Remote Australia fortune-telling: scenario forecasting of transport demand and alternatives in remote Aboriginal communities

Remote Australia is characterised by critical inequalities in terms of access to transport resources which are likely to be exacerbated in a demographic, economic and climatic change context with an anticipated increase in population mobility. Furthermore unsustainable transport systems are currently heavily dependent on private motor vehicles relying on petrol and roads. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are experiencing particularly high levels of transport demands as contrasting with very low level of transport access. However in remote Australia there is also a history of highly inventive social and technical transformations at both an underground “grassroots” level and an entrepreneurial / cutting-edge level involving the mobilisation of localised skills and technological innovations. New opportunities to transport goods, services, individuals and activities are defined by future technological innovations, as well as adaptive practices and institutional knowledge driving transport system operation. In this sense, alternatives are explored as economical (as in cost effective), and energy-related and socio-culturally appropriate, sustainable forms of transport which could contribute to an enhanced wellbeing and socio-economic participation of remote communities. An econometric transport forecasting exercise is presented in this paper based on a set of scenarios combining a range of alternatives. A transport survey undertaken in three remote Aboriginal Central Australian communities provided primary data which populated a transport model plotted with aggregated assumptions made with the help of secondary datasets. Quantifiable outcomes are distilled down and extrapolated into transport planning tactical options which can constitute a basis for a future remote transport policy agenda.

• Record URL:
  http://atrf.info/papers/2016/index.aspx
• Authors:
  • Holyoak, N
  • Spandonide, B
  • Zito, R
  • Stazic, B
  • Dockery, M
• Conference:
  • Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF), 38th, 2016, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• Publication Date: 2016-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 13p
• Monograph Title: 38th Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF 2016), Melbourne, 16th - 18th November 2016

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Demographics; Indigenous peoples; Population; Rural areas; Sustainable development; Sustainable transportation; Transportation; Transportation operations; Travel behavior; Travel demand
• Uncontrolled Terms: Policy and planning
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: Accessibility; Demography; Indigenous Australian; Sustainable transport; Transport network; Travel behaviour; Travel demand
• ITRD Terms: 1154: Network (transport)
• Subject Areas: Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01627401
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 27 2017 10:05AM