Castlemaine Town Centre Inclusive Streets Audit

The targeted areas which will be the focus of the study are:

• Kennedy Street
• Templeton Street
• Hargraves Street
• Frederick Street
• Mechanics Lane
• Mostyn Street
• Urquhart Street
• Andrew Street
• Barker Street
• Forest Street

Other streets within the target area shown below will also be included:

The aims of this project include:

• Assess pedestrian infrastructure in Castlemaine CBD for compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
•  Identify physical barriers to mobility, including restrictive infrastructure such as deep open stone gutters
• Analyse and document current infrastructure for access to services, businesses, and community facilities
• Explore ways to improve the safety of road crossing options for people with a disability within renewal and upgrade works
• Document any access barriers to commercial premises and share findings with business owners to encourage voluntary improvements
• Evaluate the location, quantity, and design of accessible parking bays and drop-off zones
• Examine access to public transport stops and their integration with pedestrian routes
• Consider the needs of neurodivergent individuals in public space design, including sensory-friendly features and wayfinding
• Review public amenities (e.g. toilets, seating, drinking fountains) for inclusive access

The project outcomes will include:

• A comprehensive analysis and documentation of access infrastructure for people with disabilities across Castlemaine
• Identification of infrastructure needs to ensure people with a disability have safe pedestrian access to services, businesses, and community facilities
• An assessment of pedestrian infrastructure focused on safety and accessibility for people with a disability, including mobility scooters and wheelchairs
• Identification of physical barriers and infrastructure gaps and options to improve/remove these barriers
• Design recommendations that support neurodivergent users and improve overall inclusivity
• A summary of access issues affecting entry to businesses, shared with operators to encourage voluntary upgrades
• A prioritised list of recommended accessibility upgrades across immediate, short-term, medium-term, and long-term timeframes
• Delivery of a Safe Accessibility Strategy and Action Plan report to guide Council’s future planning and investment
• Identification of any local laws, policies, or practices that may contravene the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), with recommendations for amendments or new provisions to support improved accessibility

Mount Alexander Shire Council has partnered with Victoria Walks to conduct the accessibility analysis. We are gathering feedback on the accessibility, inclusivity and safety of Castlemaine town centre. We welcome people with disability, neurodivergent people, older adults, parents with prams, carers and wider community to contribute thoughts and ideas to our inclusive accessibility analysis.

Please attend a drop-in session at the Ray Bradfield Room (adjacent to Victory Park – access from IGA Carpark) on Wednesday, 22 April 2026 between 10 am to 11 am or between 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm or provide your feedback via link below:

Castlemaine town centre inclusive streets audit

We will review the community feedback received on this project to finalise the analysis report, which is scheduled for completion by the end of June 2026. The recommendations in the analysis report will be considered to prioritise the future improvement or upgrade works on access infrastructure.