There are considerable benefits of cycling and walking. These include the personal benefits of physical exercise and the mental health benefits of being outdoors. Walking and cycling are very affordable ways to travel and stay fit, to socialise and reduce stress, and see the outdoors. More people walking and cycling in Wangaratta will mean better health outcomes for the community, less traffic congestion and demand for parking, a quieter, cleaner, greener Wangaratta. More visitors walking and cycling In Wangaratta will mean economic benefits for the City. The last cycling plan was prepared in 1999. The plan will guide Council’s planning and management priorities over the next 10 years, determine how Wangaratta could be more pedestrian and bicycle friendly and as well as guide funding decisions and what projects should seek external funding. DEMAND AND CONSULTATION FINDINGS 3 10/05/19 2 Demand for walking and Population cycling There were over 28,857 residents living in the Rural City of Wangaratta in 2017, 19,930 of 2.1 Context and demographics whom live in urban Wangaratta. Council’s influences vision is to be a City of 40,000 people by 2030. The Rural City of Wangaratta is located in north-eastern Victoria, about 235 kilometres Two growth areas on the outskirts of north-east of the Melbourne CBD. Wangaratta have been identified by Council that will accommodate projected population Wangaratta City is identified as one of 10 growth (of some 5000 people) over the next regional cities in the State and one of the 10-15 years. These localities are currently three regional cities within the Hume Region. used for farming and rural residential It is identified as a growth centre for regional purposes. The images below illustrate the development. Hume is a fast-growing region location of these areas (and the provision of in Victoria with a social, cultural fabric and planned walking and cycling paths). heritage to match its natural beauty. This region is renowned for world-class wines, gourmet food, and is part of the 'food bowl of Australia.’ The Goulburn, Broken, Ovens, Kind and Kiewa Rivers are important to the region for environmental, lifestyle and business. The Strathbogie Ranges are a gateway to the famous High Country and the region is renowned for nature based and cycle tourism. The region’s diversity and new opportunities in key industries will ensure steady economic development and jobs growth that is reflected Figure 1. Areas that will experience residential in Hume's population growth, which is growth in Wangaratta projected to grow by over 38% over the 20 years to 2031. DEMAND AND CONSULTATION FINDINGS 4 10/05/19 2.1.1 Localities in the Rural City of Wangaratta Table 1: Number of residents by locality Rural City of Wangaratta The main rural townships and villages in the Locality Total City include Boorhaman, Carboor Cheshunt, residents 2016 Eldorado, Everton, Edi Upper Glenrowan, Oxley, Milawa, Moyhu, Myrrhee, Peechelba, Glenrowan and District 2823 Springhurst, Tarrawingee, Whitfield and Moyhu and King Valley 1861 Whorouly. The census small areas divide the Oxley-Milawa and Ovens Valley 3205 Springhurst-Eldorado and 1719 City into seven districts such are used in this District plan. The population of these (2016) is shown Wangaratta (Central-East) 3696 in the following table. Wangaratta (South) 5895 Wangaratta (West)-Waldara 9076 Wangaratta 18,667 Rural City of Wangaratta 2831 In Wangaratta 477 people rode their bike (115) or walked to work (362) in 2016, compared to more than 5900 who travelled in a private car. There has been some significant change in mode of travel to work since 2011, as shown by the following graph. DEMAND AND CONSULTATION FINDINGS 5 10/05/19 Demographic Influences People Engaged in Adequate Physical Age, income, ethnicity and education, in Exercise addition to remoteness are key determinants Individuals who participate in physical activities of physical activity and health. are healthier in mind and body and have a People born in non-English speaking countries reduced risk of cardiovascular and related shave lower levels of physical activity than diseases. Participation also builds social English. Country of birth is not likely to be a cohesion and connectedness, thereby factor in the residents walking and cycling in reducing isolation, a recognised social Wangaratta as on Only 8% of residents were determinant of health. born overseas in total. This is compared to Wangaratta has a higher percentage (67.9%) 11% for regional Victoria as whole. of residents who regularly engage in adequate The age profile of the population is not likely to physical exercise compared to the Hume significantly affect participation in cycling and Region and Victorian averages (both 63.9)2. walking as it has a slightly higher average of People who are obesity or overweight school aged children for whom participation The percentage of the Australian population cycling is generally high and walking for who are considered obese has been recreation relatively low. However, the increasing rapidly over the past twenty-five population has a slightly smaller proportion of years. In 1980, one in 14 Australians were young adults and a larger proportion of middle obese, however based on current trends by aged and older adults than for Victoria as a 2025, a third of the population could be whole, where participation in walking for obese3. recreation is likely to be higher than in younger groups. The percentage of children under 17 yrs. who are overweight or obese (27.3%) is lower than Wangaratta has a slightly higher proportion of for the Victoria as a whole (29.4%). However, people with a disability, who are unemployed, the percentage of the Wangaratta population and have a relatively low income. 18 years and over that are overweight or Perceptions of Safety obese is higher (67.7%) than for Victoria (62.8). Most (95.8%) Wangaratta residents agreed Due the aging demographic and their weight that they felt safe walking alone during the day, profile, encouraging more people to walk or which is similar to the Victorian estimate cycle could have significant benefits. (92.5%). Two-thirds (66.6%) of Wangaratta residents agreed that they felt safe walking alone in their local area after dark, which is significantly more than the Victorian estimate (55.1%). There has been no significant change in perceptions of safety for Wangaratta between the 2007, 2011 and 2015 surveys.1 2 Adequate Physical Exercise defined as completing at least 5 sessions per week with an accrued minimum of 150 minutes of moderate and/or vigorous activity. 1 VicHealth Indicators Survey 2015 3 Colin Bins (Department of Health and Aging). 2006. DEMAND AND CONSULTATION FINDINGS 6 10/05/19 School Walkability State average of 23.7%6. This was reinforced during the community and stakeholder For young people, independent mobility(i.e. consultation. A number of people raised the walking or cycling in the neighbourhood poor quality of bus services and that it was not without adult supervision) is important for their possible to take bikes on trains. physical, social, cognitive and emotional development.