The Federal Government’s announcement of a 10-year, $50 million per annum extension to the Active Transport Fund provides a welcome horizon for long-term planning. But more is needed.
While this new 10-year commitment offers baseline certainty, and will undoubtedly help local governments fund some fantastic active travel projects, the annual funding pool remains modest when distributed across the entire nation.
“A ten-year funding commitment is a structural step in the right direction, giving state and local governments the timeline security they need to plan. However, we need to be entirely realistic about the math,” said WestCycle CEO Wayne Bradshaw.
“$50 million a year across the whole country leaves a relatively thin slice for Western Australia. Indeed this level of funding still treats active transport as an alternative add-on rather than a core pillar of our transport network.”
WestCycle backs the call from Bicycle Queensland that encourages Catherine King MP, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, to leverage this commitment to safe and sustainable transport by introducing:
- a positive provision policy for cycling and walking that is directly written into grants for all Federally-funded urban transport projects
- compulsory declarations by importers to keep unsafe, illegal e-bikes out of our country.
Bradshaw added: “To achieve real, transformative change where riding and walking become genuine, safe alternatives to driving for everyday trips just as has been shown in places like Paris and Copenhagen, we need to rethink the transport investment picture.”
“The demand from local councils for shovel-ready projects far outstrips this budget, as indicated by the massive over-subscription of $1bn for projects around the country for the available $100m in the first round of this fund. This must be a floor for active transport investment, not a ceiling.”
WestCycle will continue working closely with local and state governments to ensure WA maximises its share of this federal pool, while continuing to push for to reshape our cities and regional towns for the benefit of all communities.
For further information or interviews, please contact:
Shane Starling
Communications manager (0492 897 199)
