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Healthy spaces and places National planning guidelines project

The Planning Institute of Australia, the Heart Foundation and the Australian Local Government Association with support from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing are working together to develop national planning guidelines for the design of healthy built environments for Australians.

This project was a recommendation from the 2005–06 National Speakers Series (The Series) conducted by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. The Series brought together experts and industry partners to provide advice about a national leadership approach to planning, designing and building communities that will help us prepare for an ageing population, particularly for people ageing in place and accessible and adaptable housing for everyone.

Evidence to date suggests that there is a link between major health issues and the built environment. The guidelines will have a broad scope and cover all ages.

This project provides a unique opportunity for the work of health and non health organisations to address these complex issues and to positively influence health outcomes by working together in partnership.

Information and data will be collected from all around Australia. The guidelines will include some supporting case studies that look at different geographical scales, policy agendas and target groups. Once completed, the guidelines aim to be a useful tool for all levels of government and the development industry.

There has already been a lot of work done around planning for health at the State/Territory level and the outcomes of this work will be encompassed in the proposed guidelines.

The project has been broken down into four phases:

• Phase 1 – scoping and targeted stakeholder consultation
• Phase 2 – comprehensive consultation and finalising the guidelines
• Phase 3 – implementation/dissemination
• Phase 4 – evaluation and review.

The first phase of the project was completed on 30 June 2007, and involved consultation sessions and looked at current research and policy settings which assisted in developing the draft national planning guidelines. This phase was funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. The project partners are now working on Phase 2 which will focus on a detailed consultation strategy.

The consultation strategy will include a series of workshops with expert and industry partners across the country, who will be invited to provide comments and suggestions to finalise the document into practical and relevant national planning guidelines. It is expected that the completed guidelines will be launched in early to mid 2008.

For more information about the project, please contact the Project Officer, Anne Moroney at healthyplaces@planning.org.au