Dear subscriber,

Welcome to the first edition of the PCAL monthly bulletin for 2010.

This bulletin reports up-to-date news and research of interest to people who want to promote active living choices in NSW. Previous bulletins are archived on the PCAL website.

PCAL does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, processes ro services that may be displayed through bulletin hyperlinks

A new web resource has been developed to provide a single access point to nature based recreational areas, walking and cycling tracks in the greater Sydney region. $2.4 million in grants to upgrade 17 open space and regional trail projects across Sydney has also been announced as part of the Metropolitan Green Space Program.

Successful recipients of the latest round of funding under the Sharing Sydney Harbour Access Program have been announced by the NSW Premier. Grants worth over $1.1 million will be provided for 16 projects across 12 local government areas to improve access to Sydney Harbour and its foreshore.

The UNSW City Futures Research Centre has been awarded $1.5m in funding from NSW Health to establish the NSW Healthy Built Environments Program, the first such collaboration between a health department and planning academics in Australia.

Evaluations of the UK's Cycling Demonstration Towns (CDTs)  are now available and reveal that use of bikes has increased by 27 per cent. Each pound spent on cycling delivered benefits worth £2.59 in reduced mortality as people became more physically active.

The NSW Commission for Children and Young People has developed a new resource to help create built environments that meet the needs of children and young people. Through real life case studies Built4kids demonstrates how children and young people can successfully participate in the planning and design of the built environment.

Play England have prepared a report which aims to support local planning and transport authorities develop and implement planning policy that ensures young people have easy access to high quality playable spaces. A recent Australian report has focused on the role of parks and open space for the health and well being of children and young people.

NSW charity Technical Aid to the Disabled individually modifies bikes for children with disabilities through its Freedom Wheels initiative. A recent ABS fact sheet has examined participation rates in sport by people with a disability.
 

A 2010 supplement to Preventative Medicine has been prepared with a focus on Active Living Research. Topic papers include; the economics of health promotive built environment changes, promoting health and climate stabilisation through active transportation and many others.