Transit-oriented Developments, Health Lens Analysis Project

The Transit-oriented Developments (TODs) Health Lens project was a collaboration between the Department of Planning and Local Government, the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, the Land Management Corporation and SA Health.

Transit-oriented Development in South Australia is one of the key directions of the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide. It aims to bring together higher density, world class design, commercial precincts and mass transit systems.

The project examined the complex interplay between a range of urban factors that impact on health and wellbeing and hence the 'liveability' and desirability of these developments.

South Australia's Strategic Plan Targets

  • Target 3.6 - Use of Public Transport: Increase the use of public transport to 10% of metropolitan weekday passenger vehicle kilometres travelled by 2018.
  • Target 1.21 - Strategic Infrastructure: Match the national average in terms of investment in key economic and social infrastructure.
  • Target 1.8 - Performance in the Public Sector; government decision making as part of the process.

Project outcomes

A key outcome of the project was the development of Transit-oriented Developments…through a health lens – A Guide for Health Urban Developments. The document reflects a cross-agency approach to the development of liveable TODs and provides a consistent set of principles for their delivery.

The Guide provides planners, public and environmental health professionals, designers and engineers with an agreed evidence base which links the quality and form of the built environment with the health and well-being of the community.

It is envisaged that the Guide will be used as a resource by state and local government agencies involved in the implementation of the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide.

A public resource titled ‘Healthy Connected Communities’ has also been developed to complement the Guide. The public resource explains the benefits of well-designed TODs in plain language and is intended for a broader audience, including community members. It also includes a case-study of the Bowden TOD (the first to be rolled-out as part of the 30 Year Plan) to demonstrate how the principles developed in the Guide can be applied by planners and developers.

Both documents were launched by Hon John Rau MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Urban Development, Planning and the City of Adelaide, with support from Hon John Hill MP, Minister for Health, on 26 September 2011.

Evaluation

An evaluation of the Project (PDF 244KB) was undertaken. The case study report examines the processes and method used in the Health Lens Analysis and explores the impacts of the process in terms of policy development.