Green space boost reviewed
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New research says governments should prioritise urban green spaces for their proven benefits to mental and physical health.
Green spaces, encompassing parks, urban forests, and roadside greenery, offer a range of health advantages.
Proximity to such areas promotes physical activity and lowers the risk of conditions like cardiovascular disease, dementia, and psychological distress.
Australian studies reveal that living within 1.4 km of attractive green spaces boosts recreational walking rates, while exposure to at least 30 minutes of nature weekly reduces depression and anxiety.
Green spaces also foster social connections, enhance mood, and lower stress, contributing to broader community well-being.
Moreover, tree canopies mitigate urban heat, offering vital climate resilience. In Adelaide, urban greening has been found to cool urban areas by up to 2°C, crucial as Australia’s urban heat intensifies.
Emerging research highlights UGS’s role in supporting biodiversity and human immune health, with benefits linked to biodiverse soil and air quality improvements. Access to greenery is also associated with reduced crime and stronger social cohesion.
Despite these benefits, UGS development faces barriers including land competition, limited local government funding, and weak environmental regulations.
Infill housing development often reduces private and public greenery, with low-income areas disproportionately affected. Inner suburbs typically have more UGS than peri-urban regions, perpetuating social inequities.
Disparities also exist between cities.
Sydney and Brisbane offer more green space per capita than Melbourne and Adelaide. These inconsistencies reflect the absence of internationally agreed metrics for UGS provision.
Experts suggest adopting benchmarks like the “3-30-300 rule,” advocating for three visible trees from residences, 30 per cent tree canopy coverage in neighbourhoods, and access to quality green spaces within 300 metres.
Recent research calls for legislative reforms to mandate equitable UGS access, supported by economic analyses that quantify the benefits.
For example, a study in Greater Adelaide valued the average benefit of a street tree at $11,236 compared to a cost of $6,980. Increasing tree canopy coverage to 30 per cent could yield $20 million in annual healthcare savings per 100,000 adults.
This recommendation is tied to the Australian Federal Climate and Health Strategy, which endorses the World Health Organization’s “Health in All Policies” framework, which integrates health considerations into decision-making across government sectors.
