Lighter, quicker, cheaper for shading on a hot footpath
Queensland Walks visited Ipswich Central to meet with Erin Marchant, Place Manager, Ipswich City Council. Former Queensland Walks Board member and Ipswich Sport and Recreation Officer, Andrea Mann also joined us for the walking conversation on a 28 degree toasty spring day in beautiful historic Ipswich.
Erin showcased the Green Urban Arbour on East Street which has been made possible through a Queensland Government grant to pilot small-scale and low-cost solutions that improve the walking and riding environment. The arbour is on a primary walking route identified in the Ipswich Hospital Walking Network Plan prepared by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Ipswich City Council.
The Green Urban Arbour is located between Ipswich Train Station and Ipswich Hospital. It features solar festoon lighting for night-time walking, wicking planter beds with Flamevines (pyrostegia venusta (ignea)) to provide shade when mature, and shade cloth that creates temporary shading until planting is established.
The structure is designed so that it can relocated and reassembled in a different location if required.
This project is immediately having a cooling effect and has improved the look of this section of East Street, supporting both movement and place. Erin is particularly excited about the customer feedback showing that the arbour has improved walkability and the commuting experience along East Street for active transport users, inclusive of visual aesthetic, comfort, and safety.
Based on feedback from the focus group, before the arbour installation, 96% rated the combined experience and safety of walking along East Street as very poor or poor. After the installation of the Green Urban Arbour, there was an improvement by 78%.
Queensland Walks was also thrilled to hear good news about the improvement in road safety which was a result of the signposted speed reduction to 40 km/hr on key streets in Ipswich Central. This change was guided by Ipswich’s iGO Road Safety Action Plan and facilitated via the Queensland Government Vulnerable Road Users Program. Queensland Police Service officers have mentioned in the Ipswich Road Safety Operations Committee technical meetings that speed compliance is much better since the signposted speed was reduced. We congratulate Ipswich in prioritising road safety.
Anna, Executive Officer of Queensland Walks recommended raised crossings over East Street, with South Street being a key corridor and desire line for walking and riding.
Congratulations Ipswich on small, but important, changes to the walking environment in improved shading, greening and safer streets, and we look forward to more walkability and placemaking projects to come. Until our next walk in Ipswich!
If you want to find out more about the project or provide feedback visit https://www.shapeyouripswich.com.au/walkability-along-East-Street
