Laidley Shire Council, in conjunction with Queensland Transport, is developing the first Integrated Local Transport Plan (ILTP) for a rural Shire in Queensland.
“The outcome will be a strategic local transport plan that aims to integrate all forms of transport and land use over the next 25 years,” said Mayor Shirley Pitt. “It will also allow us to coordinate our transport resources with neighbouring Shires.”
Laidley is located between Ipswich and Toowoomba in south east Queensland. The basis of the Integrated Local Transport Plan will be a road hierarchy plan that considers all modes of transport.
Issues to be addressed include public transport, cycling, walking and horseriding, road safety, accessibility, transit oriented development, freight routes and reducing environmental impacts of roads.
“Laidley Shire Council is taking a whole of Council approach to coordinating transport related activities by working across technical, social and environmental planning areas,” said Councillor Pitt.
The project has received funding from Queensland Transport, enabling a project officer to be employed for nine months. A discussion paper has been released for public comment and a draft plan is scheduled for completion this month.
“Community involvement is central to the development and implementation of our local transport plan,” said Councillor Pitt. “We have set up a community reference group called the Laidley Round Table on Transport to provide input into the plan.”
The Round Table has representation from 16 different ‘coalitions of interest’ covering groups with economic, community and special interests in transport. Laidley High School students have been carrying out action research projects for the transport plan and their input has been valuable to Council.
For further information contact Robyn Davies, Planning Services Project Officer, telephone (07) 5465 1166.
