ACCESSIBILITY to get moving is in the spotlight as City of Ballarat plans how to best meet the community’s growing health and lifestyle needs.
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City of Ballarat has opened an online survey in a bid for further reach in feedback from community members to help guide the City’s planning and priorities in sports and recreation facilities.
Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh said it was vital for the City to hear from as many diverse people as possible to best form the Active Ballarat Strategy for the next decade.
“We’re actually kicking goals for accessibility for women and girls and we’re taking big leaps ahead in engagement, but we have a very diverse community and it’s important our plans have the right interests, supports and buddy systems in place for all,” Cr McIntosh said.
“We know healthy and active communities are happy communities...the right active strategies can therefore create a strong future for Ballarat.”
The strategy will replace the 2014 recreation strategy and instead build on the City’s Active Women and Girls’ Strategy, launched earlier this year, in filling gaps and forming new opportunities for females all all ages and abilities to get moving.
New plans will also complement the City’s strategies on cycling and public health and wellbeing.
Cr McIntosh said it was important to refresh and review plans to ensure they were up-to-date, particularly with an increasing national focus on encouraging active, healthy lifestyles.
“We know the world we’re living in today is about digital-based engagement and that doesn’t always create a healthy community unless you’re teaming it up with strong and committed plans for active engagement,” Cr McIntosh said.
The strategy will focus on traditional and non-traditional sports as well as non-organised active exercise opportunities, like walking, for all age groups about the city in the short to long term.
The City will host a community forum with sports clubs and other community groups in early December. Residents can have their say online at mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au until December 10.
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