Creating New Urban Centres that Invite Walking

How can we create vibrant and liveable new urban centres? Walkability is a key element as we strive for places that people want to be. Using Cockburn Central as a case study, let’s examine how can create a great walking environment while addressing regional traffic congestion and car/pedestrian conflict.

Spend a morning with international walking expert Rodney Tolley and local academic Dr Paula Hooper unpacking Cockburn Central for what it can teach us when it comes to creating liveable town centres. Cockburn Central is a developing regional centre built around a train station and a freeway interchange which aims to come the most influential activity centre in the southern corridor by 2031.

About Rodney:
In 2009 Rodney was nominated in the top 50 of the World’s sustainable transport ‘heroes’ - “the extraordinary creative people who over the last decades have led the way in the uphill fight to sustainable transportation, sustainable cities and sustainable lives.”
As a previous workshop participant put it:
“Rodney Tolley has been instrumental in effecting a change in the perspectives of our design engineers… He was the catalyst that provided the insight and guidance to come up with a new approach to designing public infrastructure that delivers a far better outcome for the community… His experience and awareness of a range of settings around the world has been a real asset. He has certainly made a huge difference here for us”

About Paula:
Dr Paula Hooper is a Healthway Research Fellow at the Australian Urban Design Research Centre. She was one of the lead authors on "Creating liveable cities in Australia May 2018 A scorecard and priority recommendations for Western Australia." Paula knows what design elements and policy levers make us walk more.

About the workshop:
• Relevant to professionals working in planning, design, development, health promotion and transport.
• Hear about international examples and local experience for promoting urban centres that are walkable, liveable and thriving.
• Will include a 'WalkShop' so comfortable shoes and a hat are recommended.
• Morning tea included.

This event is co-hosted by the City of Cockburn and proudly supported by the Heart Foundation.

A second workshop is being held in the Town of Bassendean on 3 April - How Walkability can make Main Streets Thrive.