Project Description

For many residents, their highest priority is to make the local area look cleaner and feel like a safer place to live.

Many people mentioned that a lot of areas throughout Seabrook and Altona Meadows look very ‘untidy’ and ‘unloved’ - including parks and public spaces, creeklines and waterways, as well the main streets and gateways into the neighbourhoods. Many of the suggestions were quite simple - improving the visual presentation of public amenities, increasing the maintenance of open space areas and creek corridors, or just the providing more bins in well positioned locations. There is also a lot of concern around issues such as hooning, graffiti, dumping of rubbish and anti-social behaviour - and the impact that these have on the character and image of the area.

Whilst it is acknowledged that some of these types of issues are outside of the direct scope of Council action, there is a strong desire amongst local residents to see new initiatives, projects and partnerships be undertaken that will help to improve the appearance, safety and image of the area. Residents want to live in a well-presented place where they feel safe and that they are proud to call home.

Key Ideas + Opportunities

The following is a list of the key ideas, initiatives and opportunities that emerged through the community consultation and visioning process that will be further investigated and targeted for delivery as part of the Thinking Cleaner and Safer Project:

Local Clean-Up Blitz

• Undertake a targeted and co-ordinated clean-up of local parks, car parks, public parks, streets and public assets throughout Seabrook and Altona Meadows including:
  • Repairing park and street furniture
  • Deep cleaning bin surrounds, deep cleaning and scrubbing paths through key shopping precincts
  • Repairing Council’s damaged fencing infrastructure and graffiti removal
• Provide ongoing levels of servicing to ensure the progress achieved through the maintenance blitz is sustained.
• Council to undertake review of suburb gateways / entries (including land within and outside of council ownership) and investigate new initiatives for improving their tidiness, appearance and maintenance.

Refresh My Suburb

• Develop a new creative branding / awareness campaign that will bring renewed attention / momentum to tools available to the community to report and support the clean-up process including:
  • Raising awareness / use of the Snap, Send, Solve app and reporting process,
  • Increasing awareness and enforcement of Local Laws / Penalties for littering and dumping of rubbish,
  • Creating a refreshed community awareness campaign to encourage people to ‘clean-up’ after their dogs and to not litter.
• Work with local community groups, schools, and leaders wanting to initiate and manage clean-up initiatives in their area. Support with resources, funds and promotion to help ensure lasting success by empowering the community to make the area more clean, loved and cared for.

Our Safer Suburbs

• Council to develop a program to review and improve general safety and accessibility around key movement corridors, parks and community spaces, transport nodes and shopping centres. Key initiatives to include elements such as providing new and upgraded lighting, pathway widenings and streetscape improvements and general clean-up and upgrade of key spaces to make them feel safer and more accessible and usable for all residents and for different times of the day. These safety initiatives will be tied-in with other Better Places projects such as the Better Places and Spaces Project to make sure they are considered and included in any future works.
• Council to share the findings of the Better Places consultation with the police and identify opportunities to work together to address hooning and anti-social activities.
• Council to take findings from other Better Places projects investigating new / best practice solutions (i.e., potential to partner with innovative industry leaders to trial new technologies for crime prevention and antisocial behaviour) and look to apply within Seabrook and Altona Meadows.

Next Steps

Key steps that have been identified to be undertaken as part of the Thinking Cleaner and Safer Project include:

• Council to appoint a project manager as the central leadership, coordination and delivery role for the Thinking Cleaner and Safer Project and to provide the main point of contact.
• Council to undertake an audit of public assets infrastructure and key precincts to be prioritised as part of the clean-up blitz within the first 6 to 12 months.
• Undertake a community information process to increase awareness / usage of the Snap, Send, Solve app and to promote the clean-up and safety initiatives being developed.
• Seek EOI’s from local community groups interested in organising / hosting clean-up activity events.
• Select two community clean-up events in each suburb - four in total. Coordinate and help support the delivery of these events in collaboration with relevant Council departments including Sustainability and Parks Services. Promote the community clean-up events via established community networks including community groups, clubs and schools.
• Council to initiate discussions / partnership with Victoria Police services to share the findings of the Better Places consultation and the aims of the Thinking Cleaner and Safer Project.
• Council to undertake an audit of places within Seabrook and Altona with the highest levels of crime and anti-social behaviour and develop initiatives to improve safety (and tie these in with findings and initiatives being developed as part of other Better Places projects).

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Project Description

This project, in many ways, is closely linked to the Thinking Cleaner and Safer Project but is more specifically targeted towards improving the appearance and character within the residential neighbourhoods and local streets. Many residents expressed that they want to increase the trees and greening within their neighbourhoods and local streets, but to also try develop new initiatives to tackle issues related to private residences such as unmaintained front yards and nature strips and cars parking on the nature strips.

Many residents value the quieter suburban-style character of the local area, as well as the environmental and landscape values of the creeklines and waterway corridors. They feel that these elements are important to the character and identity of the Seabrook and Altona Meadows and that new initiatives should be developed that will help to celebrate and strengthen features and tell the story of the local area.

This project will focus on looking for opportunities to increasing the level of tree planting and greening within the neighbourhoods, as well as working with residents to try to improve the appearance and maintenance of their front yards and nature strips. The aim will be to improve the appearance of the neighbourhoods and streets in the short term, but also help to increase the sense of local identity and pride for the community into the future.

Key Ideas + Opportunities

The following is a list of the key ideas, initiatives and opportunities that emerged through the community consultation and visioning process that will be further investigated and targeted for delivery as part of the Neighbourhood Character + Greening Project:

‘Cooler Streets’

Coordinate and fund the implementation of ‘Cool Streets’ greening and improvement projects at three sites in Seabrook and Altona Meadows. The projects will work with residents to enhance the appearance of nature strips and front yards and undertake other streetscape improvements to lift the appearance and character of the streets. Horticultural advice, free trees, plants and shrubs will be provided by Council as part of the project. These pilot projects will act as demonstration examples for street greening and improvement that will aim to become catalysts for further projects and that the community can reference for their own initiatives and improvements.

Growing Our Green Canopy

Altona Meadows and Seabrook have the lowest percentages of tree canopy and highest heat vulnerability of any of the suburbs in Hobsons Bay. For this project, Council will continue to implement its Urban Forest Strategy to identify and replace aging or under-performing tree stock but will also look for new opportunities to deliver pilot greening projects (such as establishing feature green avenues or additional creekline or parkland planting) that will increase the green canopy in the local area.

Our Place and Our People

Building on Council’s public art strategy, and drawing on themes of place, people, and natural environment, the Our Place and Our People Project will develop a variety of art, events and interpretive projects that celebrate the history and character of Seabrook and Altona Meadows including:

• Identifying local stories that can be interpreted in the public realm and through the arts.
• Creating and supporting events as a platform to celebrate local identity, including neighbourhood character, multicultural communities and more.
• Seeking creative activations through the arts, through local programming and outdoor opportunities.

Potential Pillar Project - Cooler Streets

It is clear that the residents of Seabrook and Altona Meadows want to see an increase in the level of trees and greening in their local streets and to enhance the appearance of nature strips and front yards to lift the character and image of their neighbourhoods. The focus of the Cooler Streets project will be to undertake pilot projects that will provide real-life demonstrations of what can be achieved and that will hopefully then become provide inspiration and act as a catalyst for other similar projects in the future. Do you think this is a good idea and will help to lift the amenity and character of streets in your local area? Do you think you would like to nominate your street, and do you think your neighbours would support the idea and like to get involved? View the concept drawings for this project and leave comments below.

Next Steps

Key initiatives and steps that have been identified to be undertaken as part of the Neighbourhood Character and Greening Project include:

• Seek expressions of interest from three residential streets throughout Seabrook and Altona Meadows who would like to participate in the Cooler Streets implementation. Engage with three shortlisted streets on preferred design and timing of work and arrange community planting and contracted works for completion of works. Council to work with street residents to provide ongoing maintenance, advice and support during the establishment period. Upon completion of the pilot projects, Council will promote the outcomes of the Streets Ahead pilot projects and seek expressions of interest for other street projects to be undertaken each year.
• Council to continue to implement its Urban Forest Strategy and undertake a review / inventory of trees within local streets, park areas and reserves not already included in other projects (qualified arborists will assess trees, and those that are no longer contributing to the landscape or are in poor condition will be removed and replaced with appropriate urban tree species).
• Council to develop the replacement tree plan for those identified in the review. Procure the necessary species and resources needed for an intensive planting program. Provide necessary care and maintenance for the establishment period of the new trees.
• Council to initiate the Our Place and Our People Project. The type and extent of projects will be determined as part of initial consultation and information gathering process.

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Project Description

One of the most commonly reoccurring themes across the different ideas and suggestions expressed through Better Places community feedback was to try and bring more of the ‘daily needs’ into the local area. While residents appreciate the quiet suburban nature of the area, there is a strong desire to have more places to ‘meet friends’ and socialise locally - like cafes, bars and pubs - without the need to get in your car or leave the local area. The most common suggestions focused on trying to upgrade the existing local centres to make them more inviting and encourage more of these types of activities. Other popular ideas, particularly for Seabrook, included on having a pop-up or community-based café linked to a community centre or park.

This project will focus on developing initiatives to improve the existing centres as well as looking for opportunities to create new community nodes, meeting places and destinations in the local area. It is important to note that many of the shopping centres in the local area are privately owned - so this project will involve a combination of Council undertaking works on streets and publicly owned land as well as working with property owners and traders to help encourage and support improvements for their own businesses and properties that will help to deliver the changes that the community is looking for.

The need for a local high school in Altona Meadows was one of the concerns most regularly highlighted by residents at each stage of the Seabrook and Altona Meadows community consultation.

Key Ideas + Opportunities

The following is a list of the key ideas, initiatives and opportunities that emerged through the community consultation and visioning process that will be further investigated and targeted for delivery as part of the Better Villages Project:

Existing Village Centres

• Develop improvement plans for existing village centres within the local area (such as Alma Ave, Victoria Street Shopping Village) with input from local traders and the community to deliver upgrades (both to the centres and surrounding streets and public spaces) that will make them more vibrant, attractive, functional and safe to help support their future viability. As a first step in this process, Council will undertake a consultation, design and improvement process for one centre to act as a pillar project that demonstrates upgrade initiatives, principles and processes that can then be adapted to other centres.
• Council to initiate conversations with privately owned centres (such as Central Square, Seabrook Shopping Village, Queen Street Shops) to share the findings of Better Places and to discuss opportunities for improvements (such as enhanced amenity and safety, better gathering spaces and increased social uses such as cafes, bars and pubs) to make them more attractive and usable for the local community.

New ‘Catch Me At’ Places

Altona Meadows Community Park and Homestead Run Reserve were continually noted throughout the consultation as being two places where the community would like to add some type of social meeting spot (like a pop-up cafe or food van area) that could become a new destination for local residents. Working closely with the existing community groups, this project will develop concept plans for pilot projects that will transform a small area of these parks into an attractive spot for socialising, picnics, etc (such as outside seating / shade area) and be designed in such a way that food trucks / vans or a pop-up cafe space could fit into the space.

Local High School

One of the most regular issues raised throughout the community consultation was the desire to have a local public high school. It is important to note that a lot of advocacy work has already been undertaken in relation to this issue, but it is acknowledged that some community members may not be aware of this.

As recently as late 2021, through its elected officials, Council reached out to the State Government to express these concerns with a request for a detailed review and response to the community request for a new school to be considered.

It is clear that this continues to be an important priority for the local community and one that they want it to continue to be advocated for. Whilst it is acknowledged that this is a state government issue, and that there are no immediate plans to change the school provision in the area, the findings of the Better Places community consultation documents the residents views for any future review or advocacy around the issue.

Potential Pillar Project - Homestead Run Reserve - New ‘Catch Me At’ Places

One of the things that residents of Seabrook and Altona Meadows want most in their local area is more ‘social places’ where they can catch-up with friends, hangout and connect with other local people. The most popular idea was to trial pop-up cafes or food vans near local parks - with Homestead Run and Altona Meadows Community Park being the most commonly suggested locations.

What would you think about the idea of having ‘pop-up’ spaces like this? Do you think it is a place that you would like to visit, and do you think it would become a destination and meeting place for locals?

Next Steps

Key steps that have been identified to be undertaken as part of the Better Villages Project include:

• Council to initiate discussions with privately owned centre operators (Central Square, Seabrook Shopping Village, Queen Street Shops) to discuss findings of community consultation and identify opportunities for potential improvements / upgrades (both on private property and on surrounding public land).
• Council to initial focus group / workshop process with traders and property owners from the smaller local centres (i.e. Alma Ave and Victoria Street Shopping Village) and develop initial ideas / concepts for pilot improvement project for one centre.
• Working closely with local community, confirm preferred sites and develop concepts for the two ‘Catch Me At’ pilot projects - identify potential community leaders and other event / activation opportunities to be further investigated.
• Council to undertake broader community consultation to develop ideas and design concepts for the Existing Village Centres and New ‘Catch Me At’ Places.
• Council to develop a program / timeline for delivery of potential Better Village projects that can be carried out under existing council budgets based on initial ideas and concepts - whilst seeking funding options for those that require external funding sources (i.e. State funding/grants).

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Project Description

From the feedback received throughout the consultation, it is clear that the community highly values the parks, creek corridors and other public spaces throughout Seabrook and Altona Meadows, but that there is also a strong desire to see them upgraded to make them more attractive and functional and to provide ‘more to do.’

It is important to note that there are significant improvements already being planned or undertaken for public spaces in the local area (such as the Bruce Comben Master Plan). The focus of this project will be to, wherever practical, incorporate the feedback and suggestions received into the plans that are already underway or proposed and to look for other opportunities to provide upgrades and new works that will improve the public spaces and places in the local area.

Whilst the scope of the various projects will be determined through ongoing design and consultation processes, The Better Places and Spaces Project will deliver the physical improvements needed to enhance the amenity and function of the public domain throughout Seabrook and Altona Meadows.

Key ideas + Opportunities

There are already a lot of projects, programs and initiatives in the Seabrook and Altona Meadows area that are currently underway and directly relate to the suggestions and aspirations expressed by the community. The below table shows the current projects that relate to the suggestions received as well as other new initiatives that will be investigated as part of future work.

Existing Projects

Bruce Comben Reserve - Southern Open Space

The southern end of the reserve is being transformed to include new social family and recreation activities including a playground, hard courts areas, shelters, public toilet, dog off leash area, planting, and established pathway network and formalised car parking.

Altona Meadows Library

An important community space upgrade being delivered in 2023 that will include a new and improved children’s area, ESD features throughout the building, acoustic treatments and technology pods, landscaping to the internal courtyard, and a STEAM Centre of excellence.

Pipeline Reserve

Design and delivery of future park upgrades that create a place that better connects the Seabrook community. Upgrades will be delivered in consultation with the community but will include improved landscaping, playground and social, family and recreation areas.

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Western Aquatic and Early Years Centre

Continue to advocate for funding and design the future Western Aquatic and Early Years facility at Bruce Comben Reserve that will incorporate a café, 25m pool, learn to swim pool, warm water pool, water play activities, spa, steam sauna, gymnasium, program rooms and an early years facility.

Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre

Continue to advocate and design the future Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre at HD Graham Reserve. The facility will educate and raise awareness within the community about the importance wetlands play in combatting climate change.

New Initiatives + Projects

The following is a list of new projects and initiatives that will be investigated and developed in response to the ideas and priorities expressed by the community:

Creek Corridors

Council to review creek corridors and adjoining reserves parks, reserves, and develop a program of upgrades that improve their amenity, function and connections in response to the suggestions received from the community (such as increasing the provision of toilets, drinking fountains and seating areas).

Improving and Activating Our Reserves

Council to review local reserves and develop a program of upgrades that improve their amenity and function in response to the suggestions received from the community (such as increasing the provision of toilets, upgrading playgrounds, community gardens and providing dog off-lead areas). Spaces that will be reviewed include reserves like Kingfisher Drive Reserve, Carinza Reserve and Hubble Reserve as examples. In combination with Project 3, work with local leaders and community groups to look for new opportunities to increase the use and activation of the reserves through pop-ups, events and other activities.

Potential Pillar Project - Alma Ave Reserve + Village Precinct

The Alma Avenue Reserve and adjoining shops have the potential to be upgraded to make them more attractive and inviting meeting places for locals places. By adding more greenery to the reserve and streets, providing places where people can grab a coffee and sit and relax with friends or watch their kids play in the park, or by improving the appearance of the shops and supporting local traders, this precinct could become a true destination and heart for the local community.

What do you think? - is this an idea that you would support and do you think it would make it a place that you would make it a place that you would like to visit more regularly and catch-up with friends?

Next Steps

Key steps that have been identified to be undertaken as part of the Better Places and Spaces Project include:

• Continue engagement, design, advocacy and delivery for already existing and planned projects such as Pipeline Reserve, Western Aquatic and Early Years Centre and the Hobsons Bay Wetland Centre. Engage contractors to deliver upgrades at Altona Meadows Library and the Bruce Comben Reserve Southern Open Space area.
• Engage with the local community and existing community groups that are already active in the local area on potential upgrades to be undertaken for the Creek Corridors and Upgrading and Activating Our Reserves projects.
• Develop designs and program for implementation of improvement works that can be undertaken can be incorporated into existing Council capital budgets.
• Undertake planning and advocacy for projects that are outside the scope of existing Council capital budgets and will require additional State Government support and funding.

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Project Description

One of the most common issues expressed throughout the consultation was that the Seabrook and Altona Meadows area is very car focused - with people regularly commenting that you ‘kind of need a car to get anywhere’. In particular, a lot of people highlighted that it is not an ‘easy’ or ‘nice’ place to try to walk or cycle around - that the main roads create strong barriers to walking and cycling and that most of the main local destinations like shopping centres and train stations are difficult to get to on foot or bike. Whilst Skeleton Creek was often mentioned as being an important and continuous walking and cycling connection, it was again often noted that it is difficult to get to if you don’t live close-by. In short, whilst it seems like there are a lot of local people who would like to walk and cycle more (particularly at peak times when some of the main roads are at a standstill), their concerns over safety means that they do not currently see it as a viable or attractive option.

The focus of this project will be to improve the walking and cycling network throughout Seabrook and Altona Meadows to help make the areas feel more pedestrian or bike friendly, and to provide a viable alternative to private vehicle usage.

Any streetscape projects that are proposed under the Improving Our Walking and Cycling Network will be integrated with Council’s Local Area Movement Plan and will involve stakeholder and community consultation to ensure that local residents, traders and businesses will all have the opportunity to provide input into the design process.

Key Ideas + Opportunities

The community suggestions recieved through Better Places in regard to improving the walking and cycling network included a wide range of ideas. The key suggestions are listed below, and are organised into categories that show those which are already covered by current projects and other new initiatives that will be investigated as part of future work.

Existing Projects

There are already a lot of projects, programs and initiatives in the Seabrook and Altona Meadows area that are currently underway and directly relate to the suggestions and aspirations expressed by the community. Wherever practical, the new ideas and initiatives developed through Better Places will focus on strengthening these already planned / proposed projects:

Queen Street Bridge

Design already undertaken by Council to add safe pedestrian / cyclist path. Advocacy with Department of Transport and Planning for funding already underway.

Bruce Comben Reserve

Active transport is a key focus for existing projects such as the Bruce Comben Reserve masterplan - opportunity to further strengthen the active transport network by extending these walking and bike connections further throughout local area as part of future projects.

Local Area Movement Plan

A variety road safety improvements (such as those recently completed on Merton Street and Victoria Street) and missing link footpath projects are already being undertaken. Ideas suggested through Better Places will be checked against current projects to identify any additional works that should be investigated.

Point Cook Road

Planning and advocacy already being undertaken with Department of Transport and Planning for funding and additional measures to support active transport access along Point Cook Road. Council to use $79 million upgrade announcement by Labor in the election for the Point Cook Road / Central Avenue to advocate for improved pedestrian and cyclist safety and access to Aircraft Station and Aviation Road.

New Initiatives + Projects

The following is a list of new projects and initiatives that will be investigated and developed in response to the ideas and priorities expressed by the community:

Active Transport Plan

Develop an Active Transport Plan that provides a clear vision and framework for improving the walking and cycling network in Seabrook and Altona Meadows. The Plan will tie together all existing and planned projects and provide new ideas, initiatives and priority projects to be undertaken to improve the main walking and cycling routes within the local area (and to neighbouring suburbs), and to link together all major destinations such train stations, reserves, shopping and schools.

The MainLines

One of the most commonly expressed project ideas throughout the consultation was the desire to provide improved walking and cyclist links to Aircraft Station and Laverton Station. So, building on 'Active Transport Plan', the MainLines Project will focus on developing a design vision, principles and plans for the main north south active transport connections that link Seabrook and Altona Meadows to the Aircraft and Laverton Stations. The vision and principles will be used to identify priority project to be undertaken to enhance these important linkages and will be bring renewed attention / momentum to opportunities and provide a basis for future planning, advocacy and funding.

Potential Pillar Project - The MainLines

The vision for the MainLines is to provide 2 major north / south walking and cycling corridors that run through the heart of Seabrook and Altona Meadows and will connect through to the Aircraft and Laverton rail stations. The MainLines will be prioritised as major active transport movement corridors and be designed to feel safe, convenient and attractive to regular commuters but also those people who currently don’t feel comfortable cycling in the area. The MainLines will be joined to a series secondary linkage to form a walking and cycling network that connects residents to all key local destinations.

Next Steps

Key initiatives and steps that have been identified to be undertaken as part of the Improving Our Walking and Cycling Network project include:

• Council to run a background workshop to review existing and planned projects in relation to suggestions received through Better Places and initiate background work and formalise the scope for Active Transport Plan. The Active Transport Plan will identify the scope and details for any potential new projects / initiatives.
• Council to develop vision and design principles for ‘MainLines’ active transport corridors to connect through to Aircraft Station and Laverton Stations - associated plans / designs to be developed to advocate for State Government funding.
• Develop designs and program for implementation of improvement works that can be undertaken for the Active Transport Plan or MainLines projects and can be incorporated into existing Council capital budgets.
• Undertake planning and advocacy for projects that are outside the scope of existing Council capital budgets and will require additional State Government support and funding.

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Project Description

At the moment, Seabrook and Altona Meadows are very car-focused and there are significant problems with traffic congestion along main routes such as Point Cook Road and the Freeway entries at peak times. Public transport is limited to buses in the local area and, given that these are dependant on the road network, they suffer from the same congestion issues. Whilst the Laverton and Aircraft rail stations are relatively close, they are difficult to get to due to the traffic issues and the lack of effective active transport linkages.

Local residents want to see initiatives undertaken that will help to reduce vehicular congestion, as well as develop a more effective public transport network that will provide a viable alternative to private vehicle usage.

This project will focus on bringing together the work already underway and proposed under the Local Area Movement Plan and other related active transport plans. It will look for opportunities to improve the private vehicle and bus network and integrate these with the active transport initiatives proposed under Project 5 to better connect the community with nearby rail stations. The project will be part co-ordination, part advocacy and part delivery, but overall it will be about pulling together all the different pieces needed to provide a more effective vehicular and public transport network for Seabrook and Altona Meadows into the future.

Key Ideas + Opportunities

The community suggestions received through Better Places focused on trying to reduce traffic congestion at peak times, improving the effectiveness of the bus network and providing more ways to get to the Aircraft and Laverton rail stations. The below shows current projects that are already underway and aim to help address these issues, as well as new initiatives that will be investigated as part of future work.

Existing Projects

The following is a list of projects, programs and initiatives in the Seabrook and Altona Meadows area that are currently underway and directly relate to the suggestions and aspirations expressed by the community. Wherever practical, the new ideas and initiatives developed through Better Places will focus on strengthening these already planned / proposed projects:

Local Area Movement Plan

A variety road safety improvements (such as those recently completed on Merton Street and Victoria Street) are already being undertaken. Ongoing works to be undertaken (such as renewal of traffic calming devices and intersection upgrades) and the ideas suggested through Better Places will be checked against current projects to identify any additional works that should be investigated.

Point Cook Road / Central Avenue

Planning and advocacy already being undertaken with Department of Transport and Planning for funding and additional measures to support improvements for vehicular movement and safety along Point Cook Road and Central Avenue. Design already undertaken by Council to add additional traffic lanes and intersection improvements for Central Avenue and advocacy with Department of Transport and Planning for funding is already underway. Council to use $79 million upgrade announcement by Labor in the election for the Point Cook Road / Central Avenue to advocate for key traffic congestion solutions and resolving safety issues.

New Initiatives + Projects

The following is a list of new projects and initiatives that will be undertaken in response to the ideas and priorities expressed by the community:

Better Connected Project

The Better Connected project will bring together the findings and work being undertaken for the Local Area Movement Plan and combine these with the active transport initiatives proposed under Project 5 to create a holistic plan that sets out the required future changes necessary to improve access to public transport and reduce reliance on the private vehicle network. As part of this process, a preliminary assessment of the current bus network will be carried out in parallel with the active transport plan to ensure the two are integrated and to identify any potential opportunities for improving the function, usability and connection of the bus services with other modes of travel.

The output of the project will be a single cohesive document that provides a clear and integrated active transport and public transport framework and can be used to:

• Prioritise and provide additional support for active transport links and public transport projects through the capital works programs;
• Define the scope for larger projects that will require State Government funding;
• Provide a pro-active and co-ordinated plan for advocacy with neighbouring municipalities as part of reforming bus planning and provision in Melbourne’s west;
• Demonstrate a best-practice approach that clearly links proposed bus service improvements to an overall active transport plan and will assist in advocating for state government support and funding.

Next Steps

Key initiatives and steps that have been identified to be undertaken as part of the Improving Our Transport Network include:

• Council to run a workshop to review existing and planned projects under the Local Area Movement Plan in relation to suggestions received through Better Places and identify any potential new projects / initiatives to be investigate.
• Council to initiate background work, develop scope and bring together team required to deliver the Better Connected project.
• Create a plan to provide the additional improvements (integration with main cycling and walking links, additional parkiteer / bike storage facilities, upgraded car parking etc) to improve function, usability and integration between the active transport and public transport networks.
• Develop designs and program for implementation of improvement works that can be undertaken for the Better Connected project and can be incorporated into existing Council capital budgets.
• Publish a Better Connected Project report that outlines the current and proposed future multi-modal network plan that incorporates all modes of active transport and public transport. Using the findings and initiatives from the report, undertake planning and advocacy for projects that are outside the scope of existing Council capital budgets and will require additional State Government support and funding.

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The Place Projects represent an important step towards realising the vision for Seabrook and Altona Meadows.

Some of the Place Projects will be able to be implemented almost immediately as part of fast-tracked initiatives, and others will evolve as part of a longer term design process. As the Place Projects are undertaken, there will be opportunities for ongoing community input and ideas, and this may lead to other ideas and projects emerging. This way the community will continue to play an important role in shaping the place they live in - and bringing the vision for Seabrook and Altona Meadows to life.

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