Bass Coast Shire Council is asking the Newhaven community to share their experiences of transport and road safety as part of a new Local Area Traffic Management (LATM) Plan for the township.
The Newhaven LATM will look at how people move around the town and identify improvements to make it easier and safer for everyone to get around. This includes reviewing current conditions, traffic and parking data, crash information and feedback from the community.
LATM plans play an important role in helping Council plan future infrastructure and secure funding. Once finalised, the Newhaven LATM will be used to support funding applications, with projects expected to be delivered over time as funding becomes available.
Over the past few years, Council has heard a range of transport and road safety concerns from the Newhaven community. These have been captured and will be considered as part of the study.
Council is keen to hear from all road users, including drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, people using mobility devices and commercial vehicle operators.
Community members can share their feedback by completing an online survey or by placing a pin on an interactive map of Newhaven to highlight issues, ideas or locations of concern. Please note that Phillip Island Road is not included in the study area, as it is an arterial road managed by the Department of Transport and Planning.
Mayor Cr Brett Tessari said road safety was a priority and community input was essential to getting it right.
"Road safety is so important, and plans like this really help us back the community when it comes to funding and delivering improvements," Cr Tessari said.
"If you live in or travel around Newhaven, we want to hear from you. Your local knowledge helps us understand what needs attention and makes sure we're planning for what matters most to you."
"We've seen other towns complete LATM studies and start to see real benefits, and we want Newhaven to have that same opportunity."
As part of gathering information to prepare the draft plan, residents are also invited to attend an initial Community Meeting to learn more about the project and discuss their ideas:
- Date: Monday, 18 May 2026, 1pm-3pm
- Location: Newhaven Hall
Following the close of stage one consultation, Council will review all community feedback alongside traffic data and technical assessments. The community will then be invited to continue the conversation later this year.
The Newhaven LATM follows the adoption of the Cape Paterson LATM in October 2025, where strong community involvement has already led to successful funding applications and infrastructure projects now being delivered.
Feedback closes on Monday, 27 May 2026.
To complete the survey or add a marker to the map, visit: engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au/transport-newhaven ;
