We’re working to improve how the residents of Fawkner move around in the area and get to the places they want to go. We want to help make Fawkner easier, safer and more sustainable to travel around without a car.

Project Background

In September 2022, we asked our community to tell us how they travel around Fawkner, and what changes they'd like to see.

We received 426 responses from the community. In this feedback we heard that getting around in Fawkner without a car is difficult and that they would like to more easily and safely travel by walking, riding or catching public transport.

We looked at the feedback we received during this engagement along with what we heard during the 10 Year Capital Works Program for Active Transport engagement earlier in 2022, and our engagement on the Moving Around Merri-bek transport strategy in 2023. The combination of all the information helped us identify areas of improvement and projects that are important to our community and are needed in our plans for Fawkner.

What are we doing now?

Fawkner is a big suburb, and we’ve identified lot of changes we could make to improve how people can travel around it.

Council has allocated $300,000 over the next 2 financial years to improving walking and riding access within Fawkner for residents.

Now we want to hear from people in Fawkner about their priorities, so we can get started on making changes that matter most to the community.

Tell us what you think

The points on the map below show a range of project areas we are proposing to make it easier, safer and more sustainable to walk and ride through Fawkner. Click on the icons to expand the information.

Each option explains the actions we could take in this area to improve walking and riding options, and the justification for these choices.

Take our survey below to let us know which of these project areas we should prioritise for development. Your feedback will assist us in delivering changes starting next financial year.

Safe Travel Corridors

We’ve designed 2 Safe Travel Corridors based on feedback we received from the 2022 Fawkner Transport Study. These are shown on the map as red arrows.

These 2 corridors connect areas of interest within Fawkner, and connect to the Merri Creek Trail, the ring road trail and Sydney Road. These corridors would provide the highest level of comfort for people walking and riding without large infrastructure investment.

Map of Project Areas and Safe Travel Corridors

1. Lorne Street/Charles Mutton Reserve

  • Improves connection for Fawkner Primary school
  • Improves the North South crossing over Lorne Street, as well as the east west connections
  • Improves access through Charles Mutton Reserve
  • Links with the proposed Shared User Path on Tyrell Crescent

2. Bruce Street/northern connection

  • Will create a connection north to south through the centre of Fawkner that is safer, easier, and more enjoyable to ride on
  • Possible treatments include speed bumps and improved crossing points

3. Roma Street Crossings/CB Smith Reserve South

  • A key east west connection for people walking and riding
  • Currently the crossing points are narrow and in poor condition
  • Improve the crossings and widen the path in section to improve the east west connection

4. Connection through CB Smith Reserve

  • Connecting people walking and riding bikes from Roma Street to Jukes Road
  • Works will take place alongside improvements being delivered as part of the Fawkner Leisure Centre Upgrade

5.Eastern Connection from CB Smith Reserve to Sydney Road

  • Creates a connection from CB Smith Reserve to Sydney Road, which currently does not exist
  • We would investigate the best route, and how to access the pedestrian crossing point at Box Forrest Road

6. Jukes Road Crossing

  • Investigate and install a safe pedestrian and riding crossing point near CB Smith Reserve
  • Jukes Road is one of the busiest roads in Fawkner, and leaving CB Smith Reserve and crossing north can be difficult

7.Connection to Bonwick Street

  • Address the congestion and road user safety on Bonwick Street
  • Investigate options to improve access from CB Smith Reserve to Bonwick Street.

8. Western Connection to Merri Creek Trail

  • Connect CB Smith Reserve to the Merri Creek Trail
  • Possible treatments include safer crossing points, and improved access via Hare Street

9. New signs and line marking Fawkner-wide

  • Install new signs, and directional line marking throughout the suburb to show people walking and riding the best routes to travel to various destinations within the suburb

What else are we doing?

Other transport improvements in Fawkner:

Public Transport

Along with improvements to walking and riding, we've heard from our community the need for better public transport options in Fawkner.

Public transport, including buses, and some roads, are controlled by the Victorian State Government. Council must work with the State Government by advocating for changes.

  • We will continue to advocate for bus reform and improvements to the Upfield line. This includes participating in the State Government’s Northern Suburbs Bus Reform Review, with particular emphasis on issues raised in the Fawkner Transport Study.
  • We will continue to request that the State Government improve the safety for all users on Sydney Road, by reducing the speed limit and improving the connection over Sydney Road.