Building healthy liveable cities: are we there yet? Billie Giles-Corti Director, Urban Futures Enabling Capability Platform and Healthy Liveable Cities Group, Centre for Urban Research NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow

Why density matters? Walking in high walkable Perth neighbourhoods 2.79 times higher than low walkable neighbourhoods Walking by residents living near high walkable Melbourne neighbourhood activity centres (densities of 28 dwellings/hectare) 9 times higher than in low walkable activity centres; and those living near moderately walkable activity centres (20 dwellings per hectare) 2.75 times higher In Melbourne neighbourhoods with densities 30-39.9 dwellings/hectare (gross), walking trips 2.52 times higher and public transport trips 2.99 times higher than low walkable neighbourhoods; at 20-29.9 dwellings/hectare cycling 5.58 times higher and motor vehicle trips halved.

Urban & transport planning & design interventions Urban system policies Urban & transport planning & design interventions Transport mode & daily living outcomes Transport mode outcomes Transport Regional Planning Private motor vehicle Destination accessibility Public transport Social & health services Distribution of employment Cycling Education Walking Demand management Employment & economic development Local urban design Demand Attitudes & preferences Land use & urban design Design Social & cultural norms Housing Density Mobility needs Distance to transit Public open space & recreation Daily living outcomes Diversity Public safety Employment & education access Desirability Food & health service access Social & recreational access Demographics Age Gender

So what??

Spatial patterning of walkability - CASEY

Odds of any local transport walking trips in Melbourne1 Odds of walking Low High Deciles of walkability 1Adjusted for sex, age, household structure, employment status, study status, driver’s license, household vehicle availability, and survey day of week

Selandra Rise urban design metrics vs most walkable areas in Melbourne   Dwelling density1 (dph) Street connectivity (intersections/km2) Land use mix (0-1, higher value is more land use mix) Selandra Rise1 8.02 79.3 0.45 Metropolitan Melbourne (top 10% of transport walkability) 33.7 145.8 0.48 Difference 76% 46% 6% 1Gross density – NB: Likely an underestimate and may increase as development is completed

Walkability vs ‘Liveability’1 Access to public open space Access to healthy food options Access to affordable housing Access to employment Access to public transport Access to shops, services and social infrastructure Urban design Integrated planning 1DHHS Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2015-2019