City of Belmont Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Plan 2010 to 2014

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The primary objectives of this plan are:• To increase the number and range of physical activity and healthy

eating opportunities for everyone, specifically focussing on the least

active and the disadvantaged through program delivery and policy

development

• To raise the profile of the benefits of physical activity and healthy

eating and increase knowledge, awareness and understanding of

physical activity and healthy eating whilst ensuring consistency of

messages

• To create local environments that support physical activity and

healthy eating initiatives

• To adopt a multi-agency approach to the planning and delivery of

physical activity and healthy eating programs across the City of

Belmont by developing and nurturing physical activity partnerships

such as the Food Security Coalition

• To advocate the physical activity and healthy eating both within and

external to the City of Belmont.

Increasing and maintaining the number of people who are physically

active and eating well in the City of Belmont can be expected to result in:

1. Improved physical health

2. Improved social capital

3. Improved mental health

4. Improved social health

5. Improved planning for environments that support physical activity

and healthy eating.

Five Action AreasThe Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Plan focuses on

five action areas:

1. Program Delivery and Policy Development

2. Community Education

3. Creating Healthy Environments

4. Physical Activity Partnerships

5. Physical Activity Advocacy.

City of Belmont WARD BOUNDARIES

City of Belmont

215 Wright Street, Cloverdale Western Australia 6105

Locked Bag 379, Cloverdale Western Australia 6985

Phone: (08) 9477 7222 Phone (A/H): (08) 9477 7224 Fax: (08) 9478 1473

Email: belmont@belmont.wa.gov.au Website: www.belmont.wa.gov.au

NCity of Belmont WARD BOUNDARIES

EAST WARD

Cr Glenys Godfrey (Mayor)

Cr Phil Marks (Deputy Mayor)

Cr Carol Hanlon

Executive:Cr Brenda Whiteley – Chairman Cr Janet Gee – Deputy Chairman Mayor Glenys Godfrey Cr Carol Hanlon Cr Robert Rossi

Audit and Risk:Cr Janet Powell – Chairman Cr Brenda Martin – Deputy Chairman Mayor Glenys Godfrey Cr Phil Marks Cr Gerard Dornford

Environmental:Cr Paul Hitt – Chairman Cr Steve Wolff – Deputy Chairman Mayor Glenys Godfrey Cr Janet Gee Cr Phil Marks

SOUTH WARD

Cr Janet Powell

Cr Brenda Whiteley

Cr Steve Wolff

WEST WARD

Cr Robert Rossi

Cr Brenda Martin

Cr Paul Hitt

CENTRAL WARD

Cr Gerard Dornford

Cr Janet Gee

Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Objectives

The City of Belmont is strongly

committed to making changes and

taking steps towards a healthier

community.

With research results indicating that

about 33% of the local community are

overweight and only 4% are eating the

recommended five serves of vegetables

daily, the City felt the need to increase

the opportunities it currently offers

residents to become active and eat well.

As such, a plan has been made to

encourage members of the community

over the next four years to be active and

healthy no matter what their age or physical capability.

The Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Plan aims to promote healthy

eating and physical activity by forming partnerships with external

agencies and organisations.

This plan outlines a coordinated approach to increasing opportunities

for all people to become active and eat well. Promoting healthy policy

and advocating for healthy decision making within the City of Belmont

are important aspects of this plan.

The impetus for developing this plan originated from the Premier’s

Physical Activity Taskforce initiative, which aims to increase the

percentage of the population undertaking sufficient physical activity

for a health benefit from 58% to 63% within ten years. The taskforce

has stated as an outcome, that local government will be encouraged

to embrace and develop opportunities for physical activity in their

communities. As such, this plan has support and assistance from the

Physical Activity Taskforce.

Finally, this Plan aims to encourage the City of Belmont’s residents to

take part in a happy, healthy and rewarding lifestyle. It aims to make

living a healthy lifestyle an easier option through the implementation of

various policies.

I look forward to working with you into the future and strongly believe

that this four year plan will assist the community to make healthier

eating options while also encouraging greater levels of physical activity

within the City of Belmont.

Mayor Glenys Godfrey

Mayor’s Message

• Develop a City of Belmont healthy eating policy that specifies the types of foods to be offered at council-run events (including food stalls at events).

This will address the phasing out of sausage sizzles

• Continue to run annual healthy cooking classes at local venues integrating Healthy Living Seminars. Promote intergenerational and multicultural

aspects and ensure the location is linked to public transport options and conducted at suitable times

• Partner with the Red Cross to support the Foodcents program for low-income earners

• Develop an incentive scheme for pensioners/lower income earners to purchase fruit and vegetables at a discounted rate one day each week.

• Investigate the feasibility of launching a Community Garden Network or Farmers Market in the City of Belmont, or “Grow your own vegetables”

workshops

• Continue to implement the internal fruit run at the Council and promote the initiative to other local businesses

• Identify one location within the City of Belmont that is suitable for a community garden scheme. Commence a community garden pilot

• Continue to organise competitions with school students to promote physical activity and healthy eating

• Develop a financial support sport program to assist low socioeconomic residents to pay club memberships.

2. Community EducationActions• Provide information on sporting clubs, public open spaces and privately operated physical activity opportunities in the City of Belmont through the

City of Belmont website and other publications

• Develop a series of pamphlets and brochures that identify specific physical activity opportunities within the City and include benefits for defined

population groups

• Promote and support the Find Thirty campaign as the primary message for adults to be active. Promote any similar campaigns targeted at children

• Investigate aligning with appropriate social marketing campaigns that focus on healthy eating and physical activity e.g. “Draw the Line” and “How do

you Measure Up?”

• Promote and continue to provide the City of Belmont TravelSmart and Disability Access Guides within the community

• Use the City of Belmont Geographical Information System to generate online based maps of all physical activity opportunities, overlaid with public

transport routes. As a second phase to strategy, overlay healthy food outlets to illustrate locations and access routes

• Use the local multicultural and indigenous radio stations to broadcast physical activity and healthy eating messages

• Better utilise the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre as an avenue to disseminate community based health and wellness information

• Include information on physical activity opportunities within the City in the residents “Welcome Packs”

• Develop electronic brochures on the “best for” parks located within the City. For example best for playing with the kids, best for jogging, best for dog

walking, best for scenic walks and best for cycling

• Develop regular good news media stories on physical activity or healthy eating events or participation within the City

• Develop a formal internal partnership with the Ruth Faulkner Public Library to regularly provide or display information on physical activity and healthy

eating in all areas of the facility.

3. Creating Healthy EnvironmentsActions• Ensure that when parks and reserves are planned or included within general maintenance programs, the need for infrastructure that supports physical

activity such as grassed areas, picnic facilities, seating, playgrounds, shade provision, taps, walking and cycle paths, off leash dog areas and signage

are included within the design. Develop a policy that reflects this integrated planning approach

• Create an incentive program that encourages existing local businesses to retro fit activity-friendly facilities such as bike racks, showers and lockers.

Acknowledge innovators publicly

• Instigate forward planning processes to ensure cycle and dual use paths link and provide continuous routes to major destinations

• Commence placing suitable distance markers/information along major cycle and dual use paths

• Investigate purchasing outdoor gym equipment. If the investigation is favourable, develop criteria for the purchase and placement of outdoor

gymnasium equipment in local parks

• Review the lighting policies for public open spaces to ensure that appropriate lighting is provided to support people to be active. Incorporate physical

activity criteria into the Light and Safe program

• Review the policy in Parks to ensure that all renovated or new parks are equipped with facilities and equipment that match the local or

predicted demographics

• Continue to provide end of route facilities at the Council Office and install adequate facilities to promote active transport over time

• Ensure seniors have access to suitable facilities for physical activity and nutritional programs.

4. Physical Activity PartnershipsActions• Establish a Physical Activity Alliance Group with terms of reference to oversee the implementation and evaluation of the City of Belmont Physical

Activity and Healthy Eating Plan

• Work with interested sporting groups clubs and the Department of Sport and Recreation to develop “come and try” days. Promote these as a

partnership between the City of Belmont and sporting clubs

• Encourage the use of school facilities for community events and recreational opportunities

• Continue to seek and source funding to support the implementation of the City of Belmont Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Plan

• Advocate for and wherever possible, integrate physical activity and healthy eating philosophies and strategies into other City of Belmont policies

and plans.

5. Physical Activity AdvocacyActions• Appoint a range of local Physical Activity and Nutrition Champions who will become spokespersons for physical activity and healthy eating

within the City

• Advocate for changes to the current cafe menu at the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre to provide at least 80% healthy options

• Advocate to and support sporting clubs to become smoke free and to increase healthy food options sold at their canteens.

1. Program Delivery and Policy DevelopmentActions• Develop a neighbourhood-based physical activity program for seniors

• Continue to implement and expand a free walkable community project such as “Heart Foundation Walking” into the community

• Develop, offer and promote physical activity programs that are appropriate for a culturally diverse community

• Develop a “Fun for Families” program that promotes regular and sustained physical activity, healthy eating and build local social capital

• Continue to implement the “Walking Bus” program into local schools

• Continue to support and promote seniors activities and programs at the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre

• Investigate providing a dog-based physical activity program and use this as an avenue to promote dog ownership as an opportunity

for physical activity

• Investigate the option of pairing volunteers with immobile and socially isolated residents as a means to transport them to physical activity

opportunities. Ensure facilities would allow the volunteer in for free in the policy

• Continue to support and participate in physical activity events conducted by other organisations such as National Physical Activity Day, Cycle to

Work Week, etc

• Support the South East Corridor Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Youth Sport and Recreation Project lead by Department of

Sport and Recreation

• Develop and appropriately market a range of trails. This will include a designated list of trails on the website and brochures

• Incorporate physical activity and healthy eating into existing festivals and celebrations. For example, walking group promotion at the Let’s Celebrate

Belmont Festival, sporting club demonstrations at other festivals, water based physical activities at the Autumn River Festival and Seniors Circuit

demonstration at Seniors’ events. Develop a policy to support and sustain this idea for all City of Belmont run festivals and events

This Plan was developed by Stoneham and Associates www.stonehamandassociates.com.au

Endorsed by Council: 22 November 2009