Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation Discussion Paper - Victorian ...

Table 5.1
Contributions of public land to liveability
LIVEABILITY GOAL: Healthy, safe and inclusive communities
Public land contributes to physical health as:
Parks, walking and cycling tracks, beaches and sports grounds enable organised and non-organised high intensity
physical exercise in outdoor spaces.
Parks, sports centres, swimming pools and schools enable children to play sport and have free play contributing to
physical and mental health.
Public hospitals, maternal and child health services provide health services and parks, tracks, beaches, sports grounds
and other public land facilitate preventative health measures.
Vegetated parks, coastal reserves and rivers provide exposure to nature which contributes to physical and
mental wellbeing.
Water catchments and treed parks enhance air and water quality.
Public land contributes to mental health as:
Natural environments alleviate mental fatigue and exposure to these environments is linked to mental wellbeing.
Some parks provide the opportunity to participate in environmental programs which are associated with improvements
to mental health.
Public land contributes to social capital as:
Community hubs, shopping strips, parks, schools and other public spaces are used for socialising and
community activities.
Parks, nature strips, coastal foreshores and riverbanks provide green spaces in urban settings. There is a positive
correlation between the greenness of spaces and social participation.
Accessible public spaces contribute to the independence and social connection of young people.
Public transport infrastructure and walking and bicycle paths facilitate social, economic and health outcomes
in communities.
Public housing provides affordable accommodation which facilitates physical and emotional wellbeing and results
in improved community wellbeing and social cohesiveness.*
Public land contributes to community safety as:
Police and emergency services facilities are located on public land.
Public land contributes to a sense of pride and attachment to place as:
Well designed and maintained public spaces, such as streets, shopping strips and parks, engender a positive
neighbourhood identity.
National parks and other biodiversity conservation areas provide reassurance to people that natural environments are
being protected.
Public facilities, such as schools, museums, galleries and libraries, provide educational programs and community
activities across age groups, ethnicities and education levels.
Public land contributes to early childhood development and lifelong learning as:
Most schools, museums, galleries, public libraries, zoos and other facilities that provide education programs are on
public land.
Children learn from experiencing natural environments, many of which are protected in conservation reserves on
public land.
* Public housing was not documented as contributing to liveability in The contribution of public land to Melbourne’s liveability.
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