Physical Activity

In healthy communities, physical activity is a normal part of everyday life.

Relevance to Checklist

Physical activity is a behaviour that is influenced by various factors, including social and economic contexts, individual preferences and the environment people live in.

Good urban development involves shaping and managing the built environment to include design that provides opportunities for physical activity and removes any barriers. Barriers include those posed by factors of the natural environment, including climate and topography.
Built environment features such as providing awnings along pathways and designing pathways to avoid steep slopes are just some examples of how urban design can influence people’s physical activity choices.

Regular physical activity has numerous health benefits. Active transport choices, such as walking, cycling, and/ or using public transportation for daily travel, can help people attain their minimum physical activity requirements, recommended at 30 minutes a day.

Physical activity key questions to ask

How does the policy, plan or development proposal –

• Encourage incidental physical activity?
• Promote opportunities for walking, cycling, and other forms of active transport?
• Promote access to usable and quality public open spaces and recreational facilities?

Snapshots of key evidence and leading practice

For an overview of the key evidence and leading practice relating to the issue of Physical Activity click here

Related chapters

Social Infrastructure; Social Cohesion and Connectivity; Transport and Physical Connectivity; Quality Employment; Housing; Public Open Space; Healthy Food

Links to more resources  

• NSW Department of Planning – Planning Guidelines for Walking and Cycling
• NSW Health Department – Creating Healthy Environments
• PCAL – Designing Places for Active Living
• Landcom – Street Design Guidelines, Open Space Guidelines and Street Tree Design Guidelines
• Heart Foundation – Active By Design Guidelines
• NSW BikePlan – What’s Happening and How to Get Involved
• Australian Standard 1428.1, Design for Access and Mobility
• Austroads – Pedestrian-Cyclist Conflict Minimisation on Shared Paths and Footpaths
• Making Cycling Irresistible – Lessons from The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany
• Living Streets – ‘Liveability’ Survey
• Sport England – Active Design: Planning Opportunities for Sport and Physical Activity through Good Design
• Hunter New England Population Health – Building Liveable Communities in the Lower Hunter Region
• NSW Department of Local Government – Creating Active Communities: Physical Activity Guidelines for Local Councils
• NSW Department of Planning – Metropolitan Greenspace Program
• NSW Department of Planning – Sharing Sydney Harbour Access Program
• Healthy Built Environments Program at UNSW
• PCAL - Draft walking strategy