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Six years after a ground-breaking project to study the health and wellbeing of 1,800 people moving into new housing estates in the Perth metropolitan area, researchers from The University of Western Australia will be back out in the field again early next year to re-interview residents on how they feel about their neighbourhoods in 2011.

Lead researcher Winthrop Professor Billie Giles-Corti, Director of UWA's Centre for the Built Environment and Health, said new Healthway funding for RESIDE II would enable researchers to assess the longer-term impacts of how neighbourhood design affected physical and mental health and community wellbeing.

"The results from the study will inform policy-makers and housing developers when planning new communities. This information is critical as the nation faces a rapidly growing population, a housing shortage and environmental pressures," Professor Giles-Corti said.

RESIDE II will involve almost three-quarters of the initial participants from 2004 who had an average age of 40, were typically working parents and many spent a considerable amount of time commuting.

Those surveyed will be asked about topics such as the provision of cycle and foot-paths, safety, pet ownership, community involvement and access to local amenities including schools, food outlets, public open spaces, parks and sports facilities.  Participants will also be given a pedometer to monitor their daily physical activity.

"We will use this information to enable government bodies to make the right decisions about how to balance increasing housing density with high-quality lifestyles for residents," Professor Giles-Corti said.

The 73 neighbourhoods from across the metropolitan area to be surveyed include 18 estates created according to the new ‘Liveable Neighbourhood Guidelines', with the remainder a blend of conventional and hybrid plans.

" RESIDE has established an international reputation because of its unique long-term follow-up of residents in new estates and its strong partnership with policy-makers and practitioners working in health, planning and transport," Professor Giles-Corti said.

Media references

Winthrop Professor Billie Giles-Corti (+61 8) 6488 1257  /  (+61 4) 24 441 861
(UWA School of Population Health)
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716