Mapping liveability

Earlier in 2021, in partnership with Charles Sturt University we conducted a study to create a walkability index for Chiltern and Rutherglen to support town planning and infrastructure, as well as the delivery of the Ageing Well Strategy and other Council plans.

The report, Mapping liveability in the Indigo Shire summarises the background and findings developed during the study.

The report explains how the ageing population is a planning challenge that will affect regional and rural areas at a greater rate than metropolitan areas, as one in four people will be over the age of 65 in the next 10 years, with more than half living outside of regional centres such as Wodonga.

Understanding how liveable our townships are for older people helps us to plan for the provision of health, aged care, housing and infrastructure and social and recreational services. Towns that are age-friendly are more equitable and inclusive for all people.

The report explains how, where and why older people currently walk in Chiltern and Rutherglen and makes recommendations for removing barriers to walkability. The report will be used to support footpath planning, increasing outdoor accessibility in towns and green spaces and for grant applications to support residents to be active in Indigo Shire. 

The project was led by Charles Sturt University, the Institute for Land, Water, with funding provided by a consortium including Indigo Shire Council, and the North East Catchment Management Authority, Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning. Indigo Shire Council contributed $5000 to the project and supported the researchers to find participants for the project.

We will use the outcomes of the report to make decisions to help you walk around all Indigo Shire towns more easily and to plan for upgrades to walking tracks, recreation areas and green spaces that are popular with older people. The flow-on impact is that accessibility is also increased for those with additional mobility needs, people with prams and the general public.

Thank you to all the residents who participated in this study.

You can read the final report here: Mapping-liveability-in-Indigo-Shire-report-30-Aug-21.pdf(PDF, 5MB)