Our region consists of many centres where travel demand is spread across several areas. Transport networks that connect our multiple centres should service multiple modes that support people, businesses, and the economy. It gives the community confidence that they can get to their destination as planned.

Rural and freight transport also rely on our road network, for at least part of their journey, and are likely to continue to do so in the future. While freight corridors are mostly on state roads, Council roads form key connections between rural and industrial areas to these corridors. Roads used by heavy freight vehicles suffer from increased wear.

Transport resilience and reduced travel times are key to improving transport outcomes for freight transport on our network. A resilient transport network always allows critical movement across the region, despite natural hazards and traffic incidents. As climate change is predicted to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, all levels of government must assist communities to adapt to these changes.

Transport resilience can be achieved through alternative modes or routes which enable travel to continue even when one mode or route is negatively impacted by an incident. It requires community awareness and notification of emergency response procedures, incident management plans and potential alternative routes.

An efficient transport network can move more people and goods with lower environmental impacts while minimising congestion. Our community told us that they want Council to reduce its carbon emissions and help others to do the same. Smart transport technologies, such as electric vehicles, connected autonomous vehicles, Intelligent Transport Systems, e-scooters and e-bikes, can help reduce carbon emissions and congestion.

E-scooters and similar devices are subject to state regulation stipulating where and how they can be used in Queensland. These regulations are in response to safety and conflicts between pedestrians and users of e-scooters. However, it is also recognised that these devices can contribute to increasing the uptake of sustainable travel in the region. They increase the catchments of public transport stops as they do not require physical effort to use. With the rising cost of fuel there are increasing numbers of people using e-scooters in Moreton Bay. Council is investigating how to facilitate and manage the increasing uptake of e-scooters while avoiding the conflicts with pedestrians and injuries of riders as experienced elsewhere.

Construction methods and materials can have a substantial impact on the sustainability and resilience of transport infrastructure. For example, cool pavements can reduce heat island impacts, especially for vulnerable communities.

Connected transport networks allow people to reliably and efficiently travel to their destination, no matter where they live.

• Maintain our flood and storm tide models to understand flood behaviour, likelihood, and impact of inundation on our transport network.
• Maintain our mapping of vulnerable land uses such as hospitals, aged care facilities, etc.
• Plan, design and deliver infrastructure that has increased flood immunity in key locations (based on the Local Government Infrastructure Plan 2).
• Monitor the quality of our active transport infrastructure to plan maintenance and improvements.
• Support our natural environment by preserving our endangered species habitat, providing fauna crossing infrastructure and an offset program.

• Design and deliver a well-connected transport network with multi-modal travel options between destinations.
• Improve the transport network’s resilience to natural hazards, events and incidents.
• Limit environmental impact from transport, including material selection and use, greenhouse gas emissions and urban heat island effects.

• Plan a modal transport hierarchy that considers current and future needs.
• Use risk modelling to understand natural hazard risks to the transport network.
• Plan adaptable and multiple purpose transport corridors, eg road corridors that support separated high frequency public transport services.
• Limit transport related network habitat fragmentation by identifying and closing unformed road reserves that can be used for environmental purposes instead.
• Facilitate electric vehicle charging facilities and car sharing in dense urban environments to reduce CO2 emissions.