Grant funding for five CCP Australia Councils

Five councils in Australia that are active in ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection™ Campaign have received an Accelerated Action Grant from the Australian Government.

The grant, from the Australia Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, will be used to produce the Hobart Integrated Regional Bicycle Network Plan.  The plan will include a regional on- and off-road cycling network, end of trip facilities and recreational destinations. The councils also intend to drive momentum within the community to plan and create the facilities identified in the regional plan.

This project will create a positive environment for an increase in cycling activity while decreasing car-dependence and thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to the anticipated environmental benefits there are also financial and health benefits associated with such a shift in transport behaviour, including:

• improved community health;
• decreased medical costs for chronic conditions;
• reduced expenditure on vehicle investment and maintenance;
• reduced costs associated with congestion; and
• reduced expenditure on road expansion plans.

The Councils, all location within the greater Hobart region in Tasmania, are:  Hobart City Council, Brighton Council, Clarence City Council, Glenorchy City Council and Kingborough Council.

The councils’ comprehensive regional approach, taking into account key regional employment, recreation, and service nodes, and securing the participation of key business and industry stakeholders, will provide valuable insights and best practice guidelines for local governments around Australia seeking to improve their active transport networks.

The combined greater Hobart Councils hope to have a final draft plan available for public comment by the end of this month (March 2008).