Mayor Geoff Kettle said the Heart Foundation’s Neighbourhood Walkability Checklist is designed to help individuals to survey their local walking environment and provide structured feedback to Council, on matters related to facilities and infrastructure, as well as suggestions for improvement.

“With the warmer weather upon us, it is an ideal time to get walking, and while you are walking, to complete the Heart Foundation’s Walkability Checklist, and give some feedback to Council on your local walking routes,” Cr Kettle said.

“Alarmingly, seven out of every 10 people in NSW are not sufficiently physically active for health, doubling their risk of cardiovascular disease, type-two diabetes and obesity, and increasing their risk of some cancers.

“While promotion of active living messages are important in mobilising a community to ‘move more often’, there is also good evidence to suggest that the built environment can help or hinder an individual’s intent to become more active and healthy – that is where this Walkability Checklist comes in.”

Residents can use the Neighbourhood Walkability Checklist to assess their usual walking route. If you do not have an established route, choose a place to walk to such as a local shop or park, but please be aware that this checklist is not intended for use in areas of natural bush land.

“To assist us, provide a map of your walking route when you return the checklist to Council,” Cr Kettle said.

“A local street directory or a web based map such as http://maps.google.com.au may be helpful.

“Read over the checklist before you start. As you walk, complete the checklist by placing a tick in the appropriate boxes. It will be useful if you can identify street names or places when making specific comments, and maybe take some photographs or sketching conditions along your route.”

“There are some delightful walks around town. Grab a checklist and head out and walk some of Goulburn’s beautiful streets; why not walk along Blackshaw road and the Mulwaree Ponds; and don’t forget to return the checklist to Council,” Chair of Council’s Environment Committee Cr Bob Kirk said.

“Council’s Environment Committee has supported the use of the Checklist, because it will be extremely useful for Goulburn’s residents and for Council.”

Goulburn Mulwaree Council encourages those interested to download a copy of the walkability checklist from the Heart Foundation website, complete it during their next walk, and return to Council where the results will be collated and reported to Council.

Copies of the Checklist are also available from the Civic Centre Customer Service Counter. More information on heart health and walking is available from the Heart Foundation website www.heartfoundation.org.au.