Page 3385 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 21 October 2014
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The ACT prides itself on being the healthiest place in Australia, with longer life expectancies, lower rates of major illness and more active and healthy lifestyles than other jurisdictions. Nevertheless, like many wealthy urban populations around the world, our collective health is threatened by dramatic increases in overweight and obesity. This concern is highlighted in such stark trends as 25 per cent of children in the ACT being overweight or obese and 63.6 per cent of adults being overweight or obese, a rise from 22.9 per cent in 1995. There is a risk of premature cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis and a host of other conditions which can cost years of healthy life.
While individuals must make the daily choices around their health and wellbeing, governments can assist in supporting healthy decision making by making healthier options more available and making the healthy choice the easiest choice.
The healthy weight initiative forms the core of the ACT government’s approach to combating the rising rates of overweight and obesity in the ACT. It is a coordinated whole-of-government initiative that works across multiple directorates and non-government organisations. It builds on the many programs and initiatives already in place within the ACT.
The healthy weight initiative is guided by the towards zero growth healthy weight action plan, which the Chief Minister launched on 14 October 2013. The action plan sets the bold target of zero growth in the rates of overweight and obesity within the ACT. On 3 June 2014 the government announced $3.6 million over four years for the healthy weight initiative commencing in 2014-15. The action plan sets out a range of actions under six themes. The six focus areas are clustered around food, environment, schools, workplaces, urban planning, social inclusion and evaluation. Implementation groups have been established to manage implementation in each clustered focus.
As recognised in the healthy weight action plan, there is growing recognition that the built environment influences levels of physical activity, whether for transport or recreation. The healthy weight action plan outlines actions aimed at ensuring that overweight and obesity levels in the ACT stay at current levels or decrease.
The ACT government, through the Environment and Planning Directorate and the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate, is undertaking a number of activities to implement active travel initiatives as outlined in the transport for Canberra plan.
The highlights of these initiatives include the city to cycle loop. The 3.2 kilometre long Civic cycle loop provides a high quality path for bicycle riders travelling in the city centre of Canberra. The path also separates bicycle riders from both congested pedestrian footpaths and motor vehicle traffic. Once complete, the loop will connect Marcus Clarke Street, Rudd Street, Bunda Street and Allara Street in the city centre. Some $6 million of funding has been committed for the design and construction over a four-year period.
The loop is being delivered in four stages. The first stages were opened in March 2013 at Marcus Clarke Street and Rudd Street. Design for the Bunda Street and Allara
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