A policy to ensure everyone in the City has adequate protection from the sun’s harmful rays has won a Victorian Public Health Award for Victoria’s City of Whittlesea. The Shade Policy which deals with the provision of shade at Council owned parks, playgrounds, sporting and recreational facilities and preschools, has also won the endorsement of the Anti Cancer Council of Victoria and the Playgrounds and Recreation Association of Victoria.
It includes education and promotion campaigns to prompt owners of private property to consider their own shade needs. Permit applicants for childcare centres and outdoor restaurants must also include shade plans in their applications. A systematic approach to the gradual increase in shade provision at Council owned facilities is in progress.
The first stage of implementation will provide shade at eight pre schools, a specially designed dugout for the Mill Park baseball and Softball Stadium and shaded benches for the Nick Ascenzo Reserve Bocce Court. It is also trialing a portable shade structure at the Meadowglen International Athletics Stadium at Epping.
In December, Council held a training seminar to bring home the message to staff involved in the planning and design of sun protection at public venues. Representatives from Councils across Melbourne also attended this seminar.
The Anti Cancer Council is encouraging other municipalities to adopt similar policies using the Whittlesea model at regional workshops being held around Victoria. Emphasis must be placed on planning for shade where it would be most effective.
City of Whittlesea Health Promotions Officer, Sally Missing, said that meant establishing shade where people will use it. She said to be effective shade must be in the right place at the right time of day, provide warmth in winter and coolness in summer, and be sympathetic to the surroundings.
“Those who design, control or run events using outdoor venues must think ahead because it only takes 20 minutes for high level ultra violet radiation to start damaging human skin,” she said. The seminar included a session which demonstrated the inexpensive tools required to measure available shade at different times of the day.
For further information contact Sally Missing, telephone (03) 9217 2249
