Walking to understand
Date: 8 May 2025
Location: Selected local streets in the Kingaroy–Booie area
On a warm May morning, seven people, a mix of local residents, elected representatives and council staff of the South Burnett Regional Council set out on foot through a neighbourhood in the Kingaroy–Booie area. Their mission? To walk the streets, talk to each other, and look closely at what helps or hinders walking in their community.
This wasn’t just a fact-finding exercise. It was about understanding lived experiences. Along the way, residents spoke about what it feels like to walk these roads every day, the good, the difficult, and the potentially dangerous.
A key connector road: safety in question
One road stood out. A major connector with an 80km/h speed limit, regular truck traffic, and no footpaths. Locals named it as a hotspot, pointing out the serious risks faced by anyone walking there, especially older adults, families, or those without access to a car.
“Crossing that road is very dangerous.”
“We need a path – the edges are uneven and unsafe.”
Despite having wide roadside verges, the high speeds and lack of infrastructure make walking stressful and unsafe.
Adjacent streets: quieter, safer with small improvements
The group also walked several quieter residential streets with wide roads, good lighting, and lower traffic volumes. This area was much safer and enjoyable to walk however some streets require speed signage to help slow traffic to ensure safety for all.
“There are lots of kids on this street – we need speed signs.”
Turning feedback into action
By the end of the walk, participants had identified a clear path forward:
- Reduce the speed limit on the main connector road
- Improve roadside verges and build footpaths
- Add pedestrian signage and street lighting
- Develop a local Walking Network Plan to guide future improvements
Why this matters
This Walkshop gave community members an opportunity to share their concerns about walkability in their local neighbourhood. It also gave elected representatives and council staff a real insight into the issues, through genuine stories and observations. Residents felt heard. Elected representatives and Council staff left with ideas to improve walkability, including small signage improvements, speed reduction and other community feedback to inform future infrastructure planning, safety measures, and funding applications.
Small steps like these, grounded in walking, listening, and learning lay the foundation for safer, more walkable places.