Advocacy Update: Building a more liveable, connected Woden
Canberra’s southern hub is changing fast but how can the Woden Town Centre grow while keeping liveability, safety, and sustainability at its heart?
Recent submissions from Richard Bush to government inquiries and development processes paint a clear picture: the city’s evolution must prioritise people first with walking, cycling, and active travel central to its success.
Linking light rail and active travel
Pedal Power’s submission on the Light Rail Stage 2B Environmental Impact Statement highlights the essential relationship between public transport and active travel.
Cycling and walking complement light rail perfectly extending its reach, reducing congestion, and improving accessibility for more Canberrans.
The submission called for:
Finishing the Woden–Civic Cycleway as an independent project, rather than waiting for light rail construction.
Safe, direct cycling and pedestrian connections between light rail stops, schools, workplaces, and homes.
Secure, illuminated bike parking at all stations, designed to accommodate all types of bicycles.
Widened paths and separated lanes, especially along the busy C4 corridor.
By integrating active travel from the outset, the light rail can deliver far greater value not just in moving people, but in transforming how they experience the city.
Re-surfacing the C4 at Yamba Roundabout
Creating safer streets in Curtin
Artist’s impression from the Curtin Master Plan showing the east-west corridor along the 20m water easement (marked by the line of yellow trees)
The submission on the Wesley Development Application focused on improving active travel in Curtin’s local streets particularly around Carruthers, Theodore, and Martin Streets.
Pedal Power’s recommendations identified long-overdue upgrades, including:
Rebuilding narrow and broken footpaths to meet modern standards.
Installing raised priority crossings and improving intersections for safety.
Reducing speed limits on Theodore Street to 40 km/h.
Extending new paths to connect with the C4 trunk route and the future rapid transit stop on Yarra Glen.
These improvements would not only support future residents of the Wesley site but also enhance safety and convenience for the wider Curtin community.
Making Woden a truly liveable centre
In its submission to the Legislative Assembly Inquiry into the Role and Future of the Woden Town Centre, Pedal Power examined how planning decisions can make or break the livability of a growing urban centre.
The submission noted that while residential towers have risen quickly, supporting infrastructure paths, green spaces, and community facilities has lagged. To address this, Pedal Power recommended that government:
Place greater emphasis on liveability in zoning and building approvals, including setbacks and building heights that preserve sunlight and amenity.
Upgrade the ageing path network, widening and separating busy sections to support e-bikes and micro-mobility.
Expand community and recreational facilities to replace those lost through rezoning.
Ensure all new buildings include end-of-trip facilities and secure bike lock-ups.
Collaborate nationally to regulate unsafe high-speed e-bikes.
The submission also identified successful local examples, such as the raised priority crossing at Theodore and Melrose Drive, and areas needing improvement including the road through CIT’s Western Plaza, which compromises safety and liveability.
Woden Town Centre Bikeway
A vision for a people-first Woden
Taken together, these submissions outline a consistent vision: a Woden designed for people, not just for cars.
They advocate for active travel infrastructure that connects homes, workplaces, and public transport fostering a community where walking and cycling are safe, easy, and natural choices.
Through this work, Pedal Power continues to push for practical, evidence-based changes that help shape a healthier, more liveable Canberra where every journey by bike contributes to a better city for all.
