International Walking Charter

The Baw Baw Shire is a signatory to the Charter.

 

Baw Baw Shire wins Heart Foundation Awards

Baw Baw Shire's two innovative projects 'Active by Design' and 'Two Town Trail' have won the 2009 Heart Foundation Local Government Awards, both at a national as well as state level.

The ‘Active by Design’ project involved developers to create a toolkit so that new housing developments incorporated accessible destinations and attractive environments. “Baw Baw’s ‘Active by Design’ project is a strong example of how local governments can influence active living through urban planning,” said Heart Foundation (Victoria) Chief Executive Officer, Kathy Bell.

The 'Two Town Trail' is an 8km trail linking Drouin and Warragul built to enable half of the Baw Baw population to walk or cycle between the two towns. The project was 20 years in the making and is a great community asset. The project was funded by Vic Roads, Council, DPCD and Federal Government with a total cost around $1.8 million.  The Council is now working on the beautification of the trail and recently gained $95K from DPCD - Creating Better Places to make the trail an interesting, safe and visually appealing environment to encourage physical activity.

Seated Front Row – Cr Adam Tyson Deputy Mayor, Cr Ruth McGowan Mayor, Debbie Saliba, Kathy Bell, CEO Heart Foundation, Gabrielle McBain, Kerry Irwin, Cr Tony Wolfe
Standing behind – David Powell, Ross Anderson, Ian de Bruyne and Lukas Nott
Councillors and Council staff with Heart Foundation Awards

Shaping the Future

Shaping the Future is a new four year project commencing in 2009 to make sure Council’s planning policies and guidelines meet the expected growth in the municipality in the years ahead. Part of the project will incorporate an integrated transport strategy and other strategies that will support policy and design improvements for walking and cycling e.g CBD developments.

 

Active by Design guidelines

The Baw Baw Active by Design guidelines aim to ensure that new subdivisions in the Shire will give the people who live in them the best chance of leading active and healthy lifestyles. A place is active by design when it has characteristics that invite people to enjoy physical activity in their shared surroundings e.g walking, cycling, games, sports, play and other recreational activities.

 

The guidelines address activity on two levels.

  • Firstly, ensuring the environments we create in new subdivisions allow the incoming residents to incorporate activity into their daily lives as a way of getting to the places they need to go (schools, shops, workplace, etc); and
  • Secondly, embedding within these communities destinations that are accessible, attractive and that provide people with opportunities to be active.

 

Download the The Baw Baw Active by Design Guidelines. 

 

Improving the pedestrian environment plans

Shared footpaths

Plans have been completed by Dr John Grant on six Baw Baw towns including Warragul, Drouin, Yarragon, Trafalgar, Neerim South and Longwarry.

 

Further work will be done in the future on Warragul, Drouin, Yarragon and Trafalgar to scope on and off road walking/ cycling plans so Council can attract external funding.

 

Walk/ Ride Baw Baw

Premier John Brumby opens walking trail

The Baw Baw Shire has produced a series of maps that form part of a Walk/ Ride brochure. The maps can be individually downloaded from the Baw Baw Shire website link below or the brochure can be obtained by contacting Council on 03 5624 2411.

 

Download a map and get active!

 

Walktober

Pram Walking Baw Baw

The Baw Baw Shire undertakes a series of events during October to celebrate Walktober. Some of these include the Baw Baw Shire Pram Walk and Family Fun Day, National Walk to Work Day, Go for Your Life Seniors Walk, National Ride to Work Day and the Baw Baw Fun Run, Walk and Ride.

 

School Travel Planning

Yarragon Primary School recently approached Baw Baw Shire for support in advancing walking to school. Council and primary school are now working together to develop a travel plan including: mapping where students live and routes to school, media attention, incentives and links to classroom activities. The process will be mapped and reviewed with the aim of transferring knowledge and practice to other schools in Baw Baw.