Living locally in walkable neighbourhoods

A new report from the The Heart Foundation – Healthy Active by Design

The Heart Foundation’s What Australia Wants survey measured consumer need and aspiration about the type of neighbourhood and community Australians would like to live in.

We surveyed 2,895 people for their opinion on what makes a healthy neighbourhood and what features matter most when deciding where to live.

The data gathered from the survey illustrates the importance Australians attach to what they want and need close to home. This survey has gathered community sentiment on what makes neighbourhoods desirable, liveable and healthy. We have framed this work in accord with the Heart Foundation’s Healthy Active by Design framework.

This research also illustrates the extent to which healthy neighbourhood elements influence Australians’ decisions about where to live, how they prioritise those elements and the importance of, and ease of being physically activity in, their neighbourhood.

Read Full Report

Summary: What do Australians want?

  • Where we live, work, play and learn is directly associated with our health and wellbeing, as individuals, families and communities.
  • Living locally means having the places and things you need regularly near to where you live, and ideally within walking or cycling
    distance.
  • Australians have a hierarchy of needs when it comes to where they live.
  • Housing is top of mind for most Australians. The right type of house, in the right type of area is an underlying need (rather than
    a want) for those surveyed.
  • Significantly, Australians want to be close by to the places that they require daily.
  • What do Australians want? The healthy neighbourhood elements that rank the highest include:
    1. Daily amenities close by (e.g. fresh food, shops, services, transportation);
    2. A sense of safety; and
    3. Outdoor and open spaces near to home.

Read the full report for a more in depth look at what Australian’s want – Active Communities, Physical Activity and more … see page 69 for a snapshot of the key findings for Queensland.

Source
What Australia Wants
The Heart Foundation – Healthy Active by Design

 

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