Walking Waverley (The Waverley Walking Strategy) builds on Council’s People, Movement and Places strategy. It sets the vision of a walkable community where walking is safe, convenient, and supports independent access by people of all ages and abilities. Walking Waverley also aspires to be more than a strategy, but a way for the community to reflect itself and become fully woven into its identity.

The strategy identifies key issues related to walking, and outlines our focus areas to improve walkability and encourage more walking in the Local Government Area. With this strategy, we are shifting away from reactive and incidental fixes, and are moving towards a more strategic and network-wide approach in proactively identifying improvement opportunities, and prioritizing treatments. Walking Waverley is intended to guide walking related improvements, align efforts with strategic goals and longer-term ambitions.

In 2024 the community told us how important walking is in their daily lives. They also shared their experience about walking in Waverley, including what is working well, and where they want to see improvement. (Read the engagement report from phase one.)

Our community told us they walk not just to get somewhere, but also to stay and enjoy the neighbourhood. Walking provides opportunities for social interaction, and incidental exercise opportunities with health and wellbeing benefits.

What the community said:

• Less speeding, and more safe crossing opportunities
• Pavement conditions and obstruction on footpaths are seen as major obstacles to walking
• More footpath space, and less time waiting at signals
• Shading from street trees and streetscape upgrades.

We appreciate the feedback and support received from residents and stakeholders. Along with data and technical analysis, it has helped to shape this draft strategy.

We now want to hear from our residents what they think about this draft strategy, and if there is anything else that we may have missed.

The strategy aligns with multiple Council policies and priorities, including:

• More walkable streets through the Waverley Community Strategic Plan.
• Waverley’s People, Movement and Places plan identified the need to improve walkability and establish pedestrian priority.
• Climate and sustainability goals and commitments through the Environmental Action Plan.
• Placemaking and urban design initiatives under the Our Liveable Places Centres Strategy
• Waverley Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) to enhance mobility for people of all ages and abilities
• Transport equity and access goals

To support an increase in walking and its associated benefits, Walking Waverley includes seven goals.

With Walking Waverley, we have identified 162 improvement opportunities throughout the LGA. They include the following grouped areas.

Slow streets, P-24

• 40km/h zones and reducing speeds to appropriate levels based on local context.

Right sizing intersections, P-26

• Improvements to vehicle centric intersections.

Vehicle entrances/exits, P-26

• Clarify pedestrian priority and improve safety where vehicles cross pedestrian paths.

Pedestrian safety initiatives, P-28

• Including both infrastructure treatment to improve safety at pedestrian crash hot spots, and non-infrastructural community engagement and education.

Pedestrian crossing improvement, P-32

• More crossing opportunities and reducing interruptions from vehicular traffic to make it safer and easier to cross roadways.

Pedestrian signal priority, P-34

• Work with TfNSW to reduce pedestrian delays at intersections, especially in high pedestrian areas

Bus stops improvements, P-39

• Improve street crossings near popular bus zones and provide more footpath space near bus stops for both pedestrians and standing passengers.

Footpath surface improvement, P-44

• Improvements and upgrade to footpath surfaces, streetscapes, including highly trafficked and yet unpaved natural strips, connections through parks and open space.

Active travel to school, P-50

• Continue to engage with schools to better understand their needs and concerns and apply for external funding to accelerate the delivery of safe routes to schools.

Continuous travel paths, P-52

• Support the implementation of the Waverley Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) by ensuring continuous travel paths for individuals with mobility limitations.

We will work with partners and stakeholders to progress with improvement opportunities identified through this strategy. The Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) allocated funding towards the implementation of Walking Waverley over the next decade. Grant funding will also be sought to deliver more improvements. For areas outside our direct control, we will advocate to Transport for NSW on behalf of residents.

Walking in Waverley is not just convenient, but it is deeply imbedded in the local culture, offering a unique sense of place. Pedestrians are prioritised above other transport modes, as highlighted in the Waverley’s People, Movement and Place plan.

We are committed to guard the legacy of walking in Waverley, and better prepare the community for future challenges and opportunities. As such, we are looking to develop our first ever walking strategy to guide the improvement of walking infrastructure, and to make streets safer and more pleasant for pedestrians. We are keen to incorporate voice from the community in shaping this strategy, and Waverley’s walking future.

What we are considering:

• With high density and limited road space from historical development, how we allocate space for walking
• Pedestrian safety and priority
• Priority walking routes and key areas
• Continuous footpath, footpath quality and accessibility
• Active travel to school
• Walking economy

Our vision is to cultivate a pedestrian-friendly community where walking is safe, convenient, and pleasant for people of all ages and abilities. We envision walking as a means of both connecting places, and enhancing social interactions within Waverley. We strive to establish walking as a preferred mode of transport, and an inviting experience and lifestyle, contributing to a vibrant, healthy, and sustainable community.