The Canterbury-Bankstown Active Transport Action Plan supports the aspirations of the Community Strategic Plan by seeking to provide an interconnected walking and cycling network for the people that live in, undertake activities within and pass through the entire Canterbury-Bankstown LGA, while integrating with the broader metropolitan strategies and bicycle network of neighbouring LGAs. The document will guide the actions and strategic priorities for active transport over the next 10 years.

Community engagement on the Plan was conducted between 9 December 2020 to 1 March 2021, with a high level of interest from the community. During the course of the exhibition period;

• The Have Your Say platform was viewed by 1,280 people.
• There were 37 formal submissions received through the Have Your Say platform. Of these submissions, 97% supported or partially supported the Plan with some respondents believing Council should be more ambitious with their active transport targets.
• A total of 365 social pinpoint submissions were made from 39 contributors on the Have Your Say platform. Approximately 27% of these comments related to Route 12, the Cooks River shared path, and 25% related to Route 8 which proposes a shared path connection along the Sydenham to Bankstown Metro line.
• There were 18 direct submissions made via email or letter to Council.
• In addition to the formal submission pathways, a resident established a good.do petition in support of the Active Transport Action Plan through which 45 emails of support were received.

The key themes that emerged from submissions were:

• High levels of support for infrastructure that improves access to our green grid corridors, respondents highlighted the Cooks River, Salt Pan Creek, Mirambeena and Lambeth Reserve as areas they love to walk and cycle. Opportunities to improve connections to Georges River National Park, the Duck River and sections of the Cooks River were specifically noted.
• Respondents loved the new Lang Road bridge installed in Hurlstone Park.
• Respondents highlighted the need to improve the Cooks River connection under Canterbury Road. This project has already been designed and funded and is ready to construct in the coming months.
• Respondents supported maintaining the bush tracks throughout the LGA, specifically the sections of recreational bushwalking tracks within Salt Pan Creek and Wolli Creek rather than converting them to shared paths.

Even though community members were supportive of the Plan, many have raised concerns regarding the need for more general signage, wayfinding signage, clearer road markings, improved pedestrian crossings and refuges, wider footpaths, kerb ramps and road surface quality. Some submissions indicated support for the Plan but believed Council should be more ambitious and set higher targets and expectations for active transport across the City.

Council would like to acknowledge the detailed contributions received and thank the community for their support and high level of engagement with this project.

Council has resolved to adopt the Active Transport Action Plan and consider the actions as part of future operational plans.