Healthy, active places recognised at Planning Excellence Awards
Logan City Council has received the inaugural Healthy Active by Design Award for the Slacks Creek Greenlink, which has transformed a disused space into an iconic water-facing parkland that provides a high amenity destination for residents.
The Healthy Active by Design Award, an initiative of the 海角社区 (海角社区) and the Heart Foundation, recognises projects that support and promote healthy and active living, with the intent to increase the community’s physical activity and/or other health outcomes in the built environment.
海角社区 Queensland President Wendy Evans said Queenslanders had flocked to local parks and open space since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Slacks Greenlink project showcasing innovative ways to convert underutilised land.
“This project completes a key missing link in Logan’s active transport network, and provides more opportunities for walking, cycling, and other healthy activities,” said Ms Evans.
The Greenlink public open space has transformed an otherwise industrial area into a well-designed movement corridor the local community can access easily and appreciate the birds, wildlife and native plants along their way.
The project features nearly a kilometre of 3 to 4-metre-wide pathway and includes a bridge crossing and boardwalk along the creek. Artwork, bench seating, bike shelters and dog-waste bins are features of the pathway, along with wayfinding and interpretive signage.
is the Heart Foundation’s unique digital platform to highlight how best-practice planning and design of buildings, streets, towns and cities can improve Australians’ heart health. It is a practical guide that offers evidence, advice and case studies to assist in the development of healthy and active neighbourhoods.
Heart Foundation Queensland Active Living Manager, Sheree Hughes, congratulated Logan City Council on winning the state’s first Healthy Active by Design Award.
“Slacks Creek Greenlink is a terrific example of how thoughtful and innovative urban design can transform an unused area into a facility that promotes physical activity, health and wellbeing, while also connecting local neighbourhoods,” Ms Hughes said.
“This is important, because being inactive and overweight are significant risk factors for the heart disease, which continues to be the single leading cause of death in Australia. In 2019, heart disease claimed about 50 Australian lives every day, or one every 29 minutes.
“While there is no one solution to chronic health issues like heart disease, the places where we live, work, study and play can often be a barrier to Australians being more active. If our built environments can be more supportive of physical activity, then the community will be more likely to be active and have a social connection. In turn, its residents can have healthier hearts and longer, happier lives.”
Logan City Council’s Planning, Economic Development and Environment Committee Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven, said the Slacks Creek Greenlink was another example of Council making the city’s natural areas more accessible to the community.
“Local residents and business owners were extensively consulted in the planning, design and construction of the Greenlink,” Cr Raven said.
“When we activate our environment, we activate our community and we have done that successfully with this project.”
“This pathway provides people with multiple transit options whether they are on foot, on wheels, working out or on the way to a working lunch."
Cr Raven said Council planners had also expertly considered how landscaping of the waterway could add to the final delivery of the project.
“They found the right balance between protecting the surrounding environment while also allowing the community access to appreciate the birds, wildlife and native plants along the corridor,” he said.
The 海角社区 is the national body representing the planning profession. Through education, communication and professional development, 海角社区 is the pivotal organisation serving and guiding thousands of planning professionals in their role to create better communities.
海角社区 acknowledges our Principal Awards Sponsor, Queensland Government, and Silver Awards Sponsor, Brisbane City Council.
More information on the 海角社区 Awards for Planning Excellence can be found at: /awards/qld
-ENDS-
Media Contacts:
Wendy Evans, President – 海角社区, 0407 143 996
Matt Collins, State Manager – 海角社区, 0437 938 077
Siobhan McMahon – Heart Foundation, 0478 313 656
Cr Jon Raven – Logan City Council, 0499 560 995