Healthy Spaces and Places

Liz de ChastelNational Policy Manager

University of Canberra18th April 2008

Overview

• Why design for active living

• Linkages between health, planning, transport and environment

• Design Principles

• National Project & Value of Partnerships

PIA

• PIA is a professional membership organisation with 4600 urban planners and related professionals; not for profit & independent

• Advocate and develop policy positions on behalf of members

• Planners work in Local Government (50%), Private Sector (30%) and State Govt/Academia

• Planners along with others help shape our built and natural environment

Health Issues around Inactivity

Some facts• Physically inactive Australian adults are costing the healthcare system $1.5

billion a year

• It is estimated that almost 9 million Australians – 54% of adult population – do not do enough physical activity on a daily basis

• Not doing enough physical activity doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity, and increases the risk of breast and bowel cancer, depression and anxiety

• All it takes is 30 minutes of activity most days a week to reduce the problem

(Source: Medibank Private Research 2007)

Obesity and Travel Behaviour

Source: Pucher J. & Dijkstra L. (2003), Source: Pucher J. & Dijkstra L. (2003), Promoting safe walking and cycling to improve public health: Promoting safe walking and cycling to improve public health: Lessons from the Netherlands and GermanyLessons from the Netherlands and Germany , American Journal of Public Health 93: 1509 -16, American Journal of Public Health 93: 1509 -16

Getting people out of cars

Car trips in local neighbourhoods:• 10% of all car trips are less than one

kilometre (the equivalent to a ten minute walk)

• 30% are less than three kilometres

Source: Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics (2002), Source: Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics (2002), Greenhouse Greenhouse policy options for transportpolicy options for transport, BTRE Report No 105, BTRE Report No 105

"Everybody would like a lively city, an attractive city, a safe city, a sustainable city and a city which invites more healthy lifestyles.

By being sweet to the pedestrians and sweet to the bicyclists, you can actually accomplish quite a bit of all these goals.“

Professor Jan Gehl

Relevance to Canberra

• Attracting Generation Y – prefer walkable, vibrant places to live

• Ageing population – ageing in place, physical and mental health

• Redevelopment areas and new growth areas – offer potential

• Good infrastructure in place – schools, bikeways

• One Government can support co-ordination & integration

• Topography and climate is conducive to active living

Design Elements that promote active lifestyles

Create Walkable Neighborhoods

• Have legible streets and connected activities such as schools, shops

• Encourage local trips to be made by walking and cycling by having direct routes to activities

Plan for Walking & Cycling

• Walking is free and has great health benefits - especially walking to school & local services

• Walkways may be shared: walking, cycling, prams, scooters• Walking routes should be safe – road crossings, pavement surface• Cycling facilities important to encourage use – lockers, showers,

maps

Design for surveillance and safety

• Create safe environments for activity • Perceptions of safety are a major influence for people’s willingness

to be active• Pathways should also be safe to minimize falls and injuries

Encourage Use of Public Transport

• Well located and convenient public transport to encourage use over private vehicles

• Shelters and signage important & accessibility to bus/train/tram• People that use public transport also walk to the train/bus stop

Provide Passive and Active Recreation

• Adequate, serviced and well located recreation areas and parklands• Multipurpose – school ovals• Private/public partnerships

Promote Mixed Land-Use• Activities grouped together to minimise trips, especially residential,

retail, employment, recreation and public transport• Local and regional activities• Promotes walking, cycling and the use of public transport• Local businesses also benefit

Provide opportunities for interaction

• Meeting Places & Public Places that support a variety of interactions between people

Food Security/Agricultural Land Protection• Some States have planning policies that seek to protect good

quality agricultural land – for example in Queensland with a State Planning Policy on the Protection of Good Agricultural Land

• Peri-urban (fringe) areas of cities are under the most stress to convert agricultural production to housing development as cities continue to expand

• Community Gardens – local community based• 100 mile diet (Canada)

Food Outlets

• Links between areas of socio-disadvantage and higher number of fast food outlets (VicLanes project)

• Local & Regional food outlets should be well located with good pedestrian/ public transport/car access

• Planning Legislation does not regulate the type of food that is sold – but can monitor the location of fast food outlets (this is done in Victoria) & may limit increasing the number of sites

• Farmers markets are being promoted by many Councils

• This needs more research and sharing of case studies

PartnershipHealthy Spaces and Places is a

partnership between:• Australian Local Government

Association• the Heart Foundation• Planning Institute of Australia

This project has received funding assistance from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

Value of Partnership

• Unique Partnership• Memorandum of Understanding underpins

partnership• Leveraging knowledge, advocacy and

networks• Stronger influence for change

Project design

Four project stages are identified:• Scoping – during 2007• Consultation – workshops mid - late 2008• Implementation – 08/09• Evaluation - 2009

Supporting current initiativesDevelopment of a national guide looks to complement:

– NSW Premier’s Council for Active Living– Victoria ‘Healthy by Design’ and ‘Go for your life’– Premier’s Physical Activity Taskforce & ‘Walk WA’ – Chief Minister’s Active Living Council & ‘Go NT’– Tasmanian Premier’s Active Living Council & ‘Get Moving

Tasmania’ – South Australian Active Living Coalition & ‘Be active’– Queensland – emergent issues

Healthy Spaces and Places project is about:

• recognizing how everyday urban management decisions can influence people’s health and well-being

• recognizing the complexity and cross-disciplinary/-sectoral nature of the issues

• raising awareness• setting a national policy agenda• supporting current State/local initiatives

What are we trying to achieve?

• improved understanding amongst health and planning professionals of how the built environment influences active living

• people engaging in regular physical activity• sense of belonging and social inclusion• sense of place• positive health impacts on future health

burden• sustained economic well-being

Consultation

• Discussion draft available shortly from PIA website, with links to ALGA and Heart Foundation websites

• Workshops in metropolitan and regional locations• First workshop in Adelaide on 15 May (tbc)• Also can submit comments on-line at

www.planning.org.au

Healthy Spaces and Places

• We welcome you involvement and comments• Please contact project manager (Anne Moroney)

healthyplaces@planning.org.au or 02/6262 5933