CLAIMS that bad urban planning is leading to poor health in urban growth areas have received a mixed response in Melton.
Experienced general practitioner Margaret Beavis told a state government health inquiry she had witnessed the terrible health impact of the urban environment at an individual level.
She said the level of incidental exercise was much higher for residents who lived where there was better public transport and less dependency on cars.
A 2010 survey of 43,800 people showed that those commuting by car had eight minutes of incidental exercise a day, while those commuting by public transport, cycling or walking averaged 41 minutes.
“Building car-dependent suburbs will be very expensive in the future with massive long-term health impacts,” Dr Beavis said.
“People living in suburbs with little active transport infrastructure have higher rates of obesity and lower rates of physical activity.”
But Urban Development Institute of Australia executive director Tony De Domenico said drawing a link between urban planning and poor health was misleading.
“Laying an obesity epidemic on the doorstep of the development industry, which provides parks, walking and cycling tracks and in some cases swimming pools in their developments, is a bizarre claim,” he said.
Eynesbury resident Hayley Wyllie said the claims couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Exercise is up to the individual; it has nothing to do with where you live. In Eynesbury we have beautiful walking tracks, ovals and parklands; there is no excuse.”
Melton Residents Association president Peter Rowan said any suggestion people’s health was dependent on where they lived was “drawing a long bow”.
Council’s general manager for planning and development, Luke Shannon, said growth areas were well planned.
“The challenge is ensuring infrastructure can keep up with the growth and our council puts in a lot of effort in delivering those services … but we do rely on the state and federal government funding.”
