ISSUES
LEVEL CROSSING/ POOR BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE
POOR STREET HIERARCHY
Northcote Issues Map
Poor street hierarchy is evident across the suburb, leading to compromised pedestrian accessibility and user friendliness. This is a particular issue along St Georges Road where pedestrians and cyclists currently compete with motorists driving at high speeds. This could be minimised by actions such as decreasing car speeds in given areas.
Along both the Mernda and Hurstbridge train line there is a high variety of level crossings. This not only compromises pedestrian safety but creates unattractive and incohesive pedestrian and bike networks for cyclists and pedestrians.
AREA OF LOW CYCLIST SAFETY As recorded from cyclists themselves, areas along St Georges Road, and southern areas of High Street hold diminished perceptions of cyclist safety. Encouraging cyclability leads to decreased carbon emissions through diffused car use, and thus minimises impacts of climate change. These areas should thus be facilitated to enhance bike ridership in the area.
POOR STREET LEVEL GREENING Canopy cover and small-scale street level vegetation is an important part of decreasing urban heat and heat vulnerability, and increasing the walkability of urban areas. Increasing street level greening, particularly canopy cover is recorded to also impact on decreased car speeds within areas, thus greening should be focussed within main roads in commercial areas.
POORLY ESTABLISHED BUS STOP Well established and appealing bus infrastructure is a key element in enhancing and encouraging commuters to use public transport. Across the suburb there is currently minimal seating, greening and bike infrastructure established at bus stops.
BUS ONLY CATCHMENT AREA SUBJECT TO INNUNDATION The north eastern portion of the suburb is restricted to a bus only catchment of 800m. This means that residents are restricted to the infrequency and unreliable bus network, that currently has minimal linkage with other modes of public transport. This also creates issues such as car reliability.
Areas subject to inundation pose a unique threat to Northcote’s climate resilience. Due to increased extreme weather events, strategies should aim to manage risks inundation have on areas built form and native ecology.
HIGH URBAN HEAT MINIMAL MIXED USE Mixed use is an integral part of creating a walkable precinct. Walkability is a main driver of sustainable urban form, through its minimisation of car use. Areas of mixed used should thus be increased to provide for future population increase, and also aim to provide a secondary commercial district.
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Darebin total carbon emission also highlight issues 46% within the suburbs as the highest contributor to total carbon emissions are residential energy and commercial industry. This highlights a need to establish 35% stronger regulations in both commercial and residents areas to minimise the contribution Northcote’s Commercial/ Industrial emissions have on global warming (City of Darebin, 2020). Residential energy Transport
PART 3
Concrete dominated areas across Northcote such as All Nations car park and Arthurton Road exemplify issues surrounding increased temperatures. It is integral that the urban heat and heat vulnerability of these areas be minimised to ensure Northcote can adapt to future temperature increase.
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