Case Studies
Get in Step Shoalhaven
Design Feature
Type of project
Local Government Initiative
State
New South Wales
Location
Regional
In March 2017, Shoalhaven City Council was approached by Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (NSW Health) to team up and promote healthy living (Make Healthy Normal umbrella) in the Shoalhaven. NSW Health provided decals and Shoalhaven City Council developed the Get in Step program to activate the decals and promote accessible fitness. The decals depicted are visual aids on the pathways and identify distance and kilojoules burnt.
The project was delivered in a six-month timeframe from conception, design, and engagement to completion with decals installed on 20 pathways. Maps were developed, and Council’s website updated to promote the pathways for walks, runs and bike rides.
The project was delivered in a six-month timeframe from conception, design, and engagement to completion with decals installed on 20 pathways. Maps were developed, and Council’s website updated to promote the pathways for walks, runs and bike rides.
Making Healthy Normal
NSW Health provided 30 packs containing 6 decals to Council to install in various parks and reserves throughout the LGA. Twenty decals (0 – 1 kilometre in 200 metre increments) have been installed in the Shoalhaven with each path giving pedestrians information on distance travelled and kilojoules burned. Get in Step areas comprise straight stretches of path for one kilometre and are located near heavy pedestrian areas in the local villages of the Shoalhaven.
The decals have been installed in Nowra Bridge, Nowra, North Nowra, Harry Sawkins Park Nowra, Berry, Bomaderry, East Nowra, Shoalhaven Heads, Kangaroo Valley, Greenwell Point, Culburra Beach, Callala Bay, Huskisson to Vincentia, Vincentia to Plantation Point, Sanctuary Point, Sussex Inlet, Milton, Mollymook, Ulladulla Harbour and Bawley Point.
The decals have been installed in Nowra Bridge, Nowra, North Nowra, Harry Sawkins Park Nowra, Berry, Bomaderry, East Nowra, Shoalhaven Heads, Kangaroo Valley, Greenwell Point, Culburra Beach, Callala Bay, Huskisson to Vincentia, Vincentia to Plantation Point, Sanctuary Point, Sussex Inlet, Milton, Mollymook, Ulladulla Harbour and Bawley Point.
Areas were chosen according to their accessibility, pedestrian usage (generally higher), and proximity to schools, allowing them to support health and wellbeing among parents and children, as well as the wider community.
Booklets containing the maps have been designed by Council’s graphics team and they are available on line or hardcopies at various locations throughout the Shoalhaven.
The program has been successful in utilising and enhancing existing movement networks, as a means of promoting active travel and healthy living. Funding for the decals was provided by NSW Health and Shoalhaven City Council staff, while the program was funded by Shoalhaven City Council’s Health & Wellbeing Committee and WHS Unit.
Project team
- Shoalhaven City Council
- Shoalhaven Libraries
- Shoalhaven Swim & Fitness
- Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (NSW Health)
- Community Consultation Bodies
- Community Associations
Project Cost
$400.00
Health value
- Encourages engagement in physical activity
- Increases awareness of importance of physical activity
- Supports physical activity among a broad demographic, as walking is low risk and low impact
- Runners and cyclists also use the paths with the decals installed
Economic value
- Reduces need for walkers to pay for petrol to undertake short trips
- Encourages walking in the towns, increasing foot traffic to shopping areas
- Low cost intervention for Council
- Long term strategic tool to decrease car usage and emissions
Environmental value
- Encouraging residents and visitors to walk for short journeys instead of drive, reducing impact of vehicular transport
Social value
- Accessible and inclusive for all – prams, wheelchairs and mobile scooters
- Community connection through shared experience
- Providing opportunity for all people to engage in fitness at all levels and at no cost
- Engagement and collaboration with CCB’s and broader community during location phase, installation and evaluation stages
- Promoted the establishment of walking groups e.g. Heart Foundation Walking
- Social outings for the elderly through weekly walks
- Provides a social support, increases a sense of control and self esteem
- Pathways can also be used to run and cycle
- Increased activation of parks and pathways
Use value
- Free map booklets available from Council, Local Libraries, Entertainment Centre, Visitors Centre and Health (Nowra and Ulladulla) supports easy engagement with the project
- It accessible for all members of the community
- Opportunities for collaboration, e.g. Heart Foundation utilised the Bomaderry to Nowra Path in the promotion of “Week of Walks”
- Creating stencils to have permanent infrastructure where our community would like the stencils installed
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