Case Studies
Port Sorell Primary School – Active Travel to School

Design Feature

Type of Project
Landowner Strategy
State
Tasmania
Location
Regional
Established in 2013, Port Sorell Primary School is situated in the heart of the Port Sorell community in Pitcairn Street and is located approximately 20 kilometres East of Devonport. The enrolment base is drawn from children living in the Port Sorell, Shearwater and Hawley locations. Port Sorell Primary School has approximately 300 students from Kindergarten to Year 6. With the school being relatively new, it was possible from the commencement of the build to incorporate design features that are supportive of active lifestyles. Additionally, the relatively small catchment area of the school and the central location made it an ideal proposition for integrating active travel principles. 
Improving student safety, health and wellbeing
During the development of the new school, the Latrobe Council, Department of Education and the Port Sorell Primary School staff and community worked together to determine how to improve student safety around the school. The working group also wanted to encourage health and wellbeing in the community by supporting students to walk/cycle/scoot to school and to encourage similar active travel patterns to after-school activities.  The then Mayor of the Latrobe Council, and also Member of the Legislative Council, the Hon. Mike Gaffney (MLC) was instrumental in having active travel as part of the planning for the new primary school and sponsored a study primarily focused on creating safe transport (walking and cycling) routes for the Port Sorell Community. 
A Cycle and Bike-path Committee (chaired by a parent), was formed and it initiated extensive community consultation around the development of active travel links to the school. Background research on issues and needs was completed through a University of Tasmania student placement.  

With the involvement of the Latrobe Council, which was represented on the Committee, audits were undertaken of walking and cycling routes to the school from surrounding residential areas and engineering works were subsequently completed to improve connectivity and safety of paths and road crossings. Appropriate signage and extra garbage bins were installed on the most used routes to school. Latrobe Council staff also developed plans for footpaths and cycleways to help connect the school with existing and developing residential areas.  
Bike racks were purchased for installation at the school and at identified recreational facilities around the township to encourage children to ride to school and to after-school activities. At the school, two secure spaces were provided for every five students.  
The Committee initially set out to organise ‘walking/cycling buses’, but this initiative was not pursued as parents made their own informal arrangements for escorting children to school. Most students now make their way to school independently. The school uses its newsletter to encourage and remind students and parents about the benefits of walking, cycling and ‘scooting’ to school.  
Project team
  • Latrobe Council  
  • Department of Education 
  • Port Sorell Primary School staff  
  • Port Sorell Primary School Cycle and Bike-path Committee 
  • Port Sorell Primary School community 

Project Cost
Unavailable
Health Value
  • The project offers health value by facilitating safe walking and cycling for primary school aged children to access and travel to the school and after-school activities on footpaths and cycleways.
  • Establishing healthy habits early in life means children are more likely to carry healthy lifestyles into adulthood and the Port Sorell cycle to school program is ensuring this occurs.

Economic Value
  • The project offers economic value through reducing the need for travel to school by car allowing family savings in terms of car fuel, maintenance, insurance and, potentially the need for a second car.
  • For the community, there can be savings on infrastructure and maintenance costs for roads, bridges and parking facilities.
  • Economic value can also be found through incidental expenditure that comes with children and parents stopping at local cafes and shops.

Environmental Value
  • The project offers environmental value through reduced motor vehicle use and the opportunity for children, and adults, when walking or riding to better experience their surroundings.
  • Direct contact with one’s surroundings leads to ownership, better surveillance of places and protection of natural and built values.

Social value
  • The project offers social value for children through the opportunity for independent travel for those who might otherwise have their travel options restricted.
  • Shared cycling and pedestrian facilities also create benefits for the wider community by providing an increased network of paths and improved road crossings.
  • Cycling and walking enables people to interact socially and contributes to a feeling of community connectedness and enhances a sense of place.
  • More bikes in a neighbourhood provides a safer road environment and children can take advantage of slower and less dangerous traffic in which to cycle.

Use Value
  • The project offers use value where the design of foot and cycle networks enables active travel to places in the Port Sorell area.
  • This case study particularly demonstrates the benefits of incorporating design features for active lifestyles concurrent with the development of a new school.

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