Shade policy and testing approaches

Action 1.13, Action Plan for Walking 2022–2024

Department/Agency: Department of Transport and Main Roads

Status: Long-term

Develop policy on shade provision in transport infrastructure projects, including testing approaches to setting and measuring shade targets and practical implementation guidance.

Overview

In 2024, the department updated our Walking Network Planning Guidance. It emphasised the importance of shade to encourage walking. It cited the department’s new guidance on providing shade along paths. We funded a pilot with Ipswich City Council to test new shade solutions.

Achievements

Queenslanders have told us they would walk more if paths were more shady. The 2024 update to the Walking Network Planning Guidance highlighted this. The guidance includes tips on providing shade. It also has resources for practitioners, including TN197 Provision of shade along paths

Many Walking Network Plans include more shade as part of their vision, such as the one for Ipswich Hospital.

We funded a pilot with Ipswich City Council. The goal was to make hot areas shadier and more walkable. The council tested a free-standing arbour. The arbour consists of shade cloths and climbing plants. They are made offsite and easy to install. The walking path gets shadier as the plants grow. The council will ask the community for feedback about the arbours. These initiatives can be trialled in other places.

We are working with Queensland Health to study heat-resilient trees. We want to learn how they affect health, shade, and cooling.

Next step

We will share the Ipswich City Council pilot outcomes. Future walking infrastructure guidance will include advice on shading. It will cover how to measure and set targets for shade.

More information

• Read our Walking Network Planning Guidance
• Read TN197 Provision of shade along paths
• Find out more about the ‘lighter quicker cheaper’ approach
• Learn more about Queensland Health’s shade tree guidance