Planning for Active Communities

Planners play an essential role in planning, designing and regulating the environments in which we live.  Well-planned neighbourhoods can increase the number of people who choose walking or cycling as their mode of transport.  More people walking or cycling to shops, schools and local facilities helps to build more socially vibrant and inclusive neighbourhoods, together with the associated economic and environmental benefits.

The Healthy by Design resource, produced by the Heart Foundation (Victorian Division) aims to provide practical guidance to planners, especially those working for or with local governments, to enable them to plan for active communities.

To access the Healthy by Design: a planners’ guide to environments for active living document; click here.

The Matrix of Like Design Considerations is available as a separate attachment; click here.  The Matrix supports an integrated approach to planning healthy and safe communities and provides practical guidance to planners, helping them to synthesise a range of design considerations.

Healthy by Design was recently cited in the World Health Organisation international report, Closing the gap in generations, in the focus area of health equity in policies, systems and programs, as an example of "involving the entire community including local government in designing spaces that encourage walking and cycling."
 

Case Studies

To find out how local governments and other agencies have used the Healthy by Design principles and the positive environmental and social outcomes gained, check out the case studies below.

CASE STUDIES		Healthy by Design / Healthy Urban Environment Considerations
Images	Location / Project Ownership Project Name	1. Walking & Cycling	2. Streets	3. Local Destinations	4. Open Space	5. Public Transport	6. Signage, Lighting, Fences & Walls	7. Fostering Community Spirit
	Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Peninsula PathLinks
	Baw Baw Shire Council Drouin-Warragul Walking/Cycling link
	Bayside City Council Brighton Beach Shared Path
	Moreland City Council Cyclovia, Sydney Road
	Macedon Ranges Shire Council Guidelines for Residential Subdivisions
	City of Casey Mothers of Casey Alliance
	City of Port Phillip Walking Plan 2005-2010
	Wellington Shire Council Planning Scheme - SEPA
	Whitehorse Community Health Service Residents Making a Difference
	Latrobe City Council Healthy Urban Design Good Practice Guideline
	Maroondah City Council AMazing Space
	Bass Coast Shire Council Healthy & Wellbeing in Bass Coast
	Bass Coast Shire Council Phillip Island Shared Pathways
	Manningham City Council Wombat Bend Playspace

Contact

For more information regarding 'Healthy by Design', please contact Rachel Carlisle on +61 3 9321 1542 or via e-mail activeliving [dot] vicheartfoundation [dot] org [dot] au.

For more information regarding the individual case studies, please refer the contact details included within the case study document.