Bayside Altona in Melbourne‘s south-west already has plenty to attract walkers. But a recent council project is leaving residents and visitors alike in no doubt about the best way to get around the local shopping village.

Hobsons Bay City Council made a number of walk-friendly upgrades in 2023 to make walking safer and more convenient along the southern end of Altona’s main shopping strip, Pier Street.

Changes included: 

• Wider footpaths
• A pedestrian-priority roundabout upgrade
• New canopy trees to shade walkers on hot days
• Relocation of a car park entry/exit
• New seating

Accessibility

One person who's particularly happy about the changes is Altona resident Mia Boonen, 23. 

Mia grew up in Altona but moved away to study. She returned recently, partly because of Altona's accessibility.

Mia runs a youth theatre company at Altona’s Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre and has lived with disability since the age of 20.

“I use a walking stick and a wheelchair from time to time,” she explained.

An accessible Pier Street is important as it is her key walking route to work at the Arts Centre and to Altona Station. “Everything I need for my day-to-day is in Altona. I don’t drive. I walk to the train and everywhere.”

Mia says Altona has retained a “community vibe” partly because of its walkability. She often sees people stopping for chats on the footpaths outside cafes on Pier Street.

“It is the sort of place where you know the name of the person who makes your coffee and they know your name too.”

Analysis by Victoria Walks has found that people living in Melbourne's middle and outer suburbs are 2.5 times more likely to walk to main-street style shops than they are to a similar-sized but car-oriented shopping centre (a shopping complex surrounded by car parking). [i]

This means suburban shopping strips can be great for people’s health as well as for building community connection.

A spokesperson for Hobsons Bay City Council said the 2023 improvements aimed to:

“Establish a robust north-south pedestrian pathway, connecting the Pier Street shopping strip to Altona Pier and the surrounding open spaces …

“Priority was given to pedestrians over vehicles, fostering a safer and more accessible environment for foot traffic.”

Footpath widening
One of Hobson Bay City Council’s recent changes was to widen footpaths at the beach end of Pier Street, where lots of hospitality businesses are located, along with the weekly Altona Beach Market.

Some on-street, angled car parking spaces were removed to allow the works.

The footpath widening has provided more room for on-street dining but also given people space to meet-and-greet without blocking others who are walking.

Karen Ingram is vice president of the Altona Village Traders Association and says local businesses can benefit from a Pier Street that is more pleasant. 

Roundabout safety upgrade
Karen sometimes walks to Pier Street for lunch and is impressed by the council’s safety upgrades, which included installing raised ‘wombat’ pedestrian crossings on all four legs of the roundabout at the intersection of Pier and Queen Streets.

“I feel safer” says Karen. “Things have slowed down to a point where you can have eye contact with drivers. It feels more courteous.”

Karen also manages the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre and she says it’s another beneficiary of  an improved walking environment. The Arts Centre is one block west of Pier Street.

“We need people to find us and come through the door,” she said. “It is part of our revenue but also part of our purpose.”

Having streets that are easy and comfortable to navigate for people of all ages and abilities helps the centre in “connecting people and improving people’s wellbeing through the arts”.

“We have artwork for sale, and a gallery shop. Everything we sell is mostly by local artists and our exhibitions turn over every 3 weeks.”

Karen said Hobsons Bay council's upgrades to Pier Street were complimented by the Victorian Government’s recent rebuild of Altona Pier, which has been a drawcard for locals and visitors.

“The benefit is that people can walk from the pier to the shops, to the park and market and on to our gallery. There is so much here. You can easily fill in an hour, a half day or a whole day in Altona on foot.”

[i] P.41, Walking and Transport in Melbourne Suburbs, Victoria Walks, 2019.