Heart Foundation (Victoria)

Liveability Options in Outer Suburban Melbourne

Submission to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Liveability

Options in Outer Suburban Melbourne by the Outer Suburban

Interface Services amp Development Committee

April 2011

2

10 This Submission

The Heart Foundation welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Liveability Options in Outer Suburban Melbourne

Our comments will focus on the following areas as outlined in the Terms of Reference for this inquiry

a) outline recent state planning policies as they relate to private housing e) classify national and international best practice in urban renewal as it

relates to established outer suburbs and f) recommend options for enhanced liveability of residents

The recommendations (R) contained in this submission are categorised under headings using the relevant Terms of Reference (TOR)

3

20 Recommendations

The following is a summary of the recommendations contained in this submission

21 TOR Outline recent state planning policies as they relate to private housing

The Victorian Government should

R1 Recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all Victorians as being necessary for the social and economic development of the State

R2 Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians

particularly policies to manage and service population growth

R3 Include the health and wellbeing of Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria in Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

R4 Include the provision of food security and access to healthy sustainable food for all Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria in Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

R5 Align the Planning and Environment Act 1987 with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for improved health outcomes

R6 Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria

Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and vary the principles so they are based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

4

22 TOR Classify national and international best practice in urban renewal as it relates to established outer suburbs

The Victorian Government should

R7 Ensure that future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

R8 Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments with consequential amendment of the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health

R9 Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by

o Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments

o Appointing coordination and leadership to the Department of Premier and Cabinet to implement the HiAP process

o Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport1

R10 Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation and subordinate instruments and policy framework articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in

o the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living2

o the Heart Foundation s Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living3

o the Heart Foundation s Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system4

o the Growth Areas Authority s Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning5

o the Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper The Liveable City6

o the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City s Program review entitled Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program7

5

23 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of residents

The Victorian Government should

R11 Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

R12 Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

6

30 Introduction

31 Liveability

Liveability and the elements that make a liveable city are underpinned by a set of guiding principles accessibility equity and participation A liveable city is a city for all people It is one where residents can enjoy health and wellbeing and experience easy mobility by foot bike or public transport It is a city that is attractive and safe for children and the aged with places to play meet and talk

A liveable city is a link between the past and the future It is sustainable and resilient It provides access to healthy sustainable food and minimises waste of finite natural resources Liveability refers to the characteristics of an urban system that contribute to the personal wellbeing of inhabitants through community prosperity sustainability and health8

32 Health and wellbeing

For the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has called for liveable built environments that support and enhance the health and wellbeing of our communities The built environment can either facilitate or discourage physical activity particularly walking Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for a range of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease type 2 diabetes kidney disease and cancer9

Australia faces enormous health economic and social costs as a result of rising rates of chronic disease fuelled by the increasing prevalence of obesity poor nutrition and physical inactivity10 Two-in-three Australian adults11 and one-in-four Australian children12 are overweight or obese Prevalence is even higher in disadvantaged groups13 In Victoria the proportion of overweight or obese Victorians was found to have increased from 451 in 2002 to 486 in 200814 In 2008 obesity alone was estimated to cost Australia $58 billion including nearly $36 billion in lost productivity15 while the total economic cost of physical inactivity was estimated to be $138 billion16

If more Australians were physically active for just 30 minutes a day the Australian healthcare system would save $15 billion per year7 In its report State of Australian Cities 2010 Infrastructure Australia called for effective and innovative responses to ensure the sustainability and liveability of our cities 17 The same report stated that the time had come for an unprecedented commitment and investment by governments into public transport and community infrastructure to increase cycling and walking and increase the desirability and use of public transport cycling and walking18

Liveable built environments also include provision of access to healthy sustainable and nutritious food19 Risk factors for a range of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease obesity high cholesterol levels and hypertension (high blood pressure) are increased by high intakes of total kilojoules (energy) saturated fat and salt and low fruit and vegetable intake Only 10 of Victorians meet the healthy eating guidelines for fruit and vegetables20 and Victorians in low and middle socioeconomic areas are more likely to be exposed to fast food outlets than those in high socioeconomic areas21

7

Food insecurity (ie lack of access to safe nutritionally adequate culturally acceptable food from non-emergency sources) is a growing concern In 2008 53 out of 79 Victorian local government areas reported that one in 20 of their residents ran out of food in the previous 12 months and could not afford to buy more22

The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to respond to current issues including

the burden of chronic disease on the economy health system and communities

high quality agricultural land on the edge of Melbourne being lost to low density residential development to accommodate growing urban populations

food production and the cost of food negatively effected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

vulnerability to Peak Oil - the cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term23

33 Planning for health and wellbeing

Liveability is characterised by a people-centred focus in the planning and design of our communities A people-centred approach will ensure economic vitality sustainability and resilience health and wellbeing and equitable access and mobility in all its forms Mobility has the greatest impact on a community s liveability as it is the linchpin that connects people to healthy sustainable food sources employment social services health care education and other people

A whole-of-government approach is required to create healthy liveable urban environments in new and existing outer suburbs in Victoria24 This will require policy integration across portfolios and necessary changes to legislation and departmental policy frameworks These changes can then guide and inform the design planning and development of healthy sustainable resilient and prosperous suburban environments that will provide a range of options to support Victorians to meet their needs into the future

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40 TOR Outline recent state planning policies as they

relate to private housing

41 Objectives of Planning in Victoria Planning and Environment Act 1987

In 2008 the Victorian Government announced the review of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) The Statement of Government Intentions outlined the purpose of the review being to

simplify current laws eliminate duplication remove redundant provisions modernise the language and strengthen certainty and timeliness in the planning process

This announcement was significant as the Act had not been comprehensively reviewed since its commencement in 1987

In its submission to the Department of Planning and Community Development the Heart Foundation recommended the Victorian Government should

Broaden the scope of planning legislation to reflect a greater emphasis on the link between planning and people

Expand the Objectives of Planning in Victoria to make explicit reference to health and wellbeing

Align the Planning Act with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for health outcomes

Build the consideration of health and social impacts into the assessment process

Create a separate system for assessing state-significant projects which considers health and social impacts

Introduce provisions for the protection of agricultural land25 (The Heart Foundation submission is attached as Appendix 1)

Following this submission process the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 (the draft Bill) was made available to the public Accompanying the draft Bill was a Commentary explaining the key changes to the Act proposed by the draft Bill The proposed changes to the objectives of planning in Victoria as contained in the draft Bill do not adequately reflect the changes necessary to allow Victoria to respond to future challenges While the foreword of the Commentary said the proposed changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 complement the

Government s broader initiatives to accommodate population change provide economic growth encourage sustainable development and enhance the liveability and commercial competitiveness of Victoria s urban and rural communities26 the Heart Foundation believes this aim cannot be realised due to a failure to amend the objectives of planning in Victoria to

emphasise people andor communities as the end users of the built environment

articulate the importance of built environments to support the health and wellbeing of people

emphasise that sustainable and equitable food provision and access to food is central to net community benefit and sustainable development (food resilience and security)

9

articulate that protection of natural resources must be integrated with the objectives of liveability sustainability and resilience to ensure community benefit in the face of environmental pressures such as climate change and peak oil This should include the objective of protecting high quality agricultural land in the edge of cities that is currently being lost to low density urban expansion to accommodate growing urban populations and a reduction in urban sprawl27

It is understood that the review of the Act has not been finalised and that the draft Bill was forwarded to a Parliamentary Committee for further consideration before the last State election The Heart Foundation recommends the new Victorian Government review the amendments proposed in the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 to ensure that necessary changes are incorporated in the Act This is an important opportunity to ensure that any amendments will truly result in an improved planning system that can serve Victorians well into the future

Recommendation Recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all Victorians as being necessary for the social and economic development of the State

Recommendation Include the health and wellbeing of Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Include the provision of food security and access to healthy sustainable food for all Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Align the Planning and Environment Act 1987 with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for improved health outcomes

10

42 Melbourne 2030

A 2008 audit of Melbourne 2030 found the fundamental principles of Melbourne 2030 are more relevant than ever

This is because of the challenges posed by climate change traffic congestion the faster than expected growth of Melbourne s population and the fact that Melbourne is still an extremely spread out city Compared to five years ago there is now an even greater urgency to implement the many initiatives of Melbourne 2030 if Melbourne s development is to be sustainable and the city is to remain liveable 28

An Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census 29 accompanied the Melbourne 2030 Audit In this report major trends identified during Stage 1 of the Audit included

The fastest growing municipalities in metropolitan Melbourne were located on the urban fringe

Households were declining in size

Economic growth was strong between 2001 2006

The number of metropolitan households with members in older age groups was increasing

Environmental issues including climate change and water management had evolved into central policy considerations though it was noted that the degree of urgency attached to addressing these had increased

Petrol and transport costs increased with the possibility of future petrol price rises making the implementation of activity centre policy more urgent

Housing affordability had declined although it was considered that Melbourne 2030 policies had positioned Victoria well particularly in the area of managing land supply30

Notably the analysis did not include mention of any population health trends

In response to the Audit of Melbourne 2030 the Government released Planning For All of Melbourne Planning For All Of Melbourne is informed by research and analysis from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and later the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) over 200 public submissions and the Report of the Audit Expert Group

The only mention of health considerations appeared on page 49 under the heading Building stronger healthier and safer communities 31 The initiatives listed under this heading addressed

improved quantity and quality of open space in growth areas

co-location of multi-use community facilities (eg children s services schools community health centres) in growth areas

provision of aged care facilities in land use planning strategies

investigating how to better address health issues and gaps including services and infrastructure32

While the Heart Foundation supports initiatives such as these the response fails to recognise that the health of Victorians is essential to the overall liveability sustainability and prosperity of the State The Heart Foundation recommends health considerations should be included in all government policies including all areas that relate to community planning and development in Victoria Planning transport environmental sustainability resilient responses to climate change and the

11

management of urban growth and change all have direct impacts on determinants for the health of Victorians

In 2008 Melbourne 2030 continued to be the Government s strategic plan for managing Melbourne s growth and development To complement this new population projections for the State were released in Victoria in Future 2008 to identify new trends and inform the re-evaluation of Melbourne 2030 settlement projections33 In addition Melbourne 5 million was prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport in an attempt to improve integration between planning and transport The initiatives and projects in the Victorian Transport Plan were based on the population projections contained in Victoria in Future 2008 and the planning analysis of Victorian settlements was contained in Melbourne 5 million34

43 Victoria in Future 2008 and Melbourne 5 million

Victoria in Future 2008 was produced for the Department of Planning and Community Development and was described as the Victorian Government s official population and household projections 35 It included data on age population growth births and deaths unemployment fertility and migration36

This data set was consistent with the traditional methodology for interpreting demographic composition and change However data on the type quantity and movement of people can only provide a two-dimensional insight into population characteristics In order to comprehensively plan for liveability data on health trends must be incorporated Adopting a methodology that includes health data (eg levels of obesity diabetes and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer access to healthy food and mapping of food deserts) with traditional population projection data will enhance the Victorian Government s ability to strategically plan for sustainable population growth

Health data enables strategic assessment of people s needs and can inform a comprehensive range of policy interventions including planning and urban design responses (land use built form transport and service provision to support the health and wellbeing of citizens) Useful health data that could inform urban growth is currently provided in the Metropolitan Health Plan Technical Paper 201137

Melbourne 5 million provided policy initiatives that complemented Melbourne 2030 These included

A more compact city (Central Activities Districts employment corridors to improve accessibility to jobs and services and reduce road congestion)

Management of growth (Growth areas to accommodate 47 of new dwellings investigation of extensions to growth areas density target of 15 dwellings per hectare consideration of green wedge values)

Enhancing links between Melbourne and regional centres in Victoria38

These initiatives all have direct impact on determinants for the health and wellbeing of current and future Victorians However like Melbourne 2030 Melbourne 5 million does not mention the relationship between these interventions and health impacts (positive or otherwise) on people Words and phrases such as vibrant liveable environmental consequences sustainable options landscape and economic values resolution of biodiversity and settlement issues social objectives and lifestyle must be framed in the context of their impact on people s health and wellbeing

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44 The Victorian Transport Plan

The Victorian Transport Plan (VTP) represented $38 billion+ government expenditure on transport for the State The Heart Foundation supports the significant investment in public transport In terms of making provision for active transport modes such as walking or cycling the VTP outlined an investment of $105 million to create new bike lanes in inner Melbourne Central Activities Districts and regional areas plus the public bike hire scheme for Melbourne s CBD There was no reference made to walking In 2010 the Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria39 (the Strategy) was developed by the Department of Transport The Heart Foundation along with other stakeholders provided input into the development of the Strategy

The Heart Foundation believes the Strategy should be implemented and urges the Government to recognise the health social environmental and economic benefits of promoting a walkable Victoria 40 This strategy is consistent with the Heart Foundation s position on The built environment and walking41 (attached as Appendix 2) Healthy by Design42 (attached as Appendix 3) and An Australian Vision For Active Transport43 (attached as Appendix 4)

45 Amendment VC71 Victorian State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) The gazettal of Amendment VC71 revised Victoria s State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) to include Melbourne 5 Million Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy and Victorian Transport Plan This move enabled those policies to better integrate with Local Planning Policy Frameworks (LPPF)44 While this augmented the impact of these policies it compounded the lack of awareness regarding the need to incorporate the objective of improved health and wellbeing for Victorian communities when planning for population growth

46 Urban Design Charter for Victoria

The Urban Design Charter for Victoria is a State Government policy document that presents 12 principles of good urban design to be applied in Victoria45 In defining what constitutes a good public environment and providing reasons why this is important no reference is made to health There is a need to clearly articulate the need for provision of good urban environments to support health and wellbeing and outline the design principles to realise this objective

The Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living (attached as Appendix 5) outlines 10 design principles for healthy communities Some of these are similar to those in the current Urban Design Charter for Victoria however there are variations between the two

Recommendation Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and consider varying the principles based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

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47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

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50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

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Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

2

10 This Submission

The Heart Foundation welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Liveability Options in Outer Suburban Melbourne

Our comments will focus on the following areas as outlined in the Terms of Reference for this inquiry

a) outline recent state planning policies as they relate to private housing e) classify national and international best practice in urban renewal as it

relates to established outer suburbs and f) recommend options for enhanced liveability of residents

The recommendations (R) contained in this submission are categorised under headings using the relevant Terms of Reference (TOR)

3

20 Recommendations

The following is a summary of the recommendations contained in this submission

21 TOR Outline recent state planning policies as they relate to private housing

The Victorian Government should

R1 Recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all Victorians as being necessary for the social and economic development of the State

R2 Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians

particularly policies to manage and service population growth

R3 Include the health and wellbeing of Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria in Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

R4 Include the provision of food security and access to healthy sustainable food for all Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria in Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

R5 Align the Planning and Environment Act 1987 with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for improved health outcomes

R6 Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria

Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and vary the principles so they are based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

4

22 TOR Classify national and international best practice in urban renewal as it relates to established outer suburbs

The Victorian Government should

R7 Ensure that future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

R8 Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments with consequential amendment of the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health

R9 Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by

o Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments

o Appointing coordination and leadership to the Department of Premier and Cabinet to implement the HiAP process

o Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport1

R10 Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation and subordinate instruments and policy framework articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in

o the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living2

o the Heart Foundation s Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living3

o the Heart Foundation s Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system4

o the Growth Areas Authority s Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning5

o the Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper The Liveable City6

o the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City s Program review entitled Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program7

5

23 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of residents

The Victorian Government should

R11 Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

R12 Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

6

30 Introduction

31 Liveability

Liveability and the elements that make a liveable city are underpinned by a set of guiding principles accessibility equity and participation A liveable city is a city for all people It is one where residents can enjoy health and wellbeing and experience easy mobility by foot bike or public transport It is a city that is attractive and safe for children and the aged with places to play meet and talk

A liveable city is a link between the past and the future It is sustainable and resilient It provides access to healthy sustainable food and minimises waste of finite natural resources Liveability refers to the characteristics of an urban system that contribute to the personal wellbeing of inhabitants through community prosperity sustainability and health8

32 Health and wellbeing

For the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has called for liveable built environments that support and enhance the health and wellbeing of our communities The built environment can either facilitate or discourage physical activity particularly walking Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for a range of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease type 2 diabetes kidney disease and cancer9

Australia faces enormous health economic and social costs as a result of rising rates of chronic disease fuelled by the increasing prevalence of obesity poor nutrition and physical inactivity10 Two-in-three Australian adults11 and one-in-four Australian children12 are overweight or obese Prevalence is even higher in disadvantaged groups13 In Victoria the proportion of overweight or obese Victorians was found to have increased from 451 in 2002 to 486 in 200814 In 2008 obesity alone was estimated to cost Australia $58 billion including nearly $36 billion in lost productivity15 while the total economic cost of physical inactivity was estimated to be $138 billion16

If more Australians were physically active for just 30 minutes a day the Australian healthcare system would save $15 billion per year7 In its report State of Australian Cities 2010 Infrastructure Australia called for effective and innovative responses to ensure the sustainability and liveability of our cities 17 The same report stated that the time had come for an unprecedented commitment and investment by governments into public transport and community infrastructure to increase cycling and walking and increase the desirability and use of public transport cycling and walking18

Liveable built environments also include provision of access to healthy sustainable and nutritious food19 Risk factors for a range of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease obesity high cholesterol levels and hypertension (high blood pressure) are increased by high intakes of total kilojoules (energy) saturated fat and salt and low fruit and vegetable intake Only 10 of Victorians meet the healthy eating guidelines for fruit and vegetables20 and Victorians in low and middle socioeconomic areas are more likely to be exposed to fast food outlets than those in high socioeconomic areas21

7

Food insecurity (ie lack of access to safe nutritionally adequate culturally acceptable food from non-emergency sources) is a growing concern In 2008 53 out of 79 Victorian local government areas reported that one in 20 of their residents ran out of food in the previous 12 months and could not afford to buy more22

The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to respond to current issues including

the burden of chronic disease on the economy health system and communities

high quality agricultural land on the edge of Melbourne being lost to low density residential development to accommodate growing urban populations

food production and the cost of food negatively effected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

vulnerability to Peak Oil - the cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term23

33 Planning for health and wellbeing

Liveability is characterised by a people-centred focus in the planning and design of our communities A people-centred approach will ensure economic vitality sustainability and resilience health and wellbeing and equitable access and mobility in all its forms Mobility has the greatest impact on a community s liveability as it is the linchpin that connects people to healthy sustainable food sources employment social services health care education and other people

A whole-of-government approach is required to create healthy liveable urban environments in new and existing outer suburbs in Victoria24 This will require policy integration across portfolios and necessary changes to legislation and departmental policy frameworks These changes can then guide and inform the design planning and development of healthy sustainable resilient and prosperous suburban environments that will provide a range of options to support Victorians to meet their needs into the future

8

40 TOR Outline recent state planning policies as they

relate to private housing

41 Objectives of Planning in Victoria Planning and Environment Act 1987

In 2008 the Victorian Government announced the review of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) The Statement of Government Intentions outlined the purpose of the review being to

simplify current laws eliminate duplication remove redundant provisions modernise the language and strengthen certainty and timeliness in the planning process

This announcement was significant as the Act had not been comprehensively reviewed since its commencement in 1987

In its submission to the Department of Planning and Community Development the Heart Foundation recommended the Victorian Government should

Broaden the scope of planning legislation to reflect a greater emphasis on the link between planning and people

Expand the Objectives of Planning in Victoria to make explicit reference to health and wellbeing

Align the Planning Act with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for health outcomes

Build the consideration of health and social impacts into the assessment process

Create a separate system for assessing state-significant projects which considers health and social impacts

Introduce provisions for the protection of agricultural land25 (The Heart Foundation submission is attached as Appendix 1)

Following this submission process the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 (the draft Bill) was made available to the public Accompanying the draft Bill was a Commentary explaining the key changes to the Act proposed by the draft Bill The proposed changes to the objectives of planning in Victoria as contained in the draft Bill do not adequately reflect the changes necessary to allow Victoria to respond to future challenges While the foreword of the Commentary said the proposed changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 complement the

Government s broader initiatives to accommodate population change provide economic growth encourage sustainable development and enhance the liveability and commercial competitiveness of Victoria s urban and rural communities26 the Heart Foundation believes this aim cannot be realised due to a failure to amend the objectives of planning in Victoria to

emphasise people andor communities as the end users of the built environment

articulate the importance of built environments to support the health and wellbeing of people

emphasise that sustainable and equitable food provision and access to food is central to net community benefit and sustainable development (food resilience and security)

9

articulate that protection of natural resources must be integrated with the objectives of liveability sustainability and resilience to ensure community benefit in the face of environmental pressures such as climate change and peak oil This should include the objective of protecting high quality agricultural land in the edge of cities that is currently being lost to low density urban expansion to accommodate growing urban populations and a reduction in urban sprawl27

It is understood that the review of the Act has not been finalised and that the draft Bill was forwarded to a Parliamentary Committee for further consideration before the last State election The Heart Foundation recommends the new Victorian Government review the amendments proposed in the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 to ensure that necessary changes are incorporated in the Act This is an important opportunity to ensure that any amendments will truly result in an improved planning system that can serve Victorians well into the future

Recommendation Recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all Victorians as being necessary for the social and economic development of the State

Recommendation Include the health and wellbeing of Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Include the provision of food security and access to healthy sustainable food for all Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Align the Planning and Environment Act 1987 with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for improved health outcomes

10

42 Melbourne 2030

A 2008 audit of Melbourne 2030 found the fundamental principles of Melbourne 2030 are more relevant than ever

This is because of the challenges posed by climate change traffic congestion the faster than expected growth of Melbourne s population and the fact that Melbourne is still an extremely spread out city Compared to five years ago there is now an even greater urgency to implement the many initiatives of Melbourne 2030 if Melbourne s development is to be sustainable and the city is to remain liveable 28

An Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census 29 accompanied the Melbourne 2030 Audit In this report major trends identified during Stage 1 of the Audit included

The fastest growing municipalities in metropolitan Melbourne were located on the urban fringe

Households were declining in size

Economic growth was strong between 2001 2006

The number of metropolitan households with members in older age groups was increasing

Environmental issues including climate change and water management had evolved into central policy considerations though it was noted that the degree of urgency attached to addressing these had increased

Petrol and transport costs increased with the possibility of future petrol price rises making the implementation of activity centre policy more urgent

Housing affordability had declined although it was considered that Melbourne 2030 policies had positioned Victoria well particularly in the area of managing land supply30

Notably the analysis did not include mention of any population health trends

In response to the Audit of Melbourne 2030 the Government released Planning For All of Melbourne Planning For All Of Melbourne is informed by research and analysis from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and later the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) over 200 public submissions and the Report of the Audit Expert Group

The only mention of health considerations appeared on page 49 under the heading Building stronger healthier and safer communities 31 The initiatives listed under this heading addressed

improved quantity and quality of open space in growth areas

co-location of multi-use community facilities (eg children s services schools community health centres) in growth areas

provision of aged care facilities in land use planning strategies

investigating how to better address health issues and gaps including services and infrastructure32

While the Heart Foundation supports initiatives such as these the response fails to recognise that the health of Victorians is essential to the overall liveability sustainability and prosperity of the State The Heart Foundation recommends health considerations should be included in all government policies including all areas that relate to community planning and development in Victoria Planning transport environmental sustainability resilient responses to climate change and the

11

management of urban growth and change all have direct impacts on determinants for the health of Victorians

In 2008 Melbourne 2030 continued to be the Government s strategic plan for managing Melbourne s growth and development To complement this new population projections for the State were released in Victoria in Future 2008 to identify new trends and inform the re-evaluation of Melbourne 2030 settlement projections33 In addition Melbourne 5 million was prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport in an attempt to improve integration between planning and transport The initiatives and projects in the Victorian Transport Plan were based on the population projections contained in Victoria in Future 2008 and the planning analysis of Victorian settlements was contained in Melbourne 5 million34

43 Victoria in Future 2008 and Melbourne 5 million

Victoria in Future 2008 was produced for the Department of Planning and Community Development and was described as the Victorian Government s official population and household projections 35 It included data on age population growth births and deaths unemployment fertility and migration36

This data set was consistent with the traditional methodology for interpreting demographic composition and change However data on the type quantity and movement of people can only provide a two-dimensional insight into population characteristics In order to comprehensively plan for liveability data on health trends must be incorporated Adopting a methodology that includes health data (eg levels of obesity diabetes and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer access to healthy food and mapping of food deserts) with traditional population projection data will enhance the Victorian Government s ability to strategically plan for sustainable population growth

Health data enables strategic assessment of people s needs and can inform a comprehensive range of policy interventions including planning and urban design responses (land use built form transport and service provision to support the health and wellbeing of citizens) Useful health data that could inform urban growth is currently provided in the Metropolitan Health Plan Technical Paper 201137

Melbourne 5 million provided policy initiatives that complemented Melbourne 2030 These included

A more compact city (Central Activities Districts employment corridors to improve accessibility to jobs and services and reduce road congestion)

Management of growth (Growth areas to accommodate 47 of new dwellings investigation of extensions to growth areas density target of 15 dwellings per hectare consideration of green wedge values)

Enhancing links between Melbourne and regional centres in Victoria38

These initiatives all have direct impact on determinants for the health and wellbeing of current and future Victorians However like Melbourne 2030 Melbourne 5 million does not mention the relationship between these interventions and health impacts (positive or otherwise) on people Words and phrases such as vibrant liveable environmental consequences sustainable options landscape and economic values resolution of biodiversity and settlement issues social objectives and lifestyle must be framed in the context of their impact on people s health and wellbeing

12

44 The Victorian Transport Plan

The Victorian Transport Plan (VTP) represented $38 billion+ government expenditure on transport for the State The Heart Foundation supports the significant investment in public transport In terms of making provision for active transport modes such as walking or cycling the VTP outlined an investment of $105 million to create new bike lanes in inner Melbourne Central Activities Districts and regional areas plus the public bike hire scheme for Melbourne s CBD There was no reference made to walking In 2010 the Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria39 (the Strategy) was developed by the Department of Transport The Heart Foundation along with other stakeholders provided input into the development of the Strategy

The Heart Foundation believes the Strategy should be implemented and urges the Government to recognise the health social environmental and economic benefits of promoting a walkable Victoria 40 This strategy is consistent with the Heart Foundation s position on The built environment and walking41 (attached as Appendix 2) Healthy by Design42 (attached as Appendix 3) and An Australian Vision For Active Transport43 (attached as Appendix 4)

45 Amendment VC71 Victorian State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) The gazettal of Amendment VC71 revised Victoria s State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) to include Melbourne 5 Million Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy and Victorian Transport Plan This move enabled those policies to better integrate with Local Planning Policy Frameworks (LPPF)44 While this augmented the impact of these policies it compounded the lack of awareness regarding the need to incorporate the objective of improved health and wellbeing for Victorian communities when planning for population growth

46 Urban Design Charter for Victoria

The Urban Design Charter for Victoria is a State Government policy document that presents 12 principles of good urban design to be applied in Victoria45 In defining what constitutes a good public environment and providing reasons why this is important no reference is made to health There is a need to clearly articulate the need for provision of good urban environments to support health and wellbeing and outline the design principles to realise this objective

The Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living (attached as Appendix 5) outlines 10 design principles for healthy communities Some of these are similar to those in the current Urban Design Charter for Victoria however there are variations between the two

Recommendation Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and consider varying the principles based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

13

47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

3

20 Recommendations

The following is a summary of the recommendations contained in this submission

21 TOR Outline recent state planning policies as they relate to private housing

The Victorian Government should

R1 Recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all Victorians as being necessary for the social and economic development of the State

R2 Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians

particularly policies to manage and service population growth

R3 Include the health and wellbeing of Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria in Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

R4 Include the provision of food security and access to healthy sustainable food for all Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria in Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

R5 Align the Planning and Environment Act 1987 with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for improved health outcomes

R6 Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria

Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and vary the principles so they are based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

4

22 TOR Classify national and international best practice in urban renewal as it relates to established outer suburbs

The Victorian Government should

R7 Ensure that future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

R8 Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments with consequential amendment of the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health

R9 Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by

o Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments

o Appointing coordination and leadership to the Department of Premier and Cabinet to implement the HiAP process

o Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport1

R10 Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation and subordinate instruments and policy framework articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in

o the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living2

o the Heart Foundation s Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living3

o the Heart Foundation s Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system4

o the Growth Areas Authority s Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning5

o the Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper The Liveable City6

o the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City s Program review entitled Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program7

5

23 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of residents

The Victorian Government should

R11 Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

R12 Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

6

30 Introduction

31 Liveability

Liveability and the elements that make a liveable city are underpinned by a set of guiding principles accessibility equity and participation A liveable city is a city for all people It is one where residents can enjoy health and wellbeing and experience easy mobility by foot bike or public transport It is a city that is attractive and safe for children and the aged with places to play meet and talk

A liveable city is a link between the past and the future It is sustainable and resilient It provides access to healthy sustainable food and minimises waste of finite natural resources Liveability refers to the characteristics of an urban system that contribute to the personal wellbeing of inhabitants through community prosperity sustainability and health8

32 Health and wellbeing

For the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has called for liveable built environments that support and enhance the health and wellbeing of our communities The built environment can either facilitate or discourage physical activity particularly walking Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for a range of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease type 2 diabetes kidney disease and cancer9

Australia faces enormous health economic and social costs as a result of rising rates of chronic disease fuelled by the increasing prevalence of obesity poor nutrition and physical inactivity10 Two-in-three Australian adults11 and one-in-four Australian children12 are overweight or obese Prevalence is even higher in disadvantaged groups13 In Victoria the proportion of overweight or obese Victorians was found to have increased from 451 in 2002 to 486 in 200814 In 2008 obesity alone was estimated to cost Australia $58 billion including nearly $36 billion in lost productivity15 while the total economic cost of physical inactivity was estimated to be $138 billion16

If more Australians were physically active for just 30 minutes a day the Australian healthcare system would save $15 billion per year7 In its report State of Australian Cities 2010 Infrastructure Australia called for effective and innovative responses to ensure the sustainability and liveability of our cities 17 The same report stated that the time had come for an unprecedented commitment and investment by governments into public transport and community infrastructure to increase cycling and walking and increase the desirability and use of public transport cycling and walking18

Liveable built environments also include provision of access to healthy sustainable and nutritious food19 Risk factors for a range of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease obesity high cholesterol levels and hypertension (high blood pressure) are increased by high intakes of total kilojoules (energy) saturated fat and salt and low fruit and vegetable intake Only 10 of Victorians meet the healthy eating guidelines for fruit and vegetables20 and Victorians in low and middle socioeconomic areas are more likely to be exposed to fast food outlets than those in high socioeconomic areas21

7

Food insecurity (ie lack of access to safe nutritionally adequate culturally acceptable food from non-emergency sources) is a growing concern In 2008 53 out of 79 Victorian local government areas reported that one in 20 of their residents ran out of food in the previous 12 months and could not afford to buy more22

The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to respond to current issues including

the burden of chronic disease on the economy health system and communities

high quality agricultural land on the edge of Melbourne being lost to low density residential development to accommodate growing urban populations

food production and the cost of food negatively effected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

vulnerability to Peak Oil - the cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term23

33 Planning for health and wellbeing

Liveability is characterised by a people-centred focus in the planning and design of our communities A people-centred approach will ensure economic vitality sustainability and resilience health and wellbeing and equitable access and mobility in all its forms Mobility has the greatest impact on a community s liveability as it is the linchpin that connects people to healthy sustainable food sources employment social services health care education and other people

A whole-of-government approach is required to create healthy liveable urban environments in new and existing outer suburbs in Victoria24 This will require policy integration across portfolios and necessary changes to legislation and departmental policy frameworks These changes can then guide and inform the design planning and development of healthy sustainable resilient and prosperous suburban environments that will provide a range of options to support Victorians to meet their needs into the future

8

40 TOR Outline recent state planning policies as they

relate to private housing

41 Objectives of Planning in Victoria Planning and Environment Act 1987

In 2008 the Victorian Government announced the review of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) The Statement of Government Intentions outlined the purpose of the review being to

simplify current laws eliminate duplication remove redundant provisions modernise the language and strengthen certainty and timeliness in the planning process

This announcement was significant as the Act had not been comprehensively reviewed since its commencement in 1987

In its submission to the Department of Planning and Community Development the Heart Foundation recommended the Victorian Government should

Broaden the scope of planning legislation to reflect a greater emphasis on the link between planning and people

Expand the Objectives of Planning in Victoria to make explicit reference to health and wellbeing

Align the Planning Act with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for health outcomes

Build the consideration of health and social impacts into the assessment process

Create a separate system for assessing state-significant projects which considers health and social impacts

Introduce provisions for the protection of agricultural land25 (The Heart Foundation submission is attached as Appendix 1)

Following this submission process the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 (the draft Bill) was made available to the public Accompanying the draft Bill was a Commentary explaining the key changes to the Act proposed by the draft Bill The proposed changes to the objectives of planning in Victoria as contained in the draft Bill do not adequately reflect the changes necessary to allow Victoria to respond to future challenges While the foreword of the Commentary said the proposed changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 complement the

Government s broader initiatives to accommodate population change provide economic growth encourage sustainable development and enhance the liveability and commercial competitiveness of Victoria s urban and rural communities26 the Heart Foundation believes this aim cannot be realised due to a failure to amend the objectives of planning in Victoria to

emphasise people andor communities as the end users of the built environment

articulate the importance of built environments to support the health and wellbeing of people

emphasise that sustainable and equitable food provision and access to food is central to net community benefit and sustainable development (food resilience and security)

9

articulate that protection of natural resources must be integrated with the objectives of liveability sustainability and resilience to ensure community benefit in the face of environmental pressures such as climate change and peak oil This should include the objective of protecting high quality agricultural land in the edge of cities that is currently being lost to low density urban expansion to accommodate growing urban populations and a reduction in urban sprawl27

It is understood that the review of the Act has not been finalised and that the draft Bill was forwarded to a Parliamentary Committee for further consideration before the last State election The Heart Foundation recommends the new Victorian Government review the amendments proposed in the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 to ensure that necessary changes are incorporated in the Act This is an important opportunity to ensure that any amendments will truly result in an improved planning system that can serve Victorians well into the future

Recommendation Recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all Victorians as being necessary for the social and economic development of the State

Recommendation Include the health and wellbeing of Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Include the provision of food security and access to healthy sustainable food for all Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Align the Planning and Environment Act 1987 with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for improved health outcomes

10

42 Melbourne 2030

A 2008 audit of Melbourne 2030 found the fundamental principles of Melbourne 2030 are more relevant than ever

This is because of the challenges posed by climate change traffic congestion the faster than expected growth of Melbourne s population and the fact that Melbourne is still an extremely spread out city Compared to five years ago there is now an even greater urgency to implement the many initiatives of Melbourne 2030 if Melbourne s development is to be sustainable and the city is to remain liveable 28

An Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census 29 accompanied the Melbourne 2030 Audit In this report major trends identified during Stage 1 of the Audit included

The fastest growing municipalities in metropolitan Melbourne were located on the urban fringe

Households were declining in size

Economic growth was strong between 2001 2006

The number of metropolitan households with members in older age groups was increasing

Environmental issues including climate change and water management had evolved into central policy considerations though it was noted that the degree of urgency attached to addressing these had increased

Petrol and transport costs increased with the possibility of future petrol price rises making the implementation of activity centre policy more urgent

Housing affordability had declined although it was considered that Melbourne 2030 policies had positioned Victoria well particularly in the area of managing land supply30

Notably the analysis did not include mention of any population health trends

In response to the Audit of Melbourne 2030 the Government released Planning For All of Melbourne Planning For All Of Melbourne is informed by research and analysis from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and later the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) over 200 public submissions and the Report of the Audit Expert Group

The only mention of health considerations appeared on page 49 under the heading Building stronger healthier and safer communities 31 The initiatives listed under this heading addressed

improved quantity and quality of open space in growth areas

co-location of multi-use community facilities (eg children s services schools community health centres) in growth areas

provision of aged care facilities in land use planning strategies

investigating how to better address health issues and gaps including services and infrastructure32

While the Heart Foundation supports initiatives such as these the response fails to recognise that the health of Victorians is essential to the overall liveability sustainability and prosperity of the State The Heart Foundation recommends health considerations should be included in all government policies including all areas that relate to community planning and development in Victoria Planning transport environmental sustainability resilient responses to climate change and the

11

management of urban growth and change all have direct impacts on determinants for the health of Victorians

In 2008 Melbourne 2030 continued to be the Government s strategic plan for managing Melbourne s growth and development To complement this new population projections for the State were released in Victoria in Future 2008 to identify new trends and inform the re-evaluation of Melbourne 2030 settlement projections33 In addition Melbourne 5 million was prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport in an attempt to improve integration between planning and transport The initiatives and projects in the Victorian Transport Plan were based on the population projections contained in Victoria in Future 2008 and the planning analysis of Victorian settlements was contained in Melbourne 5 million34

43 Victoria in Future 2008 and Melbourne 5 million

Victoria in Future 2008 was produced for the Department of Planning and Community Development and was described as the Victorian Government s official population and household projections 35 It included data on age population growth births and deaths unemployment fertility and migration36

This data set was consistent with the traditional methodology for interpreting demographic composition and change However data on the type quantity and movement of people can only provide a two-dimensional insight into population characteristics In order to comprehensively plan for liveability data on health trends must be incorporated Adopting a methodology that includes health data (eg levels of obesity diabetes and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer access to healthy food and mapping of food deserts) with traditional population projection data will enhance the Victorian Government s ability to strategically plan for sustainable population growth

Health data enables strategic assessment of people s needs and can inform a comprehensive range of policy interventions including planning and urban design responses (land use built form transport and service provision to support the health and wellbeing of citizens) Useful health data that could inform urban growth is currently provided in the Metropolitan Health Plan Technical Paper 201137

Melbourne 5 million provided policy initiatives that complemented Melbourne 2030 These included

A more compact city (Central Activities Districts employment corridors to improve accessibility to jobs and services and reduce road congestion)

Management of growth (Growth areas to accommodate 47 of new dwellings investigation of extensions to growth areas density target of 15 dwellings per hectare consideration of green wedge values)

Enhancing links between Melbourne and regional centres in Victoria38

These initiatives all have direct impact on determinants for the health and wellbeing of current and future Victorians However like Melbourne 2030 Melbourne 5 million does not mention the relationship between these interventions and health impacts (positive or otherwise) on people Words and phrases such as vibrant liveable environmental consequences sustainable options landscape and economic values resolution of biodiversity and settlement issues social objectives and lifestyle must be framed in the context of their impact on people s health and wellbeing

12

44 The Victorian Transport Plan

The Victorian Transport Plan (VTP) represented $38 billion+ government expenditure on transport for the State The Heart Foundation supports the significant investment in public transport In terms of making provision for active transport modes such as walking or cycling the VTP outlined an investment of $105 million to create new bike lanes in inner Melbourne Central Activities Districts and regional areas plus the public bike hire scheme for Melbourne s CBD There was no reference made to walking In 2010 the Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria39 (the Strategy) was developed by the Department of Transport The Heart Foundation along with other stakeholders provided input into the development of the Strategy

The Heart Foundation believes the Strategy should be implemented and urges the Government to recognise the health social environmental and economic benefits of promoting a walkable Victoria 40 This strategy is consistent with the Heart Foundation s position on The built environment and walking41 (attached as Appendix 2) Healthy by Design42 (attached as Appendix 3) and An Australian Vision For Active Transport43 (attached as Appendix 4)

45 Amendment VC71 Victorian State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) The gazettal of Amendment VC71 revised Victoria s State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) to include Melbourne 5 Million Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy and Victorian Transport Plan This move enabled those policies to better integrate with Local Planning Policy Frameworks (LPPF)44 While this augmented the impact of these policies it compounded the lack of awareness regarding the need to incorporate the objective of improved health and wellbeing for Victorian communities when planning for population growth

46 Urban Design Charter for Victoria

The Urban Design Charter for Victoria is a State Government policy document that presents 12 principles of good urban design to be applied in Victoria45 In defining what constitutes a good public environment and providing reasons why this is important no reference is made to health There is a need to clearly articulate the need for provision of good urban environments to support health and wellbeing and outline the design principles to realise this objective

The Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living (attached as Appendix 5) outlines 10 design principles for healthy communities Some of these are similar to those in the current Urban Design Charter for Victoria however there are variations between the two

Recommendation Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and consider varying the principles based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

13

47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

4

22 TOR Classify national and international best practice in urban renewal as it relates to established outer suburbs

The Victorian Government should

R7 Ensure that future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

R8 Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments with consequential amendment of the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health

R9 Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by

o Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments

o Appointing coordination and leadership to the Department of Premier and Cabinet to implement the HiAP process

o Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport1

R10 Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation and subordinate instruments and policy framework articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in

o the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living2

o the Heart Foundation s Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living3

o the Heart Foundation s Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system4

o the Growth Areas Authority s Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning5

o the Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper The Liveable City6

o the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City s Program review entitled Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program7

5

23 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of residents

The Victorian Government should

R11 Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

R12 Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

6

30 Introduction

31 Liveability

Liveability and the elements that make a liveable city are underpinned by a set of guiding principles accessibility equity and participation A liveable city is a city for all people It is one where residents can enjoy health and wellbeing and experience easy mobility by foot bike or public transport It is a city that is attractive and safe for children and the aged with places to play meet and talk

A liveable city is a link between the past and the future It is sustainable and resilient It provides access to healthy sustainable food and minimises waste of finite natural resources Liveability refers to the characteristics of an urban system that contribute to the personal wellbeing of inhabitants through community prosperity sustainability and health8

32 Health and wellbeing

For the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has called for liveable built environments that support and enhance the health and wellbeing of our communities The built environment can either facilitate or discourage physical activity particularly walking Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for a range of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease type 2 diabetes kidney disease and cancer9

Australia faces enormous health economic and social costs as a result of rising rates of chronic disease fuelled by the increasing prevalence of obesity poor nutrition and physical inactivity10 Two-in-three Australian adults11 and one-in-four Australian children12 are overweight or obese Prevalence is even higher in disadvantaged groups13 In Victoria the proportion of overweight or obese Victorians was found to have increased from 451 in 2002 to 486 in 200814 In 2008 obesity alone was estimated to cost Australia $58 billion including nearly $36 billion in lost productivity15 while the total economic cost of physical inactivity was estimated to be $138 billion16

If more Australians were physically active for just 30 minutes a day the Australian healthcare system would save $15 billion per year7 In its report State of Australian Cities 2010 Infrastructure Australia called for effective and innovative responses to ensure the sustainability and liveability of our cities 17 The same report stated that the time had come for an unprecedented commitment and investment by governments into public transport and community infrastructure to increase cycling and walking and increase the desirability and use of public transport cycling and walking18

Liveable built environments also include provision of access to healthy sustainable and nutritious food19 Risk factors for a range of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease obesity high cholesterol levels and hypertension (high blood pressure) are increased by high intakes of total kilojoules (energy) saturated fat and salt and low fruit and vegetable intake Only 10 of Victorians meet the healthy eating guidelines for fruit and vegetables20 and Victorians in low and middle socioeconomic areas are more likely to be exposed to fast food outlets than those in high socioeconomic areas21

7

Food insecurity (ie lack of access to safe nutritionally adequate culturally acceptable food from non-emergency sources) is a growing concern In 2008 53 out of 79 Victorian local government areas reported that one in 20 of their residents ran out of food in the previous 12 months and could not afford to buy more22

The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to respond to current issues including

the burden of chronic disease on the economy health system and communities

high quality agricultural land on the edge of Melbourne being lost to low density residential development to accommodate growing urban populations

food production and the cost of food negatively effected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

vulnerability to Peak Oil - the cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term23

33 Planning for health and wellbeing

Liveability is characterised by a people-centred focus in the planning and design of our communities A people-centred approach will ensure economic vitality sustainability and resilience health and wellbeing and equitable access and mobility in all its forms Mobility has the greatest impact on a community s liveability as it is the linchpin that connects people to healthy sustainable food sources employment social services health care education and other people

A whole-of-government approach is required to create healthy liveable urban environments in new and existing outer suburbs in Victoria24 This will require policy integration across portfolios and necessary changes to legislation and departmental policy frameworks These changes can then guide and inform the design planning and development of healthy sustainable resilient and prosperous suburban environments that will provide a range of options to support Victorians to meet their needs into the future

8

40 TOR Outline recent state planning policies as they

relate to private housing

41 Objectives of Planning in Victoria Planning and Environment Act 1987

In 2008 the Victorian Government announced the review of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) The Statement of Government Intentions outlined the purpose of the review being to

simplify current laws eliminate duplication remove redundant provisions modernise the language and strengthen certainty and timeliness in the planning process

This announcement was significant as the Act had not been comprehensively reviewed since its commencement in 1987

In its submission to the Department of Planning and Community Development the Heart Foundation recommended the Victorian Government should

Broaden the scope of planning legislation to reflect a greater emphasis on the link between planning and people

Expand the Objectives of Planning in Victoria to make explicit reference to health and wellbeing

Align the Planning Act with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for health outcomes

Build the consideration of health and social impacts into the assessment process

Create a separate system for assessing state-significant projects which considers health and social impacts

Introduce provisions for the protection of agricultural land25 (The Heart Foundation submission is attached as Appendix 1)

Following this submission process the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 (the draft Bill) was made available to the public Accompanying the draft Bill was a Commentary explaining the key changes to the Act proposed by the draft Bill The proposed changes to the objectives of planning in Victoria as contained in the draft Bill do not adequately reflect the changes necessary to allow Victoria to respond to future challenges While the foreword of the Commentary said the proposed changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 complement the

Government s broader initiatives to accommodate population change provide economic growth encourage sustainable development and enhance the liveability and commercial competitiveness of Victoria s urban and rural communities26 the Heart Foundation believes this aim cannot be realised due to a failure to amend the objectives of planning in Victoria to

emphasise people andor communities as the end users of the built environment

articulate the importance of built environments to support the health and wellbeing of people

emphasise that sustainable and equitable food provision and access to food is central to net community benefit and sustainable development (food resilience and security)

9

articulate that protection of natural resources must be integrated with the objectives of liveability sustainability and resilience to ensure community benefit in the face of environmental pressures such as climate change and peak oil This should include the objective of protecting high quality agricultural land in the edge of cities that is currently being lost to low density urban expansion to accommodate growing urban populations and a reduction in urban sprawl27

It is understood that the review of the Act has not been finalised and that the draft Bill was forwarded to a Parliamentary Committee for further consideration before the last State election The Heart Foundation recommends the new Victorian Government review the amendments proposed in the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 to ensure that necessary changes are incorporated in the Act This is an important opportunity to ensure that any amendments will truly result in an improved planning system that can serve Victorians well into the future

Recommendation Recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all Victorians as being necessary for the social and economic development of the State

Recommendation Include the health and wellbeing of Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Include the provision of food security and access to healthy sustainable food for all Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Align the Planning and Environment Act 1987 with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for improved health outcomes

10

42 Melbourne 2030

A 2008 audit of Melbourne 2030 found the fundamental principles of Melbourne 2030 are more relevant than ever

This is because of the challenges posed by climate change traffic congestion the faster than expected growth of Melbourne s population and the fact that Melbourne is still an extremely spread out city Compared to five years ago there is now an even greater urgency to implement the many initiatives of Melbourne 2030 if Melbourne s development is to be sustainable and the city is to remain liveable 28

An Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census 29 accompanied the Melbourne 2030 Audit In this report major trends identified during Stage 1 of the Audit included

The fastest growing municipalities in metropolitan Melbourne were located on the urban fringe

Households were declining in size

Economic growth was strong between 2001 2006

The number of metropolitan households with members in older age groups was increasing

Environmental issues including climate change and water management had evolved into central policy considerations though it was noted that the degree of urgency attached to addressing these had increased

Petrol and transport costs increased with the possibility of future petrol price rises making the implementation of activity centre policy more urgent

Housing affordability had declined although it was considered that Melbourne 2030 policies had positioned Victoria well particularly in the area of managing land supply30

Notably the analysis did not include mention of any population health trends

In response to the Audit of Melbourne 2030 the Government released Planning For All of Melbourne Planning For All Of Melbourne is informed by research and analysis from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and later the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) over 200 public submissions and the Report of the Audit Expert Group

The only mention of health considerations appeared on page 49 under the heading Building stronger healthier and safer communities 31 The initiatives listed under this heading addressed

improved quantity and quality of open space in growth areas

co-location of multi-use community facilities (eg children s services schools community health centres) in growth areas

provision of aged care facilities in land use planning strategies

investigating how to better address health issues and gaps including services and infrastructure32

While the Heart Foundation supports initiatives such as these the response fails to recognise that the health of Victorians is essential to the overall liveability sustainability and prosperity of the State The Heart Foundation recommends health considerations should be included in all government policies including all areas that relate to community planning and development in Victoria Planning transport environmental sustainability resilient responses to climate change and the

11

management of urban growth and change all have direct impacts on determinants for the health of Victorians

In 2008 Melbourne 2030 continued to be the Government s strategic plan for managing Melbourne s growth and development To complement this new population projections for the State were released in Victoria in Future 2008 to identify new trends and inform the re-evaluation of Melbourne 2030 settlement projections33 In addition Melbourne 5 million was prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport in an attempt to improve integration between planning and transport The initiatives and projects in the Victorian Transport Plan were based on the population projections contained in Victoria in Future 2008 and the planning analysis of Victorian settlements was contained in Melbourne 5 million34

43 Victoria in Future 2008 and Melbourne 5 million

Victoria in Future 2008 was produced for the Department of Planning and Community Development and was described as the Victorian Government s official population and household projections 35 It included data on age population growth births and deaths unemployment fertility and migration36

This data set was consistent with the traditional methodology for interpreting demographic composition and change However data on the type quantity and movement of people can only provide a two-dimensional insight into population characteristics In order to comprehensively plan for liveability data on health trends must be incorporated Adopting a methodology that includes health data (eg levels of obesity diabetes and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer access to healthy food and mapping of food deserts) with traditional population projection data will enhance the Victorian Government s ability to strategically plan for sustainable population growth

Health data enables strategic assessment of people s needs and can inform a comprehensive range of policy interventions including planning and urban design responses (land use built form transport and service provision to support the health and wellbeing of citizens) Useful health data that could inform urban growth is currently provided in the Metropolitan Health Plan Technical Paper 201137

Melbourne 5 million provided policy initiatives that complemented Melbourne 2030 These included

A more compact city (Central Activities Districts employment corridors to improve accessibility to jobs and services and reduce road congestion)

Management of growth (Growth areas to accommodate 47 of new dwellings investigation of extensions to growth areas density target of 15 dwellings per hectare consideration of green wedge values)

Enhancing links between Melbourne and regional centres in Victoria38

These initiatives all have direct impact on determinants for the health and wellbeing of current and future Victorians However like Melbourne 2030 Melbourne 5 million does not mention the relationship between these interventions and health impacts (positive or otherwise) on people Words and phrases such as vibrant liveable environmental consequences sustainable options landscape and economic values resolution of biodiversity and settlement issues social objectives and lifestyle must be framed in the context of their impact on people s health and wellbeing

12

44 The Victorian Transport Plan

The Victorian Transport Plan (VTP) represented $38 billion+ government expenditure on transport for the State The Heart Foundation supports the significant investment in public transport In terms of making provision for active transport modes such as walking or cycling the VTP outlined an investment of $105 million to create new bike lanes in inner Melbourne Central Activities Districts and regional areas plus the public bike hire scheme for Melbourne s CBD There was no reference made to walking In 2010 the Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria39 (the Strategy) was developed by the Department of Transport The Heart Foundation along with other stakeholders provided input into the development of the Strategy

The Heart Foundation believes the Strategy should be implemented and urges the Government to recognise the health social environmental and economic benefits of promoting a walkable Victoria 40 This strategy is consistent with the Heart Foundation s position on The built environment and walking41 (attached as Appendix 2) Healthy by Design42 (attached as Appendix 3) and An Australian Vision For Active Transport43 (attached as Appendix 4)

45 Amendment VC71 Victorian State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) The gazettal of Amendment VC71 revised Victoria s State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) to include Melbourne 5 Million Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy and Victorian Transport Plan This move enabled those policies to better integrate with Local Planning Policy Frameworks (LPPF)44 While this augmented the impact of these policies it compounded the lack of awareness regarding the need to incorporate the objective of improved health and wellbeing for Victorian communities when planning for population growth

46 Urban Design Charter for Victoria

The Urban Design Charter for Victoria is a State Government policy document that presents 12 principles of good urban design to be applied in Victoria45 In defining what constitutes a good public environment and providing reasons why this is important no reference is made to health There is a need to clearly articulate the need for provision of good urban environments to support health and wellbeing and outline the design principles to realise this objective

The Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living (attached as Appendix 5) outlines 10 design principles for healthy communities Some of these are similar to those in the current Urban Design Charter for Victoria however there are variations between the two

Recommendation Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and consider varying the principles based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

13

47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

5

23 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of residents

The Victorian Government should

R11 Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

R12 Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

6

30 Introduction

31 Liveability

Liveability and the elements that make a liveable city are underpinned by a set of guiding principles accessibility equity and participation A liveable city is a city for all people It is one where residents can enjoy health and wellbeing and experience easy mobility by foot bike or public transport It is a city that is attractive and safe for children and the aged with places to play meet and talk

A liveable city is a link between the past and the future It is sustainable and resilient It provides access to healthy sustainable food and minimises waste of finite natural resources Liveability refers to the characteristics of an urban system that contribute to the personal wellbeing of inhabitants through community prosperity sustainability and health8

32 Health and wellbeing

For the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has called for liveable built environments that support and enhance the health and wellbeing of our communities The built environment can either facilitate or discourage physical activity particularly walking Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for a range of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease type 2 diabetes kidney disease and cancer9

Australia faces enormous health economic and social costs as a result of rising rates of chronic disease fuelled by the increasing prevalence of obesity poor nutrition and physical inactivity10 Two-in-three Australian adults11 and one-in-four Australian children12 are overweight or obese Prevalence is even higher in disadvantaged groups13 In Victoria the proportion of overweight or obese Victorians was found to have increased from 451 in 2002 to 486 in 200814 In 2008 obesity alone was estimated to cost Australia $58 billion including nearly $36 billion in lost productivity15 while the total economic cost of physical inactivity was estimated to be $138 billion16

If more Australians were physically active for just 30 minutes a day the Australian healthcare system would save $15 billion per year7 In its report State of Australian Cities 2010 Infrastructure Australia called for effective and innovative responses to ensure the sustainability and liveability of our cities 17 The same report stated that the time had come for an unprecedented commitment and investment by governments into public transport and community infrastructure to increase cycling and walking and increase the desirability and use of public transport cycling and walking18

Liveable built environments also include provision of access to healthy sustainable and nutritious food19 Risk factors for a range of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease obesity high cholesterol levels and hypertension (high blood pressure) are increased by high intakes of total kilojoules (energy) saturated fat and salt and low fruit and vegetable intake Only 10 of Victorians meet the healthy eating guidelines for fruit and vegetables20 and Victorians in low and middle socioeconomic areas are more likely to be exposed to fast food outlets than those in high socioeconomic areas21

7

Food insecurity (ie lack of access to safe nutritionally adequate culturally acceptable food from non-emergency sources) is a growing concern In 2008 53 out of 79 Victorian local government areas reported that one in 20 of their residents ran out of food in the previous 12 months and could not afford to buy more22

The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to respond to current issues including

the burden of chronic disease on the economy health system and communities

high quality agricultural land on the edge of Melbourne being lost to low density residential development to accommodate growing urban populations

food production and the cost of food negatively effected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

vulnerability to Peak Oil - the cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term23

33 Planning for health and wellbeing

Liveability is characterised by a people-centred focus in the planning and design of our communities A people-centred approach will ensure economic vitality sustainability and resilience health and wellbeing and equitable access and mobility in all its forms Mobility has the greatest impact on a community s liveability as it is the linchpin that connects people to healthy sustainable food sources employment social services health care education and other people

A whole-of-government approach is required to create healthy liveable urban environments in new and existing outer suburbs in Victoria24 This will require policy integration across portfolios and necessary changes to legislation and departmental policy frameworks These changes can then guide and inform the design planning and development of healthy sustainable resilient and prosperous suburban environments that will provide a range of options to support Victorians to meet their needs into the future

8

40 TOR Outline recent state planning policies as they

relate to private housing

41 Objectives of Planning in Victoria Planning and Environment Act 1987

In 2008 the Victorian Government announced the review of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) The Statement of Government Intentions outlined the purpose of the review being to

simplify current laws eliminate duplication remove redundant provisions modernise the language and strengthen certainty and timeliness in the planning process

This announcement was significant as the Act had not been comprehensively reviewed since its commencement in 1987

In its submission to the Department of Planning and Community Development the Heart Foundation recommended the Victorian Government should

Broaden the scope of planning legislation to reflect a greater emphasis on the link between planning and people

Expand the Objectives of Planning in Victoria to make explicit reference to health and wellbeing

Align the Planning Act with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for health outcomes

Build the consideration of health and social impacts into the assessment process

Create a separate system for assessing state-significant projects which considers health and social impacts

Introduce provisions for the protection of agricultural land25 (The Heart Foundation submission is attached as Appendix 1)

Following this submission process the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 (the draft Bill) was made available to the public Accompanying the draft Bill was a Commentary explaining the key changes to the Act proposed by the draft Bill The proposed changes to the objectives of planning in Victoria as contained in the draft Bill do not adequately reflect the changes necessary to allow Victoria to respond to future challenges While the foreword of the Commentary said the proposed changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 complement the

Government s broader initiatives to accommodate population change provide economic growth encourage sustainable development and enhance the liveability and commercial competitiveness of Victoria s urban and rural communities26 the Heart Foundation believes this aim cannot be realised due to a failure to amend the objectives of planning in Victoria to

emphasise people andor communities as the end users of the built environment

articulate the importance of built environments to support the health and wellbeing of people

emphasise that sustainable and equitable food provision and access to food is central to net community benefit and sustainable development (food resilience and security)

9

articulate that protection of natural resources must be integrated with the objectives of liveability sustainability and resilience to ensure community benefit in the face of environmental pressures such as climate change and peak oil This should include the objective of protecting high quality agricultural land in the edge of cities that is currently being lost to low density urban expansion to accommodate growing urban populations and a reduction in urban sprawl27

It is understood that the review of the Act has not been finalised and that the draft Bill was forwarded to a Parliamentary Committee for further consideration before the last State election The Heart Foundation recommends the new Victorian Government review the amendments proposed in the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 to ensure that necessary changes are incorporated in the Act This is an important opportunity to ensure that any amendments will truly result in an improved planning system that can serve Victorians well into the future

Recommendation Recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all Victorians as being necessary for the social and economic development of the State

Recommendation Include the health and wellbeing of Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Include the provision of food security and access to healthy sustainable food for all Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Align the Planning and Environment Act 1987 with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for improved health outcomes

10

42 Melbourne 2030

A 2008 audit of Melbourne 2030 found the fundamental principles of Melbourne 2030 are more relevant than ever

This is because of the challenges posed by climate change traffic congestion the faster than expected growth of Melbourne s population and the fact that Melbourne is still an extremely spread out city Compared to five years ago there is now an even greater urgency to implement the many initiatives of Melbourne 2030 if Melbourne s development is to be sustainable and the city is to remain liveable 28

An Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census 29 accompanied the Melbourne 2030 Audit In this report major trends identified during Stage 1 of the Audit included

The fastest growing municipalities in metropolitan Melbourne were located on the urban fringe

Households were declining in size

Economic growth was strong between 2001 2006

The number of metropolitan households with members in older age groups was increasing

Environmental issues including climate change and water management had evolved into central policy considerations though it was noted that the degree of urgency attached to addressing these had increased

Petrol and transport costs increased with the possibility of future petrol price rises making the implementation of activity centre policy more urgent

Housing affordability had declined although it was considered that Melbourne 2030 policies had positioned Victoria well particularly in the area of managing land supply30

Notably the analysis did not include mention of any population health trends

In response to the Audit of Melbourne 2030 the Government released Planning For All of Melbourne Planning For All Of Melbourne is informed by research and analysis from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and later the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) over 200 public submissions and the Report of the Audit Expert Group

The only mention of health considerations appeared on page 49 under the heading Building stronger healthier and safer communities 31 The initiatives listed under this heading addressed

improved quantity and quality of open space in growth areas

co-location of multi-use community facilities (eg children s services schools community health centres) in growth areas

provision of aged care facilities in land use planning strategies

investigating how to better address health issues and gaps including services and infrastructure32

While the Heart Foundation supports initiatives such as these the response fails to recognise that the health of Victorians is essential to the overall liveability sustainability and prosperity of the State The Heart Foundation recommends health considerations should be included in all government policies including all areas that relate to community planning and development in Victoria Planning transport environmental sustainability resilient responses to climate change and the

11

management of urban growth and change all have direct impacts on determinants for the health of Victorians

In 2008 Melbourne 2030 continued to be the Government s strategic plan for managing Melbourne s growth and development To complement this new population projections for the State were released in Victoria in Future 2008 to identify new trends and inform the re-evaluation of Melbourne 2030 settlement projections33 In addition Melbourne 5 million was prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport in an attempt to improve integration between planning and transport The initiatives and projects in the Victorian Transport Plan were based on the population projections contained in Victoria in Future 2008 and the planning analysis of Victorian settlements was contained in Melbourne 5 million34

43 Victoria in Future 2008 and Melbourne 5 million

Victoria in Future 2008 was produced for the Department of Planning and Community Development and was described as the Victorian Government s official population and household projections 35 It included data on age population growth births and deaths unemployment fertility and migration36

This data set was consistent with the traditional methodology for interpreting demographic composition and change However data on the type quantity and movement of people can only provide a two-dimensional insight into population characteristics In order to comprehensively plan for liveability data on health trends must be incorporated Adopting a methodology that includes health data (eg levels of obesity diabetes and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer access to healthy food and mapping of food deserts) with traditional population projection data will enhance the Victorian Government s ability to strategically plan for sustainable population growth

Health data enables strategic assessment of people s needs and can inform a comprehensive range of policy interventions including planning and urban design responses (land use built form transport and service provision to support the health and wellbeing of citizens) Useful health data that could inform urban growth is currently provided in the Metropolitan Health Plan Technical Paper 201137

Melbourne 5 million provided policy initiatives that complemented Melbourne 2030 These included

A more compact city (Central Activities Districts employment corridors to improve accessibility to jobs and services and reduce road congestion)

Management of growth (Growth areas to accommodate 47 of new dwellings investigation of extensions to growth areas density target of 15 dwellings per hectare consideration of green wedge values)

Enhancing links between Melbourne and regional centres in Victoria38

These initiatives all have direct impact on determinants for the health and wellbeing of current and future Victorians However like Melbourne 2030 Melbourne 5 million does not mention the relationship between these interventions and health impacts (positive or otherwise) on people Words and phrases such as vibrant liveable environmental consequences sustainable options landscape and economic values resolution of biodiversity and settlement issues social objectives and lifestyle must be framed in the context of their impact on people s health and wellbeing

12

44 The Victorian Transport Plan

The Victorian Transport Plan (VTP) represented $38 billion+ government expenditure on transport for the State The Heart Foundation supports the significant investment in public transport In terms of making provision for active transport modes such as walking or cycling the VTP outlined an investment of $105 million to create new bike lanes in inner Melbourne Central Activities Districts and regional areas plus the public bike hire scheme for Melbourne s CBD There was no reference made to walking In 2010 the Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria39 (the Strategy) was developed by the Department of Transport The Heart Foundation along with other stakeholders provided input into the development of the Strategy

The Heart Foundation believes the Strategy should be implemented and urges the Government to recognise the health social environmental and economic benefits of promoting a walkable Victoria 40 This strategy is consistent with the Heart Foundation s position on The built environment and walking41 (attached as Appendix 2) Healthy by Design42 (attached as Appendix 3) and An Australian Vision For Active Transport43 (attached as Appendix 4)

45 Amendment VC71 Victorian State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) The gazettal of Amendment VC71 revised Victoria s State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) to include Melbourne 5 Million Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy and Victorian Transport Plan This move enabled those policies to better integrate with Local Planning Policy Frameworks (LPPF)44 While this augmented the impact of these policies it compounded the lack of awareness regarding the need to incorporate the objective of improved health and wellbeing for Victorian communities when planning for population growth

46 Urban Design Charter for Victoria

The Urban Design Charter for Victoria is a State Government policy document that presents 12 principles of good urban design to be applied in Victoria45 In defining what constitutes a good public environment and providing reasons why this is important no reference is made to health There is a need to clearly articulate the need for provision of good urban environments to support health and wellbeing and outline the design principles to realise this objective

The Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living (attached as Appendix 5) outlines 10 design principles for healthy communities Some of these are similar to those in the current Urban Design Charter for Victoria however there are variations between the two

Recommendation Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and consider varying the principles based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

13

47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

6

30 Introduction

31 Liveability

Liveability and the elements that make a liveable city are underpinned by a set of guiding principles accessibility equity and participation A liveable city is a city for all people It is one where residents can enjoy health and wellbeing and experience easy mobility by foot bike or public transport It is a city that is attractive and safe for children and the aged with places to play meet and talk

A liveable city is a link between the past and the future It is sustainable and resilient It provides access to healthy sustainable food and minimises waste of finite natural resources Liveability refers to the characteristics of an urban system that contribute to the personal wellbeing of inhabitants through community prosperity sustainability and health8

32 Health and wellbeing

For the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has called for liveable built environments that support and enhance the health and wellbeing of our communities The built environment can either facilitate or discourage physical activity particularly walking Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for a range of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease type 2 diabetes kidney disease and cancer9

Australia faces enormous health economic and social costs as a result of rising rates of chronic disease fuelled by the increasing prevalence of obesity poor nutrition and physical inactivity10 Two-in-three Australian adults11 and one-in-four Australian children12 are overweight or obese Prevalence is even higher in disadvantaged groups13 In Victoria the proportion of overweight or obese Victorians was found to have increased from 451 in 2002 to 486 in 200814 In 2008 obesity alone was estimated to cost Australia $58 billion including nearly $36 billion in lost productivity15 while the total economic cost of physical inactivity was estimated to be $138 billion16

If more Australians were physically active for just 30 minutes a day the Australian healthcare system would save $15 billion per year7 In its report State of Australian Cities 2010 Infrastructure Australia called for effective and innovative responses to ensure the sustainability and liveability of our cities 17 The same report stated that the time had come for an unprecedented commitment and investment by governments into public transport and community infrastructure to increase cycling and walking and increase the desirability and use of public transport cycling and walking18

Liveable built environments also include provision of access to healthy sustainable and nutritious food19 Risk factors for a range of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease obesity high cholesterol levels and hypertension (high blood pressure) are increased by high intakes of total kilojoules (energy) saturated fat and salt and low fruit and vegetable intake Only 10 of Victorians meet the healthy eating guidelines for fruit and vegetables20 and Victorians in low and middle socioeconomic areas are more likely to be exposed to fast food outlets than those in high socioeconomic areas21

7

Food insecurity (ie lack of access to safe nutritionally adequate culturally acceptable food from non-emergency sources) is a growing concern In 2008 53 out of 79 Victorian local government areas reported that one in 20 of their residents ran out of food in the previous 12 months and could not afford to buy more22

The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to respond to current issues including

the burden of chronic disease on the economy health system and communities

high quality agricultural land on the edge of Melbourne being lost to low density residential development to accommodate growing urban populations

food production and the cost of food negatively effected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

vulnerability to Peak Oil - the cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term23

33 Planning for health and wellbeing

Liveability is characterised by a people-centred focus in the planning and design of our communities A people-centred approach will ensure economic vitality sustainability and resilience health and wellbeing and equitable access and mobility in all its forms Mobility has the greatest impact on a community s liveability as it is the linchpin that connects people to healthy sustainable food sources employment social services health care education and other people

A whole-of-government approach is required to create healthy liveable urban environments in new and existing outer suburbs in Victoria24 This will require policy integration across portfolios and necessary changes to legislation and departmental policy frameworks These changes can then guide and inform the design planning and development of healthy sustainable resilient and prosperous suburban environments that will provide a range of options to support Victorians to meet their needs into the future

8

40 TOR Outline recent state planning policies as they

relate to private housing

41 Objectives of Planning in Victoria Planning and Environment Act 1987

In 2008 the Victorian Government announced the review of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) The Statement of Government Intentions outlined the purpose of the review being to

simplify current laws eliminate duplication remove redundant provisions modernise the language and strengthen certainty and timeliness in the planning process

This announcement was significant as the Act had not been comprehensively reviewed since its commencement in 1987

In its submission to the Department of Planning and Community Development the Heart Foundation recommended the Victorian Government should

Broaden the scope of planning legislation to reflect a greater emphasis on the link between planning and people

Expand the Objectives of Planning in Victoria to make explicit reference to health and wellbeing

Align the Planning Act with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for health outcomes

Build the consideration of health and social impacts into the assessment process

Create a separate system for assessing state-significant projects which considers health and social impacts

Introduce provisions for the protection of agricultural land25 (The Heart Foundation submission is attached as Appendix 1)

Following this submission process the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 (the draft Bill) was made available to the public Accompanying the draft Bill was a Commentary explaining the key changes to the Act proposed by the draft Bill The proposed changes to the objectives of planning in Victoria as contained in the draft Bill do not adequately reflect the changes necessary to allow Victoria to respond to future challenges While the foreword of the Commentary said the proposed changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 complement the

Government s broader initiatives to accommodate population change provide economic growth encourage sustainable development and enhance the liveability and commercial competitiveness of Victoria s urban and rural communities26 the Heart Foundation believes this aim cannot be realised due to a failure to amend the objectives of planning in Victoria to

emphasise people andor communities as the end users of the built environment

articulate the importance of built environments to support the health and wellbeing of people

emphasise that sustainable and equitable food provision and access to food is central to net community benefit and sustainable development (food resilience and security)

9

articulate that protection of natural resources must be integrated with the objectives of liveability sustainability and resilience to ensure community benefit in the face of environmental pressures such as climate change and peak oil This should include the objective of protecting high quality agricultural land in the edge of cities that is currently being lost to low density urban expansion to accommodate growing urban populations and a reduction in urban sprawl27

It is understood that the review of the Act has not been finalised and that the draft Bill was forwarded to a Parliamentary Committee for further consideration before the last State election The Heart Foundation recommends the new Victorian Government review the amendments proposed in the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 to ensure that necessary changes are incorporated in the Act This is an important opportunity to ensure that any amendments will truly result in an improved planning system that can serve Victorians well into the future

Recommendation Recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all Victorians as being necessary for the social and economic development of the State

Recommendation Include the health and wellbeing of Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Include the provision of food security and access to healthy sustainable food for all Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Align the Planning and Environment Act 1987 with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for improved health outcomes

10

42 Melbourne 2030

A 2008 audit of Melbourne 2030 found the fundamental principles of Melbourne 2030 are more relevant than ever

This is because of the challenges posed by climate change traffic congestion the faster than expected growth of Melbourne s population and the fact that Melbourne is still an extremely spread out city Compared to five years ago there is now an even greater urgency to implement the many initiatives of Melbourne 2030 if Melbourne s development is to be sustainable and the city is to remain liveable 28

An Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census 29 accompanied the Melbourne 2030 Audit In this report major trends identified during Stage 1 of the Audit included

The fastest growing municipalities in metropolitan Melbourne were located on the urban fringe

Households were declining in size

Economic growth was strong between 2001 2006

The number of metropolitan households with members in older age groups was increasing

Environmental issues including climate change and water management had evolved into central policy considerations though it was noted that the degree of urgency attached to addressing these had increased

Petrol and transport costs increased with the possibility of future petrol price rises making the implementation of activity centre policy more urgent

Housing affordability had declined although it was considered that Melbourne 2030 policies had positioned Victoria well particularly in the area of managing land supply30

Notably the analysis did not include mention of any population health trends

In response to the Audit of Melbourne 2030 the Government released Planning For All of Melbourne Planning For All Of Melbourne is informed by research and analysis from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and later the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) over 200 public submissions and the Report of the Audit Expert Group

The only mention of health considerations appeared on page 49 under the heading Building stronger healthier and safer communities 31 The initiatives listed under this heading addressed

improved quantity and quality of open space in growth areas

co-location of multi-use community facilities (eg children s services schools community health centres) in growth areas

provision of aged care facilities in land use planning strategies

investigating how to better address health issues and gaps including services and infrastructure32

While the Heart Foundation supports initiatives such as these the response fails to recognise that the health of Victorians is essential to the overall liveability sustainability and prosperity of the State The Heart Foundation recommends health considerations should be included in all government policies including all areas that relate to community planning and development in Victoria Planning transport environmental sustainability resilient responses to climate change and the

11

management of urban growth and change all have direct impacts on determinants for the health of Victorians

In 2008 Melbourne 2030 continued to be the Government s strategic plan for managing Melbourne s growth and development To complement this new population projections for the State were released in Victoria in Future 2008 to identify new trends and inform the re-evaluation of Melbourne 2030 settlement projections33 In addition Melbourne 5 million was prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport in an attempt to improve integration between planning and transport The initiatives and projects in the Victorian Transport Plan were based on the population projections contained in Victoria in Future 2008 and the planning analysis of Victorian settlements was contained in Melbourne 5 million34

43 Victoria in Future 2008 and Melbourne 5 million

Victoria in Future 2008 was produced for the Department of Planning and Community Development and was described as the Victorian Government s official population and household projections 35 It included data on age population growth births and deaths unemployment fertility and migration36

This data set was consistent with the traditional methodology for interpreting demographic composition and change However data on the type quantity and movement of people can only provide a two-dimensional insight into population characteristics In order to comprehensively plan for liveability data on health trends must be incorporated Adopting a methodology that includes health data (eg levels of obesity diabetes and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer access to healthy food and mapping of food deserts) with traditional population projection data will enhance the Victorian Government s ability to strategically plan for sustainable population growth

Health data enables strategic assessment of people s needs and can inform a comprehensive range of policy interventions including planning and urban design responses (land use built form transport and service provision to support the health and wellbeing of citizens) Useful health data that could inform urban growth is currently provided in the Metropolitan Health Plan Technical Paper 201137

Melbourne 5 million provided policy initiatives that complemented Melbourne 2030 These included

A more compact city (Central Activities Districts employment corridors to improve accessibility to jobs and services and reduce road congestion)

Management of growth (Growth areas to accommodate 47 of new dwellings investigation of extensions to growth areas density target of 15 dwellings per hectare consideration of green wedge values)

Enhancing links between Melbourne and regional centres in Victoria38

These initiatives all have direct impact on determinants for the health and wellbeing of current and future Victorians However like Melbourne 2030 Melbourne 5 million does not mention the relationship between these interventions and health impacts (positive or otherwise) on people Words and phrases such as vibrant liveable environmental consequences sustainable options landscape and economic values resolution of biodiversity and settlement issues social objectives and lifestyle must be framed in the context of their impact on people s health and wellbeing

12

44 The Victorian Transport Plan

The Victorian Transport Plan (VTP) represented $38 billion+ government expenditure on transport for the State The Heart Foundation supports the significant investment in public transport In terms of making provision for active transport modes such as walking or cycling the VTP outlined an investment of $105 million to create new bike lanes in inner Melbourne Central Activities Districts and regional areas plus the public bike hire scheme for Melbourne s CBD There was no reference made to walking In 2010 the Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria39 (the Strategy) was developed by the Department of Transport The Heart Foundation along with other stakeholders provided input into the development of the Strategy

The Heart Foundation believes the Strategy should be implemented and urges the Government to recognise the health social environmental and economic benefits of promoting a walkable Victoria 40 This strategy is consistent with the Heart Foundation s position on The built environment and walking41 (attached as Appendix 2) Healthy by Design42 (attached as Appendix 3) and An Australian Vision For Active Transport43 (attached as Appendix 4)

45 Amendment VC71 Victorian State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) The gazettal of Amendment VC71 revised Victoria s State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) to include Melbourne 5 Million Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy and Victorian Transport Plan This move enabled those policies to better integrate with Local Planning Policy Frameworks (LPPF)44 While this augmented the impact of these policies it compounded the lack of awareness regarding the need to incorporate the objective of improved health and wellbeing for Victorian communities when planning for population growth

46 Urban Design Charter for Victoria

The Urban Design Charter for Victoria is a State Government policy document that presents 12 principles of good urban design to be applied in Victoria45 In defining what constitutes a good public environment and providing reasons why this is important no reference is made to health There is a need to clearly articulate the need for provision of good urban environments to support health and wellbeing and outline the design principles to realise this objective

The Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living (attached as Appendix 5) outlines 10 design principles for healthy communities Some of these are similar to those in the current Urban Design Charter for Victoria however there are variations between the two

Recommendation Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and consider varying the principles based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

13

47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

7

Food insecurity (ie lack of access to safe nutritionally adequate culturally acceptable food from non-emergency sources) is a growing concern In 2008 53 out of 79 Victorian local government areas reported that one in 20 of their residents ran out of food in the previous 12 months and could not afford to buy more22

The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to respond to current issues including

the burden of chronic disease on the economy health system and communities

high quality agricultural land on the edge of Melbourne being lost to low density residential development to accommodate growing urban populations

food production and the cost of food negatively effected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

vulnerability to Peak Oil - the cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term23

33 Planning for health and wellbeing

Liveability is characterised by a people-centred focus in the planning and design of our communities A people-centred approach will ensure economic vitality sustainability and resilience health and wellbeing and equitable access and mobility in all its forms Mobility has the greatest impact on a community s liveability as it is the linchpin that connects people to healthy sustainable food sources employment social services health care education and other people

A whole-of-government approach is required to create healthy liveable urban environments in new and existing outer suburbs in Victoria24 This will require policy integration across portfolios and necessary changes to legislation and departmental policy frameworks These changes can then guide and inform the design planning and development of healthy sustainable resilient and prosperous suburban environments that will provide a range of options to support Victorians to meet their needs into the future

8

40 TOR Outline recent state planning policies as they

relate to private housing

41 Objectives of Planning in Victoria Planning and Environment Act 1987

In 2008 the Victorian Government announced the review of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) The Statement of Government Intentions outlined the purpose of the review being to

simplify current laws eliminate duplication remove redundant provisions modernise the language and strengthen certainty and timeliness in the planning process

This announcement was significant as the Act had not been comprehensively reviewed since its commencement in 1987

In its submission to the Department of Planning and Community Development the Heart Foundation recommended the Victorian Government should

Broaden the scope of planning legislation to reflect a greater emphasis on the link between planning and people

Expand the Objectives of Planning in Victoria to make explicit reference to health and wellbeing

Align the Planning Act with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for health outcomes

Build the consideration of health and social impacts into the assessment process

Create a separate system for assessing state-significant projects which considers health and social impacts

Introduce provisions for the protection of agricultural land25 (The Heart Foundation submission is attached as Appendix 1)

Following this submission process the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 (the draft Bill) was made available to the public Accompanying the draft Bill was a Commentary explaining the key changes to the Act proposed by the draft Bill The proposed changes to the objectives of planning in Victoria as contained in the draft Bill do not adequately reflect the changes necessary to allow Victoria to respond to future challenges While the foreword of the Commentary said the proposed changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 complement the

Government s broader initiatives to accommodate population change provide economic growth encourage sustainable development and enhance the liveability and commercial competitiveness of Victoria s urban and rural communities26 the Heart Foundation believes this aim cannot be realised due to a failure to amend the objectives of planning in Victoria to

emphasise people andor communities as the end users of the built environment

articulate the importance of built environments to support the health and wellbeing of people

emphasise that sustainable and equitable food provision and access to food is central to net community benefit and sustainable development (food resilience and security)

9

articulate that protection of natural resources must be integrated with the objectives of liveability sustainability and resilience to ensure community benefit in the face of environmental pressures such as climate change and peak oil This should include the objective of protecting high quality agricultural land in the edge of cities that is currently being lost to low density urban expansion to accommodate growing urban populations and a reduction in urban sprawl27

It is understood that the review of the Act has not been finalised and that the draft Bill was forwarded to a Parliamentary Committee for further consideration before the last State election The Heart Foundation recommends the new Victorian Government review the amendments proposed in the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 to ensure that necessary changes are incorporated in the Act This is an important opportunity to ensure that any amendments will truly result in an improved planning system that can serve Victorians well into the future

Recommendation Recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all Victorians as being necessary for the social and economic development of the State

Recommendation Include the health and wellbeing of Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Include the provision of food security and access to healthy sustainable food for all Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Align the Planning and Environment Act 1987 with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for improved health outcomes

10

42 Melbourne 2030

A 2008 audit of Melbourne 2030 found the fundamental principles of Melbourne 2030 are more relevant than ever

This is because of the challenges posed by climate change traffic congestion the faster than expected growth of Melbourne s population and the fact that Melbourne is still an extremely spread out city Compared to five years ago there is now an even greater urgency to implement the many initiatives of Melbourne 2030 if Melbourne s development is to be sustainable and the city is to remain liveable 28

An Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census 29 accompanied the Melbourne 2030 Audit In this report major trends identified during Stage 1 of the Audit included

The fastest growing municipalities in metropolitan Melbourne were located on the urban fringe

Households were declining in size

Economic growth was strong between 2001 2006

The number of metropolitan households with members in older age groups was increasing

Environmental issues including climate change and water management had evolved into central policy considerations though it was noted that the degree of urgency attached to addressing these had increased

Petrol and transport costs increased with the possibility of future petrol price rises making the implementation of activity centre policy more urgent

Housing affordability had declined although it was considered that Melbourne 2030 policies had positioned Victoria well particularly in the area of managing land supply30

Notably the analysis did not include mention of any population health trends

In response to the Audit of Melbourne 2030 the Government released Planning For All of Melbourne Planning For All Of Melbourne is informed by research and analysis from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and later the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) over 200 public submissions and the Report of the Audit Expert Group

The only mention of health considerations appeared on page 49 under the heading Building stronger healthier and safer communities 31 The initiatives listed under this heading addressed

improved quantity and quality of open space in growth areas

co-location of multi-use community facilities (eg children s services schools community health centres) in growth areas

provision of aged care facilities in land use planning strategies

investigating how to better address health issues and gaps including services and infrastructure32

While the Heart Foundation supports initiatives such as these the response fails to recognise that the health of Victorians is essential to the overall liveability sustainability and prosperity of the State The Heart Foundation recommends health considerations should be included in all government policies including all areas that relate to community planning and development in Victoria Planning transport environmental sustainability resilient responses to climate change and the

11

management of urban growth and change all have direct impacts on determinants for the health of Victorians

In 2008 Melbourne 2030 continued to be the Government s strategic plan for managing Melbourne s growth and development To complement this new population projections for the State were released in Victoria in Future 2008 to identify new trends and inform the re-evaluation of Melbourne 2030 settlement projections33 In addition Melbourne 5 million was prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport in an attempt to improve integration between planning and transport The initiatives and projects in the Victorian Transport Plan were based on the population projections contained in Victoria in Future 2008 and the planning analysis of Victorian settlements was contained in Melbourne 5 million34

43 Victoria in Future 2008 and Melbourne 5 million

Victoria in Future 2008 was produced for the Department of Planning and Community Development and was described as the Victorian Government s official population and household projections 35 It included data on age population growth births and deaths unemployment fertility and migration36

This data set was consistent with the traditional methodology for interpreting demographic composition and change However data on the type quantity and movement of people can only provide a two-dimensional insight into population characteristics In order to comprehensively plan for liveability data on health trends must be incorporated Adopting a methodology that includes health data (eg levels of obesity diabetes and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer access to healthy food and mapping of food deserts) with traditional population projection data will enhance the Victorian Government s ability to strategically plan for sustainable population growth

Health data enables strategic assessment of people s needs and can inform a comprehensive range of policy interventions including planning and urban design responses (land use built form transport and service provision to support the health and wellbeing of citizens) Useful health data that could inform urban growth is currently provided in the Metropolitan Health Plan Technical Paper 201137

Melbourne 5 million provided policy initiatives that complemented Melbourne 2030 These included

A more compact city (Central Activities Districts employment corridors to improve accessibility to jobs and services and reduce road congestion)

Management of growth (Growth areas to accommodate 47 of new dwellings investigation of extensions to growth areas density target of 15 dwellings per hectare consideration of green wedge values)

Enhancing links between Melbourne and regional centres in Victoria38

These initiatives all have direct impact on determinants for the health and wellbeing of current and future Victorians However like Melbourne 2030 Melbourne 5 million does not mention the relationship between these interventions and health impacts (positive or otherwise) on people Words and phrases such as vibrant liveable environmental consequences sustainable options landscape and economic values resolution of biodiversity and settlement issues social objectives and lifestyle must be framed in the context of their impact on people s health and wellbeing

12

44 The Victorian Transport Plan

The Victorian Transport Plan (VTP) represented $38 billion+ government expenditure on transport for the State The Heart Foundation supports the significant investment in public transport In terms of making provision for active transport modes such as walking or cycling the VTP outlined an investment of $105 million to create new bike lanes in inner Melbourne Central Activities Districts and regional areas plus the public bike hire scheme for Melbourne s CBD There was no reference made to walking In 2010 the Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria39 (the Strategy) was developed by the Department of Transport The Heart Foundation along with other stakeholders provided input into the development of the Strategy

The Heart Foundation believes the Strategy should be implemented and urges the Government to recognise the health social environmental and economic benefits of promoting a walkable Victoria 40 This strategy is consistent with the Heart Foundation s position on The built environment and walking41 (attached as Appendix 2) Healthy by Design42 (attached as Appendix 3) and An Australian Vision For Active Transport43 (attached as Appendix 4)

45 Amendment VC71 Victorian State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) The gazettal of Amendment VC71 revised Victoria s State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) to include Melbourne 5 Million Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy and Victorian Transport Plan This move enabled those policies to better integrate with Local Planning Policy Frameworks (LPPF)44 While this augmented the impact of these policies it compounded the lack of awareness regarding the need to incorporate the objective of improved health and wellbeing for Victorian communities when planning for population growth

46 Urban Design Charter for Victoria

The Urban Design Charter for Victoria is a State Government policy document that presents 12 principles of good urban design to be applied in Victoria45 In defining what constitutes a good public environment and providing reasons why this is important no reference is made to health There is a need to clearly articulate the need for provision of good urban environments to support health and wellbeing and outline the design principles to realise this objective

The Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living (attached as Appendix 5) outlines 10 design principles for healthy communities Some of these are similar to those in the current Urban Design Charter for Victoria however there are variations between the two

Recommendation Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and consider varying the principles based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

13

47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

8

40 TOR Outline recent state planning policies as they

relate to private housing

41 Objectives of Planning in Victoria Planning and Environment Act 1987

In 2008 the Victorian Government announced the review of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) The Statement of Government Intentions outlined the purpose of the review being to

simplify current laws eliminate duplication remove redundant provisions modernise the language and strengthen certainty and timeliness in the planning process

This announcement was significant as the Act had not been comprehensively reviewed since its commencement in 1987

In its submission to the Department of Planning and Community Development the Heart Foundation recommended the Victorian Government should

Broaden the scope of planning legislation to reflect a greater emphasis on the link between planning and people

Expand the Objectives of Planning in Victoria to make explicit reference to health and wellbeing

Align the Planning Act with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for health outcomes

Build the consideration of health and social impacts into the assessment process

Create a separate system for assessing state-significant projects which considers health and social impacts

Introduce provisions for the protection of agricultural land25 (The Heart Foundation submission is attached as Appendix 1)

Following this submission process the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 (the draft Bill) was made available to the public Accompanying the draft Bill was a Commentary explaining the key changes to the Act proposed by the draft Bill The proposed changes to the objectives of planning in Victoria as contained in the draft Bill do not adequately reflect the changes necessary to allow Victoria to respond to future challenges While the foreword of the Commentary said the proposed changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 complement the

Government s broader initiatives to accommodate population change provide economic growth encourage sustainable development and enhance the liveability and commercial competitiveness of Victoria s urban and rural communities26 the Heart Foundation believes this aim cannot be realised due to a failure to amend the objectives of planning in Victoria to

emphasise people andor communities as the end users of the built environment

articulate the importance of built environments to support the health and wellbeing of people

emphasise that sustainable and equitable food provision and access to food is central to net community benefit and sustainable development (food resilience and security)

9

articulate that protection of natural resources must be integrated with the objectives of liveability sustainability and resilience to ensure community benefit in the face of environmental pressures such as climate change and peak oil This should include the objective of protecting high quality agricultural land in the edge of cities that is currently being lost to low density urban expansion to accommodate growing urban populations and a reduction in urban sprawl27

It is understood that the review of the Act has not been finalised and that the draft Bill was forwarded to a Parliamentary Committee for further consideration before the last State election The Heart Foundation recommends the new Victorian Government review the amendments proposed in the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 to ensure that necessary changes are incorporated in the Act This is an important opportunity to ensure that any amendments will truly result in an improved planning system that can serve Victorians well into the future

Recommendation Recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all Victorians as being necessary for the social and economic development of the State

Recommendation Include the health and wellbeing of Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Include the provision of food security and access to healthy sustainable food for all Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Align the Planning and Environment Act 1987 with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for improved health outcomes

10

42 Melbourne 2030

A 2008 audit of Melbourne 2030 found the fundamental principles of Melbourne 2030 are more relevant than ever

This is because of the challenges posed by climate change traffic congestion the faster than expected growth of Melbourne s population and the fact that Melbourne is still an extremely spread out city Compared to five years ago there is now an even greater urgency to implement the many initiatives of Melbourne 2030 if Melbourne s development is to be sustainable and the city is to remain liveable 28

An Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census 29 accompanied the Melbourne 2030 Audit In this report major trends identified during Stage 1 of the Audit included

The fastest growing municipalities in metropolitan Melbourne were located on the urban fringe

Households were declining in size

Economic growth was strong between 2001 2006

The number of metropolitan households with members in older age groups was increasing

Environmental issues including climate change and water management had evolved into central policy considerations though it was noted that the degree of urgency attached to addressing these had increased

Petrol and transport costs increased with the possibility of future petrol price rises making the implementation of activity centre policy more urgent

Housing affordability had declined although it was considered that Melbourne 2030 policies had positioned Victoria well particularly in the area of managing land supply30

Notably the analysis did not include mention of any population health trends

In response to the Audit of Melbourne 2030 the Government released Planning For All of Melbourne Planning For All Of Melbourne is informed by research and analysis from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and later the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) over 200 public submissions and the Report of the Audit Expert Group

The only mention of health considerations appeared on page 49 under the heading Building stronger healthier and safer communities 31 The initiatives listed under this heading addressed

improved quantity and quality of open space in growth areas

co-location of multi-use community facilities (eg children s services schools community health centres) in growth areas

provision of aged care facilities in land use planning strategies

investigating how to better address health issues and gaps including services and infrastructure32

While the Heart Foundation supports initiatives such as these the response fails to recognise that the health of Victorians is essential to the overall liveability sustainability and prosperity of the State The Heart Foundation recommends health considerations should be included in all government policies including all areas that relate to community planning and development in Victoria Planning transport environmental sustainability resilient responses to climate change and the

11

management of urban growth and change all have direct impacts on determinants for the health of Victorians

In 2008 Melbourne 2030 continued to be the Government s strategic plan for managing Melbourne s growth and development To complement this new population projections for the State were released in Victoria in Future 2008 to identify new trends and inform the re-evaluation of Melbourne 2030 settlement projections33 In addition Melbourne 5 million was prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport in an attempt to improve integration between planning and transport The initiatives and projects in the Victorian Transport Plan were based on the population projections contained in Victoria in Future 2008 and the planning analysis of Victorian settlements was contained in Melbourne 5 million34

43 Victoria in Future 2008 and Melbourne 5 million

Victoria in Future 2008 was produced for the Department of Planning and Community Development and was described as the Victorian Government s official population and household projections 35 It included data on age population growth births and deaths unemployment fertility and migration36

This data set was consistent with the traditional methodology for interpreting demographic composition and change However data on the type quantity and movement of people can only provide a two-dimensional insight into population characteristics In order to comprehensively plan for liveability data on health trends must be incorporated Adopting a methodology that includes health data (eg levels of obesity diabetes and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer access to healthy food and mapping of food deserts) with traditional population projection data will enhance the Victorian Government s ability to strategically plan for sustainable population growth

Health data enables strategic assessment of people s needs and can inform a comprehensive range of policy interventions including planning and urban design responses (land use built form transport and service provision to support the health and wellbeing of citizens) Useful health data that could inform urban growth is currently provided in the Metropolitan Health Plan Technical Paper 201137

Melbourne 5 million provided policy initiatives that complemented Melbourne 2030 These included

A more compact city (Central Activities Districts employment corridors to improve accessibility to jobs and services and reduce road congestion)

Management of growth (Growth areas to accommodate 47 of new dwellings investigation of extensions to growth areas density target of 15 dwellings per hectare consideration of green wedge values)

Enhancing links between Melbourne and regional centres in Victoria38

These initiatives all have direct impact on determinants for the health and wellbeing of current and future Victorians However like Melbourne 2030 Melbourne 5 million does not mention the relationship between these interventions and health impacts (positive or otherwise) on people Words and phrases such as vibrant liveable environmental consequences sustainable options landscape and economic values resolution of biodiversity and settlement issues social objectives and lifestyle must be framed in the context of their impact on people s health and wellbeing

12

44 The Victorian Transport Plan

The Victorian Transport Plan (VTP) represented $38 billion+ government expenditure on transport for the State The Heart Foundation supports the significant investment in public transport In terms of making provision for active transport modes such as walking or cycling the VTP outlined an investment of $105 million to create new bike lanes in inner Melbourne Central Activities Districts and regional areas plus the public bike hire scheme for Melbourne s CBD There was no reference made to walking In 2010 the Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria39 (the Strategy) was developed by the Department of Transport The Heart Foundation along with other stakeholders provided input into the development of the Strategy

The Heart Foundation believes the Strategy should be implemented and urges the Government to recognise the health social environmental and economic benefits of promoting a walkable Victoria 40 This strategy is consistent with the Heart Foundation s position on The built environment and walking41 (attached as Appendix 2) Healthy by Design42 (attached as Appendix 3) and An Australian Vision For Active Transport43 (attached as Appendix 4)

45 Amendment VC71 Victorian State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) The gazettal of Amendment VC71 revised Victoria s State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) to include Melbourne 5 Million Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy and Victorian Transport Plan This move enabled those policies to better integrate with Local Planning Policy Frameworks (LPPF)44 While this augmented the impact of these policies it compounded the lack of awareness regarding the need to incorporate the objective of improved health and wellbeing for Victorian communities when planning for population growth

46 Urban Design Charter for Victoria

The Urban Design Charter for Victoria is a State Government policy document that presents 12 principles of good urban design to be applied in Victoria45 In defining what constitutes a good public environment and providing reasons why this is important no reference is made to health There is a need to clearly articulate the need for provision of good urban environments to support health and wellbeing and outline the design principles to realise this objective

The Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living (attached as Appendix 5) outlines 10 design principles for healthy communities Some of these are similar to those in the current Urban Design Charter for Victoria however there are variations between the two

Recommendation Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and consider varying the principles based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

13

47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

9

articulate that protection of natural resources must be integrated with the objectives of liveability sustainability and resilience to ensure community benefit in the face of environmental pressures such as climate change and peak oil This should include the objective of protecting high quality agricultural land in the edge of cities that is currently being lost to low density urban expansion to accommodate growing urban populations and a reduction in urban sprawl27

It is understood that the review of the Act has not been finalised and that the draft Bill was forwarded to a Parliamentary Committee for further consideration before the last State election The Heart Foundation recommends the new Victorian Government review the amendments proposed in the draft Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 to ensure that necessary changes are incorporated in the Act This is an important opportunity to ensure that any amendments will truly result in an improved planning system that can serve Victorians well into the future

Recommendation Recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all Victorians as being necessary for the social and economic development of the State

Recommendation Include the health and wellbeing of Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Include the provision of food security and access to healthy sustainable food for all Victorians as an objective of planning in Victoria Section 4 (1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Recommendation Align the Planning and Environment Act 1987 with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Transport Integration Act 2010 to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration for improved health outcomes

10

42 Melbourne 2030

A 2008 audit of Melbourne 2030 found the fundamental principles of Melbourne 2030 are more relevant than ever

This is because of the challenges posed by climate change traffic congestion the faster than expected growth of Melbourne s population and the fact that Melbourne is still an extremely spread out city Compared to five years ago there is now an even greater urgency to implement the many initiatives of Melbourne 2030 if Melbourne s development is to be sustainable and the city is to remain liveable 28

An Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census 29 accompanied the Melbourne 2030 Audit In this report major trends identified during Stage 1 of the Audit included

The fastest growing municipalities in metropolitan Melbourne were located on the urban fringe

Households were declining in size

Economic growth was strong between 2001 2006

The number of metropolitan households with members in older age groups was increasing

Environmental issues including climate change and water management had evolved into central policy considerations though it was noted that the degree of urgency attached to addressing these had increased

Petrol and transport costs increased with the possibility of future petrol price rises making the implementation of activity centre policy more urgent

Housing affordability had declined although it was considered that Melbourne 2030 policies had positioned Victoria well particularly in the area of managing land supply30

Notably the analysis did not include mention of any population health trends

In response to the Audit of Melbourne 2030 the Government released Planning For All of Melbourne Planning For All Of Melbourne is informed by research and analysis from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and later the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) over 200 public submissions and the Report of the Audit Expert Group

The only mention of health considerations appeared on page 49 under the heading Building stronger healthier and safer communities 31 The initiatives listed under this heading addressed

improved quantity and quality of open space in growth areas

co-location of multi-use community facilities (eg children s services schools community health centres) in growth areas

provision of aged care facilities in land use planning strategies

investigating how to better address health issues and gaps including services and infrastructure32

While the Heart Foundation supports initiatives such as these the response fails to recognise that the health of Victorians is essential to the overall liveability sustainability and prosperity of the State The Heart Foundation recommends health considerations should be included in all government policies including all areas that relate to community planning and development in Victoria Planning transport environmental sustainability resilient responses to climate change and the

11

management of urban growth and change all have direct impacts on determinants for the health of Victorians

In 2008 Melbourne 2030 continued to be the Government s strategic plan for managing Melbourne s growth and development To complement this new population projections for the State were released in Victoria in Future 2008 to identify new trends and inform the re-evaluation of Melbourne 2030 settlement projections33 In addition Melbourne 5 million was prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport in an attempt to improve integration between planning and transport The initiatives and projects in the Victorian Transport Plan were based on the population projections contained in Victoria in Future 2008 and the planning analysis of Victorian settlements was contained in Melbourne 5 million34

43 Victoria in Future 2008 and Melbourne 5 million

Victoria in Future 2008 was produced for the Department of Planning and Community Development and was described as the Victorian Government s official population and household projections 35 It included data on age population growth births and deaths unemployment fertility and migration36

This data set was consistent with the traditional methodology for interpreting demographic composition and change However data on the type quantity and movement of people can only provide a two-dimensional insight into population characteristics In order to comprehensively plan for liveability data on health trends must be incorporated Adopting a methodology that includes health data (eg levels of obesity diabetes and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer access to healthy food and mapping of food deserts) with traditional population projection data will enhance the Victorian Government s ability to strategically plan for sustainable population growth

Health data enables strategic assessment of people s needs and can inform a comprehensive range of policy interventions including planning and urban design responses (land use built form transport and service provision to support the health and wellbeing of citizens) Useful health data that could inform urban growth is currently provided in the Metropolitan Health Plan Technical Paper 201137

Melbourne 5 million provided policy initiatives that complemented Melbourne 2030 These included

A more compact city (Central Activities Districts employment corridors to improve accessibility to jobs and services and reduce road congestion)

Management of growth (Growth areas to accommodate 47 of new dwellings investigation of extensions to growth areas density target of 15 dwellings per hectare consideration of green wedge values)

Enhancing links between Melbourne and regional centres in Victoria38

These initiatives all have direct impact on determinants for the health and wellbeing of current and future Victorians However like Melbourne 2030 Melbourne 5 million does not mention the relationship between these interventions and health impacts (positive or otherwise) on people Words and phrases such as vibrant liveable environmental consequences sustainable options landscape and economic values resolution of biodiversity and settlement issues social objectives and lifestyle must be framed in the context of their impact on people s health and wellbeing

12

44 The Victorian Transport Plan

The Victorian Transport Plan (VTP) represented $38 billion+ government expenditure on transport for the State The Heart Foundation supports the significant investment in public transport In terms of making provision for active transport modes such as walking or cycling the VTP outlined an investment of $105 million to create new bike lanes in inner Melbourne Central Activities Districts and regional areas plus the public bike hire scheme for Melbourne s CBD There was no reference made to walking In 2010 the Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria39 (the Strategy) was developed by the Department of Transport The Heart Foundation along with other stakeholders provided input into the development of the Strategy

The Heart Foundation believes the Strategy should be implemented and urges the Government to recognise the health social environmental and economic benefits of promoting a walkable Victoria 40 This strategy is consistent with the Heart Foundation s position on The built environment and walking41 (attached as Appendix 2) Healthy by Design42 (attached as Appendix 3) and An Australian Vision For Active Transport43 (attached as Appendix 4)

45 Amendment VC71 Victorian State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) The gazettal of Amendment VC71 revised Victoria s State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) to include Melbourne 5 Million Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy and Victorian Transport Plan This move enabled those policies to better integrate with Local Planning Policy Frameworks (LPPF)44 While this augmented the impact of these policies it compounded the lack of awareness regarding the need to incorporate the objective of improved health and wellbeing for Victorian communities when planning for population growth

46 Urban Design Charter for Victoria

The Urban Design Charter for Victoria is a State Government policy document that presents 12 principles of good urban design to be applied in Victoria45 In defining what constitutes a good public environment and providing reasons why this is important no reference is made to health There is a need to clearly articulate the need for provision of good urban environments to support health and wellbeing and outline the design principles to realise this objective

The Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living (attached as Appendix 5) outlines 10 design principles for healthy communities Some of these are similar to those in the current Urban Design Charter for Victoria however there are variations between the two

Recommendation Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and consider varying the principles based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

13

47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

10

42 Melbourne 2030

A 2008 audit of Melbourne 2030 found the fundamental principles of Melbourne 2030 are more relevant than ever

This is because of the challenges posed by climate change traffic congestion the faster than expected growth of Melbourne s population and the fact that Melbourne is still an extremely spread out city Compared to five years ago there is now an even greater urgency to implement the many initiatives of Melbourne 2030 if Melbourne s development is to be sustainable and the city is to remain liveable 28

An Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census 29 accompanied the Melbourne 2030 Audit In this report major trends identified during Stage 1 of the Audit included

The fastest growing municipalities in metropolitan Melbourne were located on the urban fringe

Households were declining in size

Economic growth was strong between 2001 2006

The number of metropolitan households with members in older age groups was increasing

Environmental issues including climate change and water management had evolved into central policy considerations though it was noted that the degree of urgency attached to addressing these had increased

Petrol and transport costs increased with the possibility of future petrol price rises making the implementation of activity centre policy more urgent

Housing affordability had declined although it was considered that Melbourne 2030 policies had positioned Victoria well particularly in the area of managing land supply30

Notably the analysis did not include mention of any population health trends

In response to the Audit of Melbourne 2030 the Government released Planning For All of Melbourne Planning For All Of Melbourne is informed by research and analysis from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and later the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) over 200 public submissions and the Report of the Audit Expert Group

The only mention of health considerations appeared on page 49 under the heading Building stronger healthier and safer communities 31 The initiatives listed under this heading addressed

improved quantity and quality of open space in growth areas

co-location of multi-use community facilities (eg children s services schools community health centres) in growth areas

provision of aged care facilities in land use planning strategies

investigating how to better address health issues and gaps including services and infrastructure32

While the Heart Foundation supports initiatives such as these the response fails to recognise that the health of Victorians is essential to the overall liveability sustainability and prosperity of the State The Heart Foundation recommends health considerations should be included in all government policies including all areas that relate to community planning and development in Victoria Planning transport environmental sustainability resilient responses to climate change and the

11

management of urban growth and change all have direct impacts on determinants for the health of Victorians

In 2008 Melbourne 2030 continued to be the Government s strategic plan for managing Melbourne s growth and development To complement this new population projections for the State were released in Victoria in Future 2008 to identify new trends and inform the re-evaluation of Melbourne 2030 settlement projections33 In addition Melbourne 5 million was prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport in an attempt to improve integration between planning and transport The initiatives and projects in the Victorian Transport Plan were based on the population projections contained in Victoria in Future 2008 and the planning analysis of Victorian settlements was contained in Melbourne 5 million34

43 Victoria in Future 2008 and Melbourne 5 million

Victoria in Future 2008 was produced for the Department of Planning and Community Development and was described as the Victorian Government s official population and household projections 35 It included data on age population growth births and deaths unemployment fertility and migration36

This data set was consistent with the traditional methodology for interpreting demographic composition and change However data on the type quantity and movement of people can only provide a two-dimensional insight into population characteristics In order to comprehensively plan for liveability data on health trends must be incorporated Adopting a methodology that includes health data (eg levels of obesity diabetes and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer access to healthy food and mapping of food deserts) with traditional population projection data will enhance the Victorian Government s ability to strategically plan for sustainable population growth

Health data enables strategic assessment of people s needs and can inform a comprehensive range of policy interventions including planning and urban design responses (land use built form transport and service provision to support the health and wellbeing of citizens) Useful health data that could inform urban growth is currently provided in the Metropolitan Health Plan Technical Paper 201137

Melbourne 5 million provided policy initiatives that complemented Melbourne 2030 These included

A more compact city (Central Activities Districts employment corridors to improve accessibility to jobs and services and reduce road congestion)

Management of growth (Growth areas to accommodate 47 of new dwellings investigation of extensions to growth areas density target of 15 dwellings per hectare consideration of green wedge values)

Enhancing links between Melbourne and regional centres in Victoria38

These initiatives all have direct impact on determinants for the health and wellbeing of current and future Victorians However like Melbourne 2030 Melbourne 5 million does not mention the relationship between these interventions and health impacts (positive or otherwise) on people Words and phrases such as vibrant liveable environmental consequences sustainable options landscape and economic values resolution of biodiversity and settlement issues social objectives and lifestyle must be framed in the context of their impact on people s health and wellbeing

12

44 The Victorian Transport Plan

The Victorian Transport Plan (VTP) represented $38 billion+ government expenditure on transport for the State The Heart Foundation supports the significant investment in public transport In terms of making provision for active transport modes such as walking or cycling the VTP outlined an investment of $105 million to create new bike lanes in inner Melbourne Central Activities Districts and regional areas plus the public bike hire scheme for Melbourne s CBD There was no reference made to walking In 2010 the Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria39 (the Strategy) was developed by the Department of Transport The Heart Foundation along with other stakeholders provided input into the development of the Strategy

The Heart Foundation believes the Strategy should be implemented and urges the Government to recognise the health social environmental and economic benefits of promoting a walkable Victoria 40 This strategy is consistent with the Heart Foundation s position on The built environment and walking41 (attached as Appendix 2) Healthy by Design42 (attached as Appendix 3) and An Australian Vision For Active Transport43 (attached as Appendix 4)

45 Amendment VC71 Victorian State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) The gazettal of Amendment VC71 revised Victoria s State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) to include Melbourne 5 Million Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy and Victorian Transport Plan This move enabled those policies to better integrate with Local Planning Policy Frameworks (LPPF)44 While this augmented the impact of these policies it compounded the lack of awareness regarding the need to incorporate the objective of improved health and wellbeing for Victorian communities when planning for population growth

46 Urban Design Charter for Victoria

The Urban Design Charter for Victoria is a State Government policy document that presents 12 principles of good urban design to be applied in Victoria45 In defining what constitutes a good public environment and providing reasons why this is important no reference is made to health There is a need to clearly articulate the need for provision of good urban environments to support health and wellbeing and outline the design principles to realise this objective

The Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living (attached as Appendix 5) outlines 10 design principles for healthy communities Some of these are similar to those in the current Urban Design Charter for Victoria however there are variations between the two

Recommendation Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and consider varying the principles based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

13

47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

11

management of urban growth and change all have direct impacts on determinants for the health of Victorians

In 2008 Melbourne 2030 continued to be the Government s strategic plan for managing Melbourne s growth and development To complement this new population projections for the State were released in Victoria in Future 2008 to identify new trends and inform the re-evaluation of Melbourne 2030 settlement projections33 In addition Melbourne 5 million was prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport in an attempt to improve integration between planning and transport The initiatives and projects in the Victorian Transport Plan were based on the population projections contained in Victoria in Future 2008 and the planning analysis of Victorian settlements was contained in Melbourne 5 million34

43 Victoria in Future 2008 and Melbourne 5 million

Victoria in Future 2008 was produced for the Department of Planning and Community Development and was described as the Victorian Government s official population and household projections 35 It included data on age population growth births and deaths unemployment fertility and migration36

This data set was consistent with the traditional methodology for interpreting demographic composition and change However data on the type quantity and movement of people can only provide a two-dimensional insight into population characteristics In order to comprehensively plan for liveability data on health trends must be incorporated Adopting a methodology that includes health data (eg levels of obesity diabetes and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer access to healthy food and mapping of food deserts) with traditional population projection data will enhance the Victorian Government s ability to strategically plan for sustainable population growth

Health data enables strategic assessment of people s needs and can inform a comprehensive range of policy interventions including planning and urban design responses (land use built form transport and service provision to support the health and wellbeing of citizens) Useful health data that could inform urban growth is currently provided in the Metropolitan Health Plan Technical Paper 201137

Melbourne 5 million provided policy initiatives that complemented Melbourne 2030 These included

A more compact city (Central Activities Districts employment corridors to improve accessibility to jobs and services and reduce road congestion)

Management of growth (Growth areas to accommodate 47 of new dwellings investigation of extensions to growth areas density target of 15 dwellings per hectare consideration of green wedge values)

Enhancing links between Melbourne and regional centres in Victoria38

These initiatives all have direct impact on determinants for the health and wellbeing of current and future Victorians However like Melbourne 2030 Melbourne 5 million does not mention the relationship between these interventions and health impacts (positive or otherwise) on people Words and phrases such as vibrant liveable environmental consequences sustainable options landscape and economic values resolution of biodiversity and settlement issues social objectives and lifestyle must be framed in the context of their impact on people s health and wellbeing

12

44 The Victorian Transport Plan

The Victorian Transport Plan (VTP) represented $38 billion+ government expenditure on transport for the State The Heart Foundation supports the significant investment in public transport In terms of making provision for active transport modes such as walking or cycling the VTP outlined an investment of $105 million to create new bike lanes in inner Melbourne Central Activities Districts and regional areas plus the public bike hire scheme for Melbourne s CBD There was no reference made to walking In 2010 the Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria39 (the Strategy) was developed by the Department of Transport The Heart Foundation along with other stakeholders provided input into the development of the Strategy

The Heart Foundation believes the Strategy should be implemented and urges the Government to recognise the health social environmental and economic benefits of promoting a walkable Victoria 40 This strategy is consistent with the Heart Foundation s position on The built environment and walking41 (attached as Appendix 2) Healthy by Design42 (attached as Appendix 3) and An Australian Vision For Active Transport43 (attached as Appendix 4)

45 Amendment VC71 Victorian State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) The gazettal of Amendment VC71 revised Victoria s State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) to include Melbourne 5 Million Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy and Victorian Transport Plan This move enabled those policies to better integrate with Local Planning Policy Frameworks (LPPF)44 While this augmented the impact of these policies it compounded the lack of awareness regarding the need to incorporate the objective of improved health and wellbeing for Victorian communities when planning for population growth

46 Urban Design Charter for Victoria

The Urban Design Charter for Victoria is a State Government policy document that presents 12 principles of good urban design to be applied in Victoria45 In defining what constitutes a good public environment and providing reasons why this is important no reference is made to health There is a need to clearly articulate the need for provision of good urban environments to support health and wellbeing and outline the design principles to realise this objective

The Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living (attached as Appendix 5) outlines 10 design principles for healthy communities Some of these are similar to those in the current Urban Design Charter for Victoria however there are variations between the two

Recommendation Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and consider varying the principles based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

13

47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

12

44 The Victorian Transport Plan

The Victorian Transport Plan (VTP) represented $38 billion+ government expenditure on transport for the State The Heart Foundation supports the significant investment in public transport In terms of making provision for active transport modes such as walking or cycling the VTP outlined an investment of $105 million to create new bike lanes in inner Melbourne Central Activities Districts and regional areas plus the public bike hire scheme for Melbourne s CBD There was no reference made to walking In 2010 the Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria39 (the Strategy) was developed by the Department of Transport The Heart Foundation along with other stakeholders provided input into the development of the Strategy

The Heart Foundation believes the Strategy should be implemented and urges the Government to recognise the health social environmental and economic benefits of promoting a walkable Victoria 40 This strategy is consistent with the Heart Foundation s position on The built environment and walking41 (attached as Appendix 2) Healthy by Design42 (attached as Appendix 3) and An Australian Vision For Active Transport43 (attached as Appendix 4)

45 Amendment VC71 Victorian State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) The gazettal of Amendment VC71 revised Victoria s State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) to include Melbourne 5 Million Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy and Victorian Transport Plan This move enabled those policies to better integrate with Local Planning Policy Frameworks (LPPF)44 While this augmented the impact of these policies it compounded the lack of awareness regarding the need to incorporate the objective of improved health and wellbeing for Victorian communities when planning for population growth

46 Urban Design Charter for Victoria

The Urban Design Charter for Victoria is a State Government policy document that presents 12 principles of good urban design to be applied in Victoria45 In defining what constitutes a good public environment and providing reasons why this is important no reference is made to health There is a need to clearly articulate the need for provision of good urban environments to support health and wellbeing and outline the design principles to realise this objective

The Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living (attached as Appendix 5) outlines 10 design principles for healthy communities Some of these are similar to those in the current Urban Design Charter for Victoria however there are variations between the two

Recommendation Amend the Urban Design Charter for Victoria Charter Objectives to include the need to provide urban environments that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians and consider varying the principles based on the Heart Foundation s Healthy Spaces and Places design principles for healthy communities

13

47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

13

47 Health in All Policies

In 2007 the Government of South Australia adopted the Health in All Policies

(HiAP) approach The HiAP approach is underpinned by ten principles that express the importance of a whole of government approach to adequately address the determinants of health (A full copy of the HiAP principles is attached as Appendix 6) In summary the HiAP principles

recognise the value of the health and wellbeing of all citizens for the social and economic development of the State

recognise that health is an outcome of a wide range of factors including natural and built environments-many of which lie outside the health sector and require an integrated policy response across government

acknowledge that all Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current citizens and future generations

recognise that the impacts of health determinants are not equally distributed and aim to close the health gap particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

acknowledge that efforts to improve the health of citizens requires mechanisms to support collaboration between Government agencies for integrated solutions to current and future policy challenges

recognise the potential of partnerships for policy implementation between Government levels science and academia business professional organisations and non-governmental organisations to bring about sustained change46

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach All Government policies can have positive or negative impacts on the determinants of health for current and future Victorians particularly policies to manage and service population growth

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

14

50 TOR Classify national and international best practice

in urban renewal as it relates to established outer

suburbs

51 Planning and Urban Design for Liveability

The Heart Foundation has pioneered a healthy built environment focus in Australia Over the past 15 years the Heart Foundation has developed a range of resources demonstrating best practice in urban design and urban renewal

1 Healthy by Design a planner s guide to environments for active living

won the Planning for Health and Wellbeing Award and the Presidents Award at the 2004 Planning Institute Australia (Victoria Division) Awards for Planning Excellence47 (see Appendix 4) Healthy by Design outlines features and design objectives that support the health and wellbeing of Victorians It was developed in response to requests from the local government sector for practical guidance in designing walkable and more liveable communities The information in this resource has wide application and relevance for strategic planning policy integration urban renewal and new development

2 Healthy Spaces and Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living

is the result of collaboration between the Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia48

(see Appendix 5) Through practical tools case studies and guidelines Healthy Spaces and Places aims to

encourage the development of built environments that provide opportunities for physical activity and other health-related activities

continue to improve health outcomes for Australians through better-designed built environments

raise awareness of the relationship between health physical activity and the built environment and

contribute to a national policy setting

Healthy Spaces and Places is fundamentally about planning for more liveable and sustainable communities with a particular emphasis on the benefits to people s physical and mental health from active or healthy living It is a guide to better understand and respond to contemporary issues around planning and health and highlights the importance of planning and designing communities for people49

3 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system50

(FSPUD) addresses the critical intersects between public health nutrition planning and urban design and environmental sustainability FSPUD looks at how to create places that make it easy for people to access healthy and sustainable food in urban environments A growing body of evidence identifies the impact planning decisions can have on the food system The case for prioritising food in the planning and design of our cities revolves around the need to address issues such as

The burden of chronic disease on economies health systems and communities

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

15

High quality agricultural land on the edge of cities being lost to low density urban development to accommodate growing populations

Food production negatively affected through extreme weather events as a result of climate change

Vulnerability to Peak Oil The cost and availability of fossil fuels is critical to the food system and is unsustainable in the long term

FSPUD helps develop a shared understanding of what food-sensitive planning and urban design is and the contribution it can make to the liveability of our towns and cities Supporting people to meet their food and nutrition needs and enjoy better health and wellbeing will also enable communities to respond to some of the greatest threats of our era51 (FSPUD Summary Report attached as Appendix 7)

Other relevant documents

Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning52

was prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This checklist is a tool to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas It is based on the indicators contained in the Growth Area Authority s Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities53 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Creating Liveable New Communities

Promising Practice A book of good practice case studies54

was also prepared for the Growth Areas Authority by the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne with key advisors from the University of Melbourne and Griffith University The Reference Committee included representatives from the Growth Areas Authority the Municipal Association of Victoria the National Heart Foundation the Housing Industry Association Vic Urban Vic Health the Planning Institute of Australia the Department of Planning and Community Development and the Department of Human Services This is a collection of case studies outlining how others have dealt with planning issues or challenges similar to those being experienced in Victoria due to rapid population growth It is also a tool designed to support precinct structure planning as part of creating liveable new communities in Melbourne s growth areas55 This could go further by more closely aligning with the elements outlined in Section 6 p 19 of this report

Other useful references include The Liveable City

The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper56

is part of a series of discussion papers written in preparation for the 2006 World Urban Forum This paper examines the key factors that affect the liveability of a city and how liveability relates to sustainability It focuses on the development of the Liveable Region Strategic Plan and advancing liveability through improved economic environmental and social well-being The conclusion is that liveability sustainability and resilience are intertwined elements that combine to define the quality of life for current and future residents

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

16

Recommendation Ensure that any future strategic planning to accommodate population growth in outer suburban Melbourne is based on the premise that liveability environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change are elements that combine to determine the health status and quality of life for current and future residents

Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program

is an article that presents the findings from the review of Brighton and Hove s Healthy City Program which aimed Brighton and Hove s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy City Program The review found that most stakeholders felt that subject cities had achieved significant results through the use of the Health Impact Assessment particularly by raising awareness of the impact of urban development on health and wellbeing57 It is argued that there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation approach for the WHO Healthy Cities Program and for this to include the benefits of qualitative methodologies alongside traditional quantitative indicators58

Recommendation Introduce the requirement for a Health and Wellbeing Impact Assessment into planning application requirements and planning assessment processes for larger and State significant planning proposals in urban environments Amend the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) to focus design and planning assessment criteria on the impacts of urban development on health and wellbeing

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach by - Identifying health as a shared goal of all government departments - Coordination and leadership by the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Establishing and measuring key performance indicators for health education housing planning and transport59

Recommendation Ensure Victoria s planning transport and health legislation subordinate instruments and policy frameworks articulate and implement best practice healthy urban planning and design principles as outlined in this section

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

17

60 TOR Recommend options for enhanced liveability of

residents

To secure the ongoing prosperity and wellbeing of our communities

we must ensure that our cities meet the needs of current and future

generations We must ensure that economic growth can be sustained

and increased without compromising the natural environment or our

quality of life This is the basis of a sustainable future 60

Our Cities Our Future A national urban policy for a productive sustainable and liveable future61 is the recently released National Urban Policy detailing how healthy liveable and sustainable outcomes can be implemented in Australian cities through direct investment and influencing cross-sectoral action Through the policy the Federal Government has formally recognised that residents of Australian cities are presently confronted by significant long-term challenges including population growth and demographic change climate change increasing fuel costs and resource limitations and housing affordability 62 that directly impact on their health and wellbeing

Our Cities Our Future was informed by a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia entitled My City The People s Verdict Over 4000 people were surveyed in all Australian capital cities and asked to rank attributes that make a city liveable in order of importance63

Nationally Australian cities scored highly on recreational outdoor environments natural environments cultural entertainments and school and education facilities However they rated poorly on roads and traffic congestion public transport services environmental sustainability and climate change and the provision of quality affordable housing64

In considering liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne the Heart Foundation recommends that the Outer Suburban Interface Services and Development Committee consider how the key themes in Our Cities Our Future apply to Victorian context

It is generally accepted that urban sprawl has the potential to create unsustainable and unhealthy suburbs65 Car dependency and poor access to infrastructure and services are characteristics of many new growth area suburbs where housing estates have been developed and public transport hasn t followed66 Consequently people who live in the outer suburbs are more likely to be physically inactive be overweight and obese be socially isolated and experience higher blood pressure67 Vehicle accident rates are much higher than in the inner and middle suburbs and bus services

usually the only public transport option

are poor or non-existent68 The difference in access to trains trams and buses for residents in the outer suburbs of Melbourne compared to residents in middle and inner suburbs has been described as not so much a tale of two cities as an encounter between different planets 69 The Committee for Melbourne has warned that without massive investment in transport infrastructure Melbourne will forfeit its most liveable city status70 (currently rated third most liveable city in the world71)

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

18

Mandating medium density housing in outer suburbs would significantly reduce Melbourne s ecological footprint This would deliver considerable cost savings as research has found that the cost of infill development is $309 million for every 1000 dwellings compared to $653 million for fringe development for the same number of dwellings Additional costs associated with fringe development include provision of infrastructure such as power water and transport and increased car dependence which contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions72

From the Heart Foundation s perspective health and liveability options for outer suburban Melbourne should include

supply of medium density mixed use housing for people of all ages incomes and abilities including aged persons accommodation

provision of more compact mixed use development with residential housing located close to facilities and services including employment and public transport

local access to facilities services healthy and sustainable food and diverse education and employment opportunities

significant investment in public transport infrastructure and service provision

improved accessibility and reduced dependence on private vehicles through improved public transport infrastructure to support active transport options and a reduction in travel demand by co-location of jobs people and facilities in outer suburban areas

support of community health and wellbeing through o improving the qualityaccessibility of the public domain o improving public health outcomes through the redress of spatially

concentrated disadvantage o enhancing access to cultural sporting recreational and incidental

activity73 o Implementation of sustainable and resilient planning and design

responses for outer urban environments including planning and design for access to healthy sustainable food

Protection of high quality peri-urban agricultural land Green Wedge areas and natural environments

Achieving better health and wellbeing and planning for liveability in the outer suburbs of Melbourne will require coordinated legislation policies and actions across a range of government portfolios The Health in All Policies approach adopted in South Australia is an example of one mechanism to achieve multi-disciplinary change and may inform a positive approach for Victoria

Recommendation Implement the options for increased liveability in outer suburban Melbourne as put forward by the Heart Foundation

Recommendation Adopt a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach Coordinate legislation policies processes and actions across multiple disciplines to articulate and implement healthy urban planning and design objectives to support increased liveability options for residents in outer suburban Melbourne and the improved health and wellbeing of all Victorians

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

19

References

1 National Heart Foundation of Australia Victorian Division May 2010 A time for action in Victoria Heart Foundation Policy Platform for Victoria Melbourne

2 Australian Local Government Association the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia 2009 Healthy Spaces amp Places A national guide to designing places for healthy living Available at wwwhealthyplacesorgau

3 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

4 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

5 West S and Badham M 2008 Creating Liveable New Communities Checklist for Liveability Planning Prepared for the Growth Areas Authority Available at httpwwwgaavicgovauAssetsFilesLiveability20Planning20Checklist20920April2008pdf Accessed 16 May 2011

6 Timmer V and Seymoar N K 2005 The Liveable City The World Urban Forum 2006

Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities Available at httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

7 Hall C Davies J K and Sherriff N 2009 Health in the Urban Environment A Qualitative Review of the Brighton and Hove WHO Healthy City Program Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Vol 87 No 1 p 17 The New York Academy of Medicine

8 Timmer V and Seymoar N K Thee Livable City The World Urban Forum 2006 Vancouver Working Group Discussion Paper International Centre for Sustainable Cities httpsustainablecitiesnetdocman-resourcescat_view110-resources192-world-urban-forum193-wuf-iii-2006

9 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

10 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system p 7 Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf

Accessed March 2011

11 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

12 CSIRO October 2008 2007 Australian National Children s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey Main Findings

13 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey 2007-08 summary of results

14 Victorian Government Department of Health June 2010 Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 Selected findings Department of Health Melbourne

20

15 Access Economics Pty Ltd August 2008 The growing cost of obesity in 2008 three years on

16 Medibank Private 2008 The Cost of Physical Inactivity

17 Australian Government Infrastructure Australia Major Cities Unit 2010 State of Australian Cities 2010

18 Australian Local Government Association Bus Industry Confederation Cycling Promotion Fund Heart Foundation International Association of Public Transport 2010 An Australian Vision For active transport p 4 Available at httpwwwalgaasnaupolicytransportActiveTransportpdf

19 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Melbourne Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

20 BIS Shrapnel 2007 Foodservice in Australia Volume 1 Market insights and market size Sydney

21 Kavanagh A Thornton L Tattam A et al 2007 Place does matter for your health Victorian Lifestyle and Neighborhood Environment Study University of Melbourne Available at wwwkcwhunimelbeduau_dataassetspdf_file000555085VicLanes_Reportpdf Accessed 30 September 2010

22 Victorian Health Promotion Foundation 2008 Food for All how local government is improving access to nutritious food VicHealth Melbourne Available at wwwvichealthvicgovau~mediaResourceCentrePublicationsandResourceshealthy20eatingfood_for_all_web_singlepagesashx Accessed 30 September 2010

23 National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design (FSPUD) A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Summary Report Melbourne

24 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking p 1 Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

25 Heart Foundation Victoria Modernising Victoria s Planning Act Submission to the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development May 2009

26 Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development 2009 Modernising Victoria s Planning Act Planning and Environment Amendment (General) Bill 2009 Commentary on the draft Bill Stream Solutions Melbourne

27 Donovan J Larsen K and McWhinnie J 2011 Food-sensitive planning and urban design A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system Report commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Victorian Division) Melbourne Available at httpwwwecoinnovationlabcomuploadsattachmentsarticle417HF-FSPUD-LRFINALpdf Accessed March 2011

28 Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development 2008 Planning For All Of Melbourne The Victorian Government response to the Melbourne 2030 Audit Available at httpwwwdpcdvicgovau__dataassetspdf_file001942751Planning_for_all_of_Melbourne_-_Whole_Report_FINALpdf

Accessed 9 May 2011

21

29 Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development 2007 Melbourne 2030 Audit Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census Department of Planning and Community Development East Melbourne Available at httpwwwdpcdvicgovau__dataassetspdf_file001641506Melbourne_2030_Audit_Analysis_of_Progress_and_Findings_from_the_2006_Censuspdf Accessed 22 April 2011

30 Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development 2007 Melbourne 2030 Audit Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census Department of Planning and Community Development East Melbourne Available at httpwwwdpcdvicgovau__dataassetspdf_file001641506Melbourne_2030_Audit_Analysis_of_Progress_and_Findings_from_the_2006_Censuspdf Accessed 22 April 2011

31 Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development 2008 Planning For All Of Melbourne The Victorian Government response to the Melbourne 2030 Audit Available at httpwwwdpcdvicgovau__dataassetspdf_file001942751Planning_for_all_of_Melbourne_-_Whole_Report_FINALpdf

Accessed 9 May 2011

32 Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development 2008 Planning For All Of Melbourne The Victorian Government response to the Melbourne 2030 Audit Available at httpwwwdpcdvicgovau__dataassetspdf_file001942751Planning_for_all_of_Melbourne_-_Whole_Report_FINALpdf Accessed 9 May 2011

33 Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development 2008 Melbourne 2030 1 planning update Melbourne 5 Million Department of Planning and Community Development East Melbourne Available at wwwdpcdvicgovaumelbourne2030 Accessed 6 May 2011

34 Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development 2008 Melbourne 2030 1 planning update Melbourne 5 Million Department of Planning and Community Development East Melbourne Available at wwwdpcdvicgovaumelbourne2030 Accessed 6 May 2011

35 Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development 2009 Victoria in Future 2008 Victorian State Government Population and Household Projections 2006-2036 Available at wwwdpcdvicgovauvictoriainfuture Accessed 6 May 2011

36 Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development 2009 Victoria in Future 2008 Victorian State Government Population and Household Projections 2006-2036 Available at wwwdpcdvicgovauvictoriainfuture Accessed 6 May 2011

37 State of Victoria Department of Health 2011 Metropolitan Health Plan Technical Paper May 2011 Available at wwwhealthvicgovauhealthplan2022 Accessed 13 May 2011

38 Victorian Government Department of Planning and Community Development 2008 Melbourne 2030 1 planning update Melbourne 5 Million Department of Planning and Community Development East Melbourne Available at wwwdpcdvicgovaumelbourne2030 Accessed 6 May 2011

39 State of Victoria Department of Transport 2010 Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria Authorised by Tim Pallas Impact Digital Brunswick

40 State of Victoria Department of Transport 2010 Pedestrian Access Strategy A strategy to increase walking for transport in Victoria Authorised by Tim Pallas Impact Digital Brunswick

41 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2009 Position statement The built environment and walking Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

22

42 National Heart Foundation of Australia 2004 Healthy by Design a planners guide to environments for active living Available at wwwheartfoundationorgau

43 Australian Local Government Association Bus Industry Confederation Cycling Promotion Fund National Heart Foundation of Australia and International Association of Public Transport 2010 An Australian Vision For Active Transport Available at

httpwwwalgaasnaupolicytransportActiveTransportpdf

44 Addison D 30 September 2010 Changes to the Victorian State Planning Policy Framework VC71 Property Council of Australia Available at

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