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Encouraging sustainable travel

As roads clog up, as our populace gains weight, as our neighbourhoods wilt from increasing through traffic, every inner city Council in Melbourne should be encouraging less car use.

In 2001, Darebin decided to lead by example and develop a staff Green Travel Plan. This has taught Council much about behavioural change. It was found that 80 per cent of staff travelled to work by car. Council set targets to reduce this to 70 per cent by 2005 and by 2008 to 50 per cent. It reached the 2005 target a year ahead of time.

The Green Travel Plan includes, among other things, incentives, regular events, an honour board and a new staff induction kit. For travel during work time, bicycles or public transport tickets are available.

Darebin has used its experience to support a network of local businesses with Green Travel Plans.

And for residents? In an ambitious project in 2004–05, in conjunction with TravelSmart, every house in Darebin was contacted offering free transport information delivered to the door. In the last stage alone, Council received over 2,200 requests and sent out 15,000 pieces of information to households.

Preliminary evaluations show increased awareness of travel options – the fist stage of an important behavioural change. Additionally, Darebin is one of the first Councils in Victoria to develop guidelines for travel plans for planning permits. This will help improve consistency and assist both planners and developers.

For more information, contact Kate Myers on (03) 8740 8341.

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