Connecting health and walking

Action 2.6, Action Plan for Walking 2022–2024

Department/Agency: Department of Transport and Main Roads

Status: Long-term

Using the Healthy Places, Healthy People framework, research and report on built and natural environment features to create more walkable places in selected locations.

Overview

Queensland Health and the Office of the Queensland Government Architect rolled out the Healthy Places, Healthy People framework. It assesses how the built environment affects walkability. This data-driven, evidence-informed method helped two councils. People walking benefit from improved conditions delivered as part of infrastructure projects.

Achievements

The Healthy Places, Healthy People framework is a whole-of-government approach. It aims to integrate health outcomes in urban design and planning. This includes policies, processes, and infrastructure investment decisions.

It identifies three key principles:

• connected
• welcoming
• responsible.

It combines nine attributes of the built and natural environments. They support healthy, active living.

Queensland Health and the Office of the Queensland Government Architect partnered with Ipswich City Council and Toowoomba Regional Council to apply this framework. Local health data show:

• high melanoma rates
• approximately two-thirds of adults being overweight or obese
• less than half being sufficiently active.

Both councils aimed to create walkable areas to enable more physical activity.

A robust method was tested. It assessed how the built environment affects walking. An economic benefit assessment in Ipswich showed:

• a 5-15% uplift in property values
• $2.33 in mortality/morbidity benefits
• $1.25 per kilometre in health system benefits.

Stakeholder workshops had good attendance. They prioritised analysing behavioural and environmental data, and assessing relevant built environment attributes. Toowoomba Regional Council is planning for future infrastructure projects. Ipswich City Council has started some planned projects. It is trialling tactical urbanism to improve the walkability of areas.

Next steps

Queensland Health and the Queensland Government Architect will keep working with state and local partners. They will find the best ways to ensure health is a priority in infrastructure project planning and delivery.

More information

You can find out more on the Healthy Places, Healthy People website.