Publications

These resources have been created by the Heart Foundation and our partners for active living initiatives around Australia.

National Heart Foundation resources on the built environment:

• What Australia Wants LIving Locally in Walkable Neighbourhoods (2020-2021) - Full Report
  • What Australia Wants ACT Summary
  • What Australia Wants NSW Summary
  • What Australia Wants NT Summary
  • What Australia Wants QLD Summary
  • What Australia Wants SA Summary
  • What Australia Wants TAS Summary
  • What Australia Wants VIC Summary
  • What Australia Wants WA Summary
• Active Streets – the new normal for public space (2020) (PDF) 
• Active Travel to School - Urban Design Study (NSW) (2019) (PDF)
• Blueprint for an active Australia: Government and community actions to increase population levels of physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviours in Australia (2019)
• The built environment and walking position statement (2009) (PDF)
• Does density matter? The role of density in creating walkable neighbourhoods (2014) (PDF)
• Increasing density in Australia: Maximising the health benefits and minimising harm (2012) (PDF)
• Low density development: Impacts on physical activity and associated health outcomes (2014) (PDF)
• Streets for people: Compendium for South Australian Practice (2012) (PDF)
• Good for Business: The benefits of making streets more walking and cycling friendly (SA) (2011) (PDF)
• Quality Green Space Supporting Health, Wellbeing and Biodiversity: A Literature Review (SA) (2017) (PDF)
• Creating Healthy Neighbourhoods - Consumer preferences for healthy development (2011)
• Food-sensitive planning and urban design - A conceptual framework for achieving a sustainable and healthy food system (2011)

Australian Capital Territory

• Changes to support active living
• Active living principles
• Benefits of infrastructure to support active living

South Australia

If you would like a hard copy of a South Australian resource for professional practice, please send your details to the Senior Policy Advisor at sa@heartfoundation.org.au  

• Why Walking? The Heart Foundation call for a Walking Strategy (2019) (PDF)
• Healthy by Design SA: A guide to planning, designing and developing healthy urban environments in South Australia 
• Streets for people: Compendium for South Australian Practice (2012) (PDF)
• Good for Business: The benefits of making streets more walking and cycling friendly (SA) (2011) (PDF)
• Does density matter? The role of density in creating walkable neighbourhoods (2014) (PDF)
• The SA Active Living Coalition’s submission to the draft 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide

Green Open Space

• The Heart Foundation submission to City of Adelaide Shaping Streets and Green Spaces (SA) (2019) (PDF)
• Quality Green Space Supporting Health, Wellbeing and Biodiversity: A Literature Review (SA) (2017) (PDF)
• Creating active communities. How can open and public spaces in urban and suburban environments support active living? A literature review (SA) (2010) (PDF)
• Making the case for investment in street trees (SA) (2013) (PDF)

When looking to improve streets the best return comes from urban trees and other greenery through their co-benefits for health, cooling, amenity and the environment.

Northern Territory

• The NT Heart Foundation's submission to Building Confidence through Better Planning for the Northern Territory; Review, reframe, renew

New South Wales

• NSW Healthy Built Environment resources - Former Active Living NSW
• Active Travel to School - Urban Design Study (NSW) (2019) (PDF)
• NSW Health - Healthy Built Environment Checklist: A guide to considering health in development policies, plans and proposals (2020) (PDF)
• Scorecard and priority recommendations for Sydney (2018)

The scorecard and priority recommendations for Sydney builds upon the first baseline measure of liveability in Australia’s state and territory capitals, presented in Creating Liveable Cities in Australia.

• NSW Healthy Planning Action Resource No. 1 - Urban Cooling with Green Infrastructure
• NSW Healthy Planning Action Resource No. 2 - Creating Walkable Neighbourhoods
• NSW Healthy Planning Action Resource No. 3 - Healthy Food and the Built Environment

This series of resources was developed for the NSW planning system by the Healthy Planning Expert Working Group between 2018-2019. Heart Foundation provides the secretariat function of this group. 

A baseline study of Healthy Eating and Active Living within NSW Local Government Community Strategic Plans and selected Delivery Programs

• 2 page summary
• 10 page, extended summary
• Project databases are available on request

This series of resources was developed for the Premier's Council for Active Living in NSW. 

Western Australia

• Scorecard and priority recommendations for Perth (2018)

The Western Australian report reviews State Government liveability policies in Perth using a scorecard system to indicate where the city is meeting, exceeding, on par, or falling below its policy targets.

Queensland

• Bicycle riding encouragement guide - Queensland Government (2019) (PDF)

Tasmania

• Healthy by Design®: A guide to planning and designing environments for active living in Tasmania (National Heart Foundation of Australia, 2009) (PDF)

This guide is all about people. It is about our health, the communities in which we live, and our ability to move about on foot or bike for leisure or transport. The report remains a key reference with specific guidance for Tasmania. It presents research-based guidelines that aim to assist planners, urban designers and associated professionals by bringing focus to the aspects of the built environment that encourage people to walk and cycle as part of daily life.

• Design for safe and healthy communities: The Matrix of like design considerations for Tasmania (National Heart Foundation of Australia, 2011) (PDF)

Companion guide to Healthy by Design®: A guide to planning and designing environments for active living in Tasmania.Design considerations for safe and healthy communities presented in a tabulated matrix for easy reference.

• Tasmania Statement: Working Together for the Health and Wellbeing of Tasmanians (Tasmanian Government 2019) 

Tasmania Statement, co-signed by Hon Will Hodgeman MP, Premier of Tasmania; Hon Jeremey Rockcliff MP, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing; and Mr. Graeme Lynch AM Chair, Premier’s Health and Wellbeing Advisory Council. Published August 2019, Tasmanian Government.