Logan City Council’s Sports, Leisure and Facilities Branch has undertaken an innovative study into the activeness of its local community.
The ‘Active Logan Participation Study’ was recently awarded the Queensland Award of Excellence for a Research Project. It has also been nominated as a finalist in the National 2016 Parks and Leisure Australia Awards.
The study was conducted to provide an insight into Logan residents’ levels of physical activity, use of sporting and recreational facilities and motivations and barriers to participation.
Data was gathered on organised and unorganised sports, recreation and physical activity to enable Council to measure and compare residents’ physical activity rates against the rest of Queensland and Australia; and contribute to its development of a sport and recreation strategy.
Sport and Community Services Committee Chairperson, Councillor Steve Swenson, said the survey had provided valuable insights.
“The survey found Logan residents of all ages are significantly more active than the average Queenslanders across all age groups, but we still fall below the national guidelines for recommended levels of activity, by not exercising as frequently as we should,” he said.
“The top five activities in order are: walking, gym, running or jogging, swimming and cycling. The reasons residents give for being active are general wellbeing, staying active and for general fitness.”
Cr Swenson said receiving the state award and being nominated for a national award by Parks and Leisure Australia was well deserved by the Council team.
“The Parks Leisure Australia Award of Excellence recognises the calibre and expertise of Council and its Sport and Recreation Program.
“We have led the way in Local Government with this innovative research project.”
The announcement of the national winner will be made at the Parks Leisure Australia Awards of Excellence in Adelaide on 25 October 2016.
