Incorporating Active Living Principles into everyday planning Anthony Burton Cardiovascular Health Manager Heart Foundation of Australia p: +61 434 612 011 e: anthony@anthonyburton.com.au e: anthony.burton@heartfoundation.org.au @ABandAssociates

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

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. ​​​​​​

Australian Lifestyle Risk Factors (18+) 18% or 3.06 million smoke 35% or 5.1 million are overweight (BMI 25.00 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 $58.2 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. ​​​​​​

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

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. www.healthyactivebydesign.com.au

Active Travel

Aesthetics

An Active Travel Solution?

Connectivity

Environments for All

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

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.

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

Parks and Open Space Source: http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/08/taylor-cullity-leathlean-pod-playground-canberra2-1.jpg

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

Safety and Surveillance

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

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

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

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

Australia needs a Physical Activity Action Plan

Cardiovascular Health Manager Heart Foundation of Australia Anthony Burton Cardiovascular Health Manager Heart Foundation of Australia p: +61 434 612 011 e: anthony@anthonyburton.com.au e: anthony.burton@heartfoundation.org.au @ABandAssociates