Lambrick Avenue Shared Path, Palmerston

Type of project

Infrastructure

State

Northern Territory

Location

Regional

The Lambrick Avenue shared path provides a significant new connection in the Darwin and Palmerston shared path network. The need for the path was identified through the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistic’s land use planning, shared path network review process and in response to requests from the local community. The two-and-a-half-kilometre path is located approximately 30 kilometres south of the Darwin City Centre in the developing City of Palmerston, in the top end of the Northern Territory. 

The path was completed in 2016 and provides a connection between the southern suburbs of Palmerston, across the Stuart Highway to the Howard Springs shared path network and rural community. The path is a key route for cycle commuters, provides a cycle connection to two schools and also supports active recreation by linking with a major ‘rail trail’ recreational path.

The Northern Territory is an active place!

The Australian Bicycle Council’s 2019 cycling participation survey indicates that, along with the Australian Capital Territory, more people cycle in the Northern Territory in a typical week than in any other State. [1] Furthermore, Census journey to work data indicates that more people walk and cycle to work in the Northern Territory than in any other State or Territory. [2] Relatively high levels of walking and cycling in the Australian context are supported by a well-developed network of off-road shared paths in the major centres across the Territory. All paths in the Northern Territory are shared paths, which means both cyclists and pedestrians can use all paths.

Integrated transport and land use planning for the Territory includes consideration of active transport (including cycling, walking and public transport) in strategic level plans. The Northern Territory Planning Scheme includes high level principles to support active transport and at the regional level, the Darwin Regional Land Use Plan acknowledges the role of active transport in fostering liveable and sustainable communities. The regional land use plan is linked to the Darwin Regional Transport Plan which includes an active transport goal of ‘safe, convenient, cycling and walking to support healthy, connected communities’.

At the Area Plan level, the Lambrick Avenue route has been identified as a pedestrian and cycle corridor in the Palmerston Eastern Suburbs Area Plan and the Area Plan planning principles identify that arterial roads should support shaded pedestrian and cycle networks.

The Lambrick route was also identified as a long-term goal in the 2010 review of the Darwin region path network. At the local level, the community highlighted that the route is an important active transport link to a newly constructed Senior College in southern Palmerston. The local community and key stakeholders, including local councils and cycling groups, were consulted in the development of the path design.

The new route provides a two-and-a-half-metre-wide shared path which links with major north-south path routes to and from Palmerston including Roystonea Aveune and Farrar Boulevard. To the east, the path connects with a new signalised pedestrian crossing across the Stuart Highway providing a link to the Howard Springs shared path, another Senior School and the Howard Springs community.

Wayfinding signage has been installed along the route in accordance with Austroads guidelines for bicycle wayfinding. Prior to the opening of the path and the new signalised pedestrian crossing at the Stuart Highway, road safety education sessions were provided by the Department’s Road Safety Team at both the schools located near the path to reinforce key road safety messages for students.

Project team

• Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
• City of Palmerston
• Litchfield Shire Council
• Mary MacKillop Catholic College
• Good Shepherd Lutheran College
• Bicycle NT
• Pedals NT

Project cost

$1 Million