Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council is calling for the public to make submissions to Council for the Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plans currently on public exhibition.
Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plans or PAMPS for short, currently in draft format have been devised for Cootamundra and Villages and Gundagai and Villages. The documents align with Council’s key principles and objectives identified in the Towards 2050 Community Strategic Plan, and the previous Cootamundra and Gundagai Shire PAMP plans. They will provide the framework for developing pedestrian routes or areas identified as important for walkability, safety, convenience, and mobility, with a particular focus on footpaths, kerb ramps and crossing facilities at critical locations focusing on accessibility to internal attractors within the community.
A Cycleways Plan will be developed in collaboration with each PAMP and will primarily focus on developing safe cycleway infrastructure and connections with external attractors, separate from the main footpath network to ensure pedestrian safety.
When leaving your home, it’s important that you can move easily and safely around our communities. The Draft Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan (PAMP) identifies opportunities to improve pedestrian routes across the next 10 years and works to improve access, mobility, and the safety of our community.
Council acknowledges that not everyone identifies as a pedestrian. For this work, anyone who uses pathways is a pedestrian. We especially want to hear from:
- People that use a mobility aid (e.g., for walking, a wheelchair, a scooter)
- People with small children with prams
- People out exercising with their pets
- People who walk for exercise
- People who don’t have access to a car and rely on pedestrian paths
- People that use pathways as part of their journey, such walking to the shops, schools, medical centres, visiting family and friends.
- Children and young people who use skateboards and/or scooters on paths
PAMPs are partnerships between State and Local Governments to co-ordinate investments on safe, convenient, and coherent pedestrian infrastructure on key pedestrian routes. A PAMP provides a framework for developing pedestrian routes or areas identified by the community as important for enhanced, sustainable safety, convenience, and mobility.
PAMPs are developed through partnerships between State and Local Governments, developers, and other stakeholders. Properly implemented PAMPs can provide wide transportation, environmental and social benefits to the community, such as:
- More appropriate pedestrian facilities, especially in busy areas
- Improved access for mobility-impaired groups in the community, including older persons
- Safe and convenient crossing opportunities on major roads
- Reduced injuries to pedestrians
- Links with other transport services to achieve an integrated land use and transport facilities network.
- Integration with planning instruments (e.g., Council’s planning documents, including Section 94 and Section 79 (c) under the EP&A Act, provisions within Local Environment Plans (LEPs) and Development Control Plans (DCPs))
- Links with existing vulnerable road user plans such as bike plans, maintenance programs and accessible public transport
- Meeting the special event needs of pedestrians
- Pedestrian facilities which are consistent and appropriate throughout NSW
The PAMPs are now on public exhibition and can be viewed at https://www.cgrc.nsw.gov.au/connect-with-us/have-your-say/documents-on-public-exhibition/ or at either Council administration centre in Cootamundra or Gundagai.
To make your submission, you are required to do so in writing by 4pm Tuesday 28 March 2023. Submissions may be: Delivered to the administration centres at Cootamundra or Gundagai, or posted to The General Manager, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, PO Box 420 Cootamundra NSW 2590. Or emailed to mail@cgrc.nsw.gov.au. A further report will be submitted to the Ordinary Council Meeting of Council scheduled 18th April 2023, to consider submissions received, if any, during the Public Exhibition period, and to formally endorse the Cootamundra & Villages Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan 2023-2033 & Gundagai & Villages Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan 2023-2033.
Picture and caption:
Submissions inviting comments on Pedestrian Access Mobility Plans are now open. Once PAMP projects are determined, opportunities for funding are sought to undertake approved projects, similar to the pathway pictured.
