1. Incorporating Active Living Principles into everyday planning
Anthony Burton
Cardiovascular Health Manager
Heart Foundation of Australia p: e: e:
@ABandAssociates

2. Urban Planning and Health – Latest research findings!
“We ought to plan the ideal of our city with an eye to four considerations. The first, as being the most indispensable, is health.”
Aristotle circa 350BC

3. Who is the Heart Foundation?
A major Australian charity that is dedicated to reducing the dreadful effects of the number of people living with, or dying from heart, stroke and blood vessel disease. We were established in 1959
We fund $13 Million (AUD) cardiovascular research per annum
We support health professionals in their practice,
We develop health promotion activities,
We inform and educated the public,
We assist people with cardiovascular disease
We advocate for changes in policy and the built environment.
Today, the life expectancy of Australians is about ten years longer for men and nine years longer for women. ​​​​​​

4. Australian Lifestyle Risk Factors (18+)
18% or 3.06 million smoke
35% or 5.1 million are overweight (BMI to 29.99)
28% or 3.9 million are obese (BMI ≥ 30)
56% or 9.5 million were not sufficiently active for health
Cardiovascular disease is Australia’s leading cause of death 2007
In 2008, obesity (excluding overweight) was estimated to cost Australia $ billion (financial cost $8.28 billion, lost wellbeing $49.9 billion).
Today, the life expectancy of Australians is about ten years longer for men and nine years longer for women. ​​​​​​

5. Why are we involved in the built environment?
The built and natural environment is key to human health
To make a city good for the health its citizens it takes the concerted effort of government, business and the community
Healthy planning and active mobility plays a significant role and must have an integrated and innovative design approach with an outcome focus

6. Design Principles
The built environment can contribute to an individual’s propensity to be physically active and result in improved health outcomes
active transport
aesthetics
connectivity
environments for all people
mixed density
mixed land use
parks and open space
safety and surveillance
social inclusion
supporting infrastructure.

7. Active Travel

8. Aesthetics

9. An Active Travel Solution?

10. Connectivity

11. Environments for All

12. Environments for All Aged Care:
While not driven by climate change these services will be impacted
not only by the growth in numbers
Older people represent a more vulnerable segment of the population
Therefore more susceptible to the impacts of climate change
Environments for All

13. Mixed Use and Density
Communication and continued learning from Specific Events
Black Saturday inquests have allowed for an understanding of some of the risks
However, I don’t think all of the lessons that can be gleaned from specific events have been learned – eg heat…
Acceptance of the issue
I would say that there is an awareness of some of the health impacts of climate change but that there is a long way to go
These things leak through but they are third order issues.

14. Mixed Use and Density
Mixed use development that Portland is famous for
You can live here
Catch mass transit on the next block
Shop across the road

15. Parks and Open Space
Source:

18. Creativity: physical activity, cooperative play
Allowing children to take risks in play
Would get a reasonable amount of physical activity just moving all these materials into place.
The weight issue is critical. If something is reasonably heavy, it requires two or more children to lift. If a little less than 10kg, a child could have trouble lifting
Creativity: physical activity, cooperative play
Source Paul Tranter, UNSW Canberra

19. Safety and Surveillance

20. Supportive Infrastructure
Failure of to plan for climate change within Australian cities today represents a missed opportunity to proactively tacking the problem and its associated health impacts

21. Social Inclusion Source: NYDOT Street Design Manual
Failure of to plan for climate change within Australian cities today represents a missed opportunity to proactively tacking the problem and its associated health impacts
Source: NYDOT Street Design Manual

22. Information and Data Documentation of our involvement
Active Living Forum outcome report
Active Living Scoping study
Active Living Scoping study – Summary document
Active Living in the School
Comprehensive evaluation report
Active Living Impact Checklist (Heart Foundation tool with endorsement of Planning Institute of Australia, Local Government Association and Australian Institute of Landscape Architects)
Next Active Living Forum 8 May 2012

23. Three crucial lessons in incorporating active living into planning :
Do something – even if its voluntary;
Drink lots of coffee and build relationships; and
Modify the existing system, its less scary than something new.
Do something – even if its voluntary. Building upon a voluntary code of practice leads to increased acceptance within the private and public sector;
Drink lots of coffee and build relationships - Strong advocates who are able to provide evidence and build relationships early with elected and unelected officials; and
Modify the existing system, its less scary than something new. There is an appetite to fight chronic disease through changes to the built environment and codification is seen by politicians and planners as an implementable tool to achieve this.
The vision for Canberra is to be an active, vibrant city that is well connected, compact and equitable. To deliver this vision, the ACT Government is implementing specific changes to its statutory planning to mandate the inclusion of active living principles into all developments

24. Australia needs a Physical Activity Action Plan

25. Cardiovascular Health Manager Heart Foundation of Australia
Anthony Burton
Cardiovascular Health Manager
Heart Foundation of Australia p: e: e:
@ABandAssociates