In an Australian first, planning and design experts have worked with local government and health professionals to deliver a national guide for building sustainable communities.

The national Healthy Spaces and Places initiative was launched at the annual Built Environment Meets Parliament (BEMP) Summit at Parliament House Canberra.

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and announced by the Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery, Warren Snowden, Healthy Spaces and Places is a joint program by the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA).

PIA national president, Neil Savery, described the initiative as groundbreaking.

“Healthy Spaces and Places spells out why we planners and our design colleagues must give priority to planning for people rather than private transport movements,” he said.

ALGA president Geoff Lake said the Federal Government’s $1 billion Community Infrastructure Program underlined the importance of healthy, active communities.

“I strongly believe councils and governments can work together to plan sensitive, well-designed facilities and public spaces that will meet the needs of local residents now and into the future,” Cr Lake said.

“Healthy Spaces and Places achieves this important goal.”

The Heart Foundation’s chief executive officer, Dr Lyn Roberts, said the program was an important step in tackling Australia’s “unprecedented levels of preventable disease”.

“Cardiovascular disease kills one Australian nearly every 10 minutes,” Dr Roberts said.

“It affects more than 3.7 million Australians and prevents 1.4 million of us from living a full life because of disability caused by the disease. Overweight and obesity is affecting about half of Australian adults and up to one in four children.

“The Heart Foundation is dedicated to helping all Australians reduce their risk of developing preventable conditions such as heart disease. Healthy Space and Places helps professionals create environments that encourage us to be active.”

Built environment roundtable

Speaking at the BEMP Summit, Federal Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett, announced the convening of a Built Environment Sustainability Roundtable to establish regular dialogue between industry and government.

“The roundtable will provide built environment industries, advocates and practitioners with a structure and direct opportunity to bring forward issues and ideas in the area of building sustainability,” Garrett said.

“It will provide Government with the opportunity to listen to your concerns, to update you on our agenda and to ensure the conversations at leading forums like Built Environment Meets Parliament are taken to the next level.”

The first roundtable will be held within the coming months and it is the Minister’s anticipation that it will meet twice yearly from 2010.

“The Australian Government is determined to build those essential partnerships, to undertake the necessary collaborations and to show the required leadership to help deliver a sustainable built environment for a sustainable, low-carbon future,” Garrett concluded.

The BEMP Summit focused on four main policy areas addressing economic, environmental, social and governance issues.