Liveability research creating real world impact: connecting urban planning and public health through the Australian Urban Observatory

Figures & data

Figure 1. Liveability systems thinking framework and indicator domains included in the Australian Urban Observatory.

Figure 2. The multiple roles of the Australian Urban Observatory.

Table 1. Major cities included in the Australian Urban Observatory.

Australian State	Australian Cities
Australian Capital Territory	Canberra
New South Wales	Sydney, Albury-Wodonga, Newcastle-Maitland, Wollongong
Northern Territory	Darwin
Queensland	Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast-Tweed Heads, Mackay, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville
South Australia	Adelaide
Tasmania	Hobart, Launceston
Victoria	Melbourne, Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong
Western Australia	Perth

Table 2. Liveability indicators included in the Australian Urban Observatory.

Domain	Liveability Indicators
Liveability	Liveability Index
Social Infrastructure	Social Infrastructure Index Cultural Social Infrastructure Community and Sport Social Infrastructure Education Social Infrastructure Health Social Infrastructure Average distance to nearest General Practitioner (GP) clinic Average distance to closest playground
Walkability	Average distance to closest activity centre Average dwelling density per hectare Average street connectivity per square kilometre Average number of daily living destinations present (0-3) within 1600 m Walkability for Transport Index
Transport	Average distance to closest public transport stop % of dwellings within 400 m of a bus stop % of dwellings within 400 m of public transport with a regular 30-minute weekday service Average distance to closest train station Average distance to closest bus stop with a regular 15-min weekday service Average distance to closest bus stop with a regular 30-min weekday service Average distance to closest bus stop with a regular 45-min weekday service % of employed persons using active transport (walking/cycling) as main mode of travel to work % of employed persons using public transport as main mode of travel to work % of employed persons using a private vehicle as main mode of travel to work
Employment	% of employed persons living and working in the same area
Public Open Space	Average distance to closest public open space % of dwellings within 400 m or less of public open space Average distance to closest public open space larger than 1.5 hectares % of dwellings within 400 m of public open space larger than 1.5 hectares % of dwellings within 400 m or less distance of any local park (> 0.4 to. < = 1 ha) % of dwellings within 800 m of less distance of any neighbourhood park (>1 to <= 5 ha) % of dwellings within 400 m of less distance of a neighbourhood recreation park (> 0.5 ha) Average distance to closest public open space with a nearby public toilet (within 100 m)
Housing	% of dwellings that are government owned or community housing % of households in the bottom 40% of incomes spending more than 30% of income on housing costs % of rental households in the bottom 40% of incomes spending more than 30% of income on housing costs % of mortgaged households in the bottom 40% of incomes spending more than 30% of income on housing costs % of rental or mortgaged households in the bottom 40% of incomes spending more than 30% of income on housing costs % of households spending more than 30% of household income on housing costs
Food	% of dwellings without any food outlet within 3.2km % of dwellings within 1km of a supermarket Average distance to closest healthy food outlet (supermarket or greengrocer) Average distance to closest fast-food outlet Average distance to closest café, restaurant or hotel
Alcohol	Average number of on-license alcohol outlets within 400m Average number of off-license alcohol outlet within 800m Average distance to closest on-license alcohol outlet Average distance to closest off-license alcohol outlet

Figure 3. The cyclic nature of research, policy and practice in development and expansion of the Australian Urban Observatory.