Smart Urban Futures Forum – MAV and Victoria Walks 25 March 2015 The Built Environment: a critical health issue Diana Heggie - CEO Heart Foundation Victoria Acknowledge the traditional owners of the land Smart Urban Futures Forum – MAV and Victoria Walks 25 March 2015

Healthy Lifestyle

Chronic disease is the biggest public health crisis of our time! At the start of the last century, people were dying from infectious diseases such as Cholera and Typhoid which were predominantly caused by a lack of sanitation. Early governments saw effective town planning and infrastructure as critical in the battle against these diseases. Today our challenge is just as great – The built environment can give us clues on how to behave, so good planning and urban design are critical in addressing the lifestyle risk factors that are currently contributing to so many chronic diseases.

Obesity crisis facing Australia 10 years from now

Strategies for change Individual Environment Changing human behaviours is complex and difficult Individual approaches such as educating and motivating people to change their lifestyle is not enough The environments in which we live, work and play need to be conducive to make behaviour change easier for individuals We need to make it easier- Supportive environment one-third of physical inactivity levels can be prevented by environmental interventions alone

Sedentary Behaviour

Healthy by Design Practical guidance to: For use with and by: Encourage walkable & more liveable communities Encourage physical activity through quality urban design Facilitate healthy planning for healthy places For use with and by: Local government built environment professionals – planners, transport planners, open space and recreation, health planners, urban design etc Private practice – including developers Community organisations

Heart Foundation Local Government Awards

Our Advocacy We are asking the state government to: Amend the Planning and Environment Act to ensure health is a consideration in urban design

You can: Enter the Local Government Awards – entries close Friday 22 May Join us in calling for amendments to the Planning Act Get innovative at the margins…. make a difference Get information on Healthy by Design email healthylivingvic@heartfoundation.org.au

Can a footpath help prevent a heart attack? YES The way your community is designed can either help or hinder your likelihood of keeping active. A HEALTHY HEART REQUIRES EXCERCISE