Media Releases

Giving Sunshine Coast residents the best chance to stay healthy and active is the aim of two important studies just launched by Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot said council is preparing a Regional Sport and Recreation Strategy and a Regional Aquatics Strategy – and he urged residents to have a say.

“The aim of both studies is to guide the current and future provision of facilities and services to meet the needs of Sunshine Coast communities over the next 15 years,” Cr Abbot said.

“Health and wellbeing is an important theme of council’s Corporate Plan and providing sustainable sport, recreation and aquatic facilities is a key part of that objective.”

The studies will take a fresh look at the region as a whole to ensure that the Sunshine Coast’s aquatic, sport and recreation facilities and services reflect the community’s needs.

“Both strategies will take council’s 44 Localities of Interest into account, so local and regional needs will be examined,” Cr Abbot said.

“I encourage Sunshine Coast residents to get involved and express their views.”

The Regional Sport and Recreation Strategy covers physically active or organised activities that require formal venues. Non-competitive or passive recreational activities are excluded.

The Regional Aquatics Strategy will examine organised and informal aquatic activities, outdoor and indoor pools, water parks and interactive water play structures. It excludes aquatic activities associated with beaches, rivers, lakes and natural areas.

Leisure planning and management consultants, The Strategic Leisure Group, have been engaged by the Council to prepare both studies.

Managing Director, David Mason, said “Planning for sport, recreation and aquatics is more sophisticated than in days gone by. Population growth, social trends and council amalgamations are presenting challenges for local governments across the board, including sport and recreation.

“Making sure that sufficient land is available and/ or protected; designing or revitalising facilities to meet contemporary needs; and maximising the sustainability of facilities are just a few of the issues that many councils are dealing with in this area.”

The community will be asked for its input into the two strategies over the coming months. This includes on-line surveys, community forums, focus group meetings, organisation surveys, meetings with sport, recreation and aquatic groups and other agencies.

More information, including details of the forum dates and links to the surveys, are available on council's website.

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