Sustainable Transport

Deakin University is committed to creating spaces that reduce people’s dependence on car travel, where each campus is the central hub of activity linked by excellent public transport, walking, cycling and carpooling facilities. This vision also includes minimising the impact that our vehicle fleet have towards pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Did you know that each year over 60 percent of staff and 30 percent of students drive to Deakin in a single-occupant motor vehicle, producing over 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year? That's equivalent to over 700 million black balloons!

Sustainable Transport Strategy

In July 2011 the University endorsed its first Sustainable Transport Strategy. The development of an efficient and progressive transport system for the University is considered a critical factor for managing and accommodating future growth and change as well as supporting the creation of attractive, liveable and sustainable campuses and surrounding communities.

The following vision and aims are from the Sustainable Transport Strategy and are proposed as the basis to underpin the University’s strategy.

Vision

The University is recognised as a leader in the community in the operation and support of socially responsible and sustainable transport systems that protect the environment, promote efficiency and underpin optimal University and community development.

Aims and Priority Actions

The following actions are proposed as the initial focus for implementation of the strategy.

1. Create a sustainable transport culture within the University and its communities
2. Reduce the need for travel to the University and between Campuses where appropriate
3. Develop more sustainable, efficient and cost effective University transport services
4. Improve public transport and other external transport services for all Campuses

Download the Deakin University Sustainable Transport Strategy Objectives (41 KB) which outline key priority actions over the next 2 years.

TravelSmart

For information about public transport (including timetables), carpooling, walking and cycling please visit TravelSmart

Key activities undertaken:

• extension of the TravelSmart program across all 4 campuses at Deakin including TravelSmart Maps, Deakin Green Commute, Ride to Uni Day, Carpooling, and annual Travel Survey's to identify baseline measurements of current travel behaviour and barriers and constraints to travelling more sustainably
• membership of Green Fleet to offset fleet emissions
• installation of a secure bike cage at the Melbourne Burwood Campus and Geelong Waterfront Campus
• sustainability branding of the Office for Sustainability Hybrid Prius to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable transport
• establishment of designated carpooling car parks for the Melbourne Burwood Campus
• development of a sustainable transport strategy

2012 Key actions

• establish a secure bike cage on the Geelong Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool Campuses
• investigation of carpooling carparks at the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus
• implementation of the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus Bike Plan
• continued lobbying for better public transport around each of the University campuses
• development of the Melbourne Burwood Campus Public Transport articulation plan

Targets

• 50% low-emissions vehicles attained by 2012 (compared to 2009 base levels)
• 50% of vehicles have a minimum Green Vehicle Guide rating of 4 STAR* by 2012
• At least 50% of total fleet have an engine capacity no greater than four cylinder by 2012 (compared to 2009 base levels)
• 5% reduction in fleet CO₂ emissions by 2012 (compared to 2009 base levels)
• all assigned vehicles exceeding 30,000 km per annum must be four cylinder or LPG by 2012
• at least 20% of total fleet are alternative fuel vehicle (LPG, diesel, hybrid) by 2012
• reduce single passenger vehicle intercampus travel to 50% by 2012
• single occupant car commuting reduced by 2012 (compared to 2009 base levels:) by: 10% Burwood Campus; 7%  Waurn Ponds Campus and Waterfront Campus; and 5% Warrnambool Campus
• staff and students using public transport to commute to and from the University increased by 2012 to; 15% staff and to 30% students Burwood Campus; 10% staff and to 20% students Waurn Ponds Campus; and 10% staff and 10% students Waterfront and Warrnambool Campuses
• carpooling usage increased to 4% by 2012.

Learn more

Greenfleet Offset

Each year Deakin offsets its vehicle fleet emissions through collaboration with Greenfleet, a registered environmental charity. Greenfleet creates future offsets by planting native forests, which capture carbon dioxide from the environment as they grow. Greenfleet offset the 1,654.91 tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted in 2010 by planting 6,176 native trees in Victoria in 2011. This helps to create biodiverse forests which counteract the greenhouse gases emitted from Deakin’s fleet vehicles.

Walktober 2011

The Office for Sustainability and Deakin YMCA hosted Walktober across all campuses. This was the first time the event was held at the Geelong Waterfront Campus and Warrnambool Campus.

We would like to sincerely thank the guest speakers Dr Maria Gibson, David Stratford and Tony Overman who generously donated their time and expertise. The event was a success with 111 participants and we were fortunate to have glorious weather at each event.

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