Footpath Policy 2026

Community consultation was undertaken between 24 March and 19 April 2026 to inform the development of Manningham’s Footpath Policy, with a focus on how Council prioritises new footpaths across the municipality.

Engagement operated at the IAP2 ‘Consult’ level, seeking feedback on prioritisation criteria, accessibility, connectivity and local character, while making clear that site-specific requests and maintenance issues were outside scope.

Participation

Approximately 200 responses were received through:

• Online survey
• Written submissions
• Advisory group engagement
• In-person discussions at Warrandyte Festival and Park Orchards Market
• QR coded-signage at 15 activity centres and reserves

Participation was higher in Warrandyte and Park Orchards, with lower response rates from younger residents and culturally diverse communities.

Key insights

1. Strong support for improved accessibility and safety
Participants emphasised the importance of safe, inclusive footpaths, particularly for people with disability, carers, and older residents.

2. Connectivity is a priority
Footpaths are valued for connecting people to shops, schools, services and public transport, as well as for recreation and wellbeing.

3. Desire for clearer and more transparent decision-making
There is strong interest in understanding how footpath decisions are made, with a preference for greater visibility and explanation rather than direct decision-making control.

4. Local context matters
Green Wedge communities expressed strong preference for treatments that reflect rural character, including support for alternative surfaces in appropriate locations.

5. No single solution fits all
Different user groups prioritise different outcomes, reinforcing the need for a flexible, fit-for-place approach.

Out of scope feedback

Some feedback related to maintenance, lighting and site-specific requests. These have been referred to relevant service areas and will inform future work where appropriate.

How feedback informed the policy

Consultation outcomes have strengthened the policy by:

• Improving transparency
  Providing clearer guidance on how footpaths are prioritised and assessed
• Balancing accessibility and local character
  Strengthening direction on adapting to different contexts, including Green Wedge areas
• Refining material selection guidance
  Supporting standard materials in high-demand areas, with flexibility for alternative treatments
• Strengthening accessibility focus
  Increasing emphasis on inclusive design and practical application of accessibility standards
• Maintaining flexibility
  Establishing a high-level framework supported by detailed assessment tools, allowing adaptation over time

Next steps

• Present to Council for adoption 30 June 2026
• Implement through capital works planning
• Communicate outcomes to the community

Conclusion

The consultation has informed a clearer, more transparent and more balanced Footpath Policy, supporting consistent and defensible decision-making across Manningham.

Thank you to everyone who took part in our Footpath Policy consultation. We received 200 submissions, providing valuable insights into how people use footpaths and what matters most when planning future investment.

Summary of key themes from the consultation:

• Accessibility
• Safety for people with limited mobility
• Maintaining the character of rural and Green Wedge areas.

One resident shared, “We are both seniors and one of us has difficulty walking more than short distances.The absence of footpaths in many areas presents significant safety hazards.”

Others highlighted the importance of place, noting, “More rural areas of Manningham are best placed with crushed rock or no footpaths to maintain their rural appeal.”

“The draft policy seems reasonable enough and it provides the criteria and weightings used when considering footpath work, something I've not been able to obtain from Council.”

Next steps

We’ll consider your feedback as we prepare the final Footpath Policy, which will be presented to Council on 30 June.

We’re reviewing how we plan and priortise new footpaths across Manningham, and we’re inviting our community to help shape this approach.

Why now?

Manningham has a legacy of areas without footpaths. While we’ve been building new paths for many years, demand continues to grow.

We currently priortise new footpaths using a range of factors, including how many people walk in the area, the type of road, access to public transport and how close the route is to community facilities.

While this approach has served us well, we want to better understand how you use footpaths and what matters most when balancing safety, accessibility, location and long‑term planning.

That’s why we’re inviting the community to have their say on our draft Footpath Policy.

How do we decide which footpaths make the cut?

Council is developing a priority assessment program to ensure decisions are fair, consistent, and based on clear criteria.

The new Footpath Policy will set:

• criteria for where new footpaths should be provided
• a prioritisation process to allocate funding fairly.

We know there are are gaps in our network, and this policy is about creating a fair and transparent way to prioritise new footpaths.

Your feedback will help us make decisions that reflect what matters most to you.

Have your say

We’re sharing a draft Footpath Policy so you can see what a policy looks like and have your say on what’s proposed.

We’re also asking some broader questions about how you use footpaths in your day‑to‑day life.

Both your feedback on the draft policy and your experiences using footpaths will be considered together to help shape the final policy.

Have your say by completing our short survey by Sunday 19 April 2026.