13 June, 2014

Much more than roads, rates and rubbish

Creating healthy and active communities has never been more important than it is right now. With Australia consistently sitting on the unenviable podium in the obesity stakes the right infrastructure and decision-making is vital to create healthy communities.

While people should always be given the opportunity to make their own decisions, Councils take seriously their role in promoting healthy lifestyles.

Adelaide has a long and proud history in the provision of healthy and active spaces dating way back to 1837 with the creation of the Adelaide Park Lands – created for the community to meet and enjoy the beautiful geography and climate we are all blessed with here. Council has continued this legacy and will do so long into the future.

We have always been tasked with a greater role than simply ‘civil’ engineering and have worked closely with people from all walks of life, State Agencies and all tiers of government to ensure we uphold our social responsibility to our respective communities.

Around 343,000 South Australians chose to vote in Council elections in 2010, making it the biggest voluntary activity in the State. People do care about who runs their local council and value that the decisions made about the area in which they choose to call home are made locally.

While looking after more than $1.2 billion in community infrastructure remains a core part of City of Adelaide’s work, more than 80% of the public see Council’s role as ‘caring for the community’.

Whether this is delivering smoke free children’s playground, offering choice and safe pathways as you move around your city, providing local libraries or community centres, or maintaining the Park Lands, it is central to Council’s role to serve its community.