Transcript Healthy by Design

Planning for Healthy Urban
Communities in Australia –
The Healthy Places and Spaces
Project
Outline
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Planning Context
Current health status of Australians
Strategic planning and health
The Healthy Spaces and Places Project
Local planning and design for health
Challenges
Conclusion
Urban planning - Australian
context
 21 Million People; 85% live in cities, mainly along
eastern & SE coastline
 Three tiers of government – Federal, State/Territory
and Local
 Planning Challenges:
– Ageing Population
– Housing Affordability
– Climate Change
– Infrastructure
Australian suburban
environments
 Car oriented
 Poor public
transport and links
to public transport
 Concerns about
safety
 Poor public space
 Poor access to fresh
food
Health of Australians
 Epidemic of chronic diseases - cardiovascular
diseases, arthritis, diabetes, cancer
 Obesity rates doubled in Australia since 1985
 18% of Australian adults obese (2002) - double the
rate of 1989
 13,000 deaths per year in Australia attributed to
physical inactivity
 Mental health disorders are prevalent and increasing
-1 in 5 people in Australia are affected by a mental
health problem in any 1 year
Urban Planning and Health
Strategic Planning
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Adopt health considerations as core business
Policy Integration
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Incorporate health considerations into policies, strategies
and plans across a range of business units
Project Initiation
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Implement projects that support healthy
urban environments
Statutory Planning
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Apply healthy planning and design guidelines
Strategic framework
 Vision & mission statements
 Government programs – Go for Your Life
 Policy documents – Liveable Neighbourhoods
WA, Sustainable Neighbourhoods
 Metropolitan plans e.g. Melbourne 2030,
Sustainable Sydney 2030
 Local planning policies – car parking, housing
choice, increasing densities
Partnership
Healthy Spaces and Places is a partnership
between:
 Australian Local Government Association
 The Heart Foundation of Australia
 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
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 crossdisciplinary/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