www.stateplan.nsw.gov.au 2007 UPDATE
State Plan
A New Direction For NSW E8
More People Using Parks, Sporting And
Recreational Facilities, And Participating
In The Arts And Cultural Activity
Participation in cultural, recreational and sporting
activities is fundamental to the development of
communities and individuals, and to our quality
of life. The State Plan recognises this and includes
targets to increase our participation in physical
and cultural activities.
TARGETS
Increase the number of visits to State Government parks and
reserves by 20% by 2016.
n
Increase the number of people participating in sporting activities
and physical activity by 10% by 2016. This is equivalent to
4,800,000 people participating in sporting activities and physical
activity in 2016.
n
Parks and Reserves1
Visitation to major urban parklands is currently
estimated at 25.8 million visits annually. Demand
is strong and increasing between 4% and 20%
annually, with a number of metropolitan parks
already at capacity for visitation.
It is estimated there are over 22 million visits to
national parks annually. Overall visitation to
national parks is currently declining or static,
consistent with an overall decline in tourism.
However, national parks near highly urbanised
areas are experiencing similar visitation demand
pressures to the large urban parklands.
There is currently no reliable data on visits to State
forests and Crown reserves. There is anecdotal
evidence of increased demand for active
recreation, particularly near the urban fringe.
Sport and Physical Activity
In 2006 nearly 4.5 million people (4,403,100)
participated in a sport or a physical activity at
least once over the twelve months—a
participation rate of 79.4% or four out of every
five people in NSW aged 15 and over. This was
a 4.9% decrease from 2005 when NSW had a
participation rate of 83.5%.
The measure we are using is the Exercise,
Recreation and Sport Survey (ERASS), conducted
for the Commonwealth Ministerial Standing
Committee on Recreation and Sport (SCORS) by
ACNielsen. It collects data on participation by
adults aged 15 years and over in organised
and non-organised sport and physical activity.
The opposite graph shows that participation
numbers are growing in NSW however since
1999 the increase has not kept up with the
growth in population.
RESULTS SUMMARY
E8 More People Using Parks, Sporting And Recreational Facilities, And Participating In The Arts And Cultural Activity
Increase visitation and participation in the arts and cultural
activity by 10% by 2016. This is equivalent to 4,644,000 people
aged 18 years and over visiting cultural venues and events and
participating in the arts and cultural activity at least once in the
previous 12 months.
n
1. State Government parks and reserves include major urban parklands
(Sydney Olympic Park, Parklands [Millennium Parklands], Centennial
Parklands, Western Sydney Parklands, Parramatta Park and the Botanic
Gardens), national parks including marine parks and aquatic reserves,
State forests and Crown reserves. Visitation figures for these parks are subject
to review and refinement. These parks and reserves cover close to 15% of
NSW’s land area and marine parks cover 34% of NSW’s marine waters.
Arts and cultural activities
Attended cultural venues and events at least once in previous 12 months (NSW)
Source: Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events 2005–06 (ABS Cat No 4114.0)
3.50
3.65
3.80
3.95
4.10
4.25
4.40
4.55
4.70
4.85
5.00
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
1995 2000 2005–06
80.9%
83.4% 82.7%
3,870,200
4,220,700
4,445,900
millions of visitors
Attendance Rate %
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
75
77
79
81
83
85
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
millions of people
% population
79.4%
4.403
3.971
4.317
83.5%
81.5%
82%
77.9%
76%
Trend in adult participation in sport and physical activity in NSW
Population aged 15+ who participated in sport during 12 month period (NSW)
Source: Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey (ERASS)
www.stateplan.nsw.gov.au 2007 UPDATE
State Plan – A New Direction For NSW
The Way Forward
The Government will increase opportunities for participation in cultural,
recreational and sporting activities. Areas of work include:
Improving access to parks and reserves
Improving visitor infrastructure, facilities and information within
existing parklands. For example, Stage Two Queens Park playground
upgrade at Centennial Parklands will help to ease some of the pressures
on recreational facilities in the eastern metropolitan area of Sydney,
which is one of the most densely populated parts of the State.
Revitalising Sydney’s National Parks Program to upgrade visitor
facilities in the Blue Mountains, Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay, Ku-ringgai
Chase, Royal, Lane Cove and Georges River National Parks.
Acquisition of new parks and reserves to increase available
opportunities for recreation, for example, Renfrew Park, near
Gerringong and South Golden Beach, north of Brunswick Heads.
Enhancing partnerships with commercial operators, Aboriginal
people and promoting greater community involvement. For
example Forest NSW’s Communities in Forests Program to expand
volunteering in State forests and Department of Lands proposed
harbourside developments at Coffs Harbour and Batemans Bay.
We are also putting in place new methods to more accurately measure
visitation and usage of our urban and national parks.
Sport and recreation
Greater focus on development of sport at the community level
including the proposed development of Sport Accords with Local
Government and Clubs NSW to involve more stakeholders in
community sport.
Looking at opportunities to share recreational resources with schools,
local government, clubs and other bodies is one potential solution,
for example, group sports clubs using public school sports fields on
weekends or during school holidays.
Promoting new models for attracting and retaining volunteers in
sport and recreation, including programs for committee members
on good corporate governance, and accreditation for coaches and
officials.
Arts and cultural activities
A focus on improving access to the arts for under-represented areas
and groups through initiatives such as the Western Sydney Arts
Strategy and the Indigenous Arts Strategic Initiative.
Increasing options for the development and management of arts
infrastructure and facilities through partnerships with councils, other
government agencies and the Arts sector.
Infrastructure improvements for the State’s cultural institutions and
increasing on-line access to the collections and services.
Extend the ConnectEd Arts partnership with DET, which targets
disadvantaged students and schools in regional and urban NSW.
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Parks and reserves
• Continued implementation of the Revitalising
Sydney’s National Parks Program in the Blue
Mountains, Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay,
Ku-ring-gai Chase, Royal, Lane Cove and Georges
River National Parks. Specifically: upgrades to
the campground and day use area at Bonnie
Vale in Royal National Park including new
picnic shelters, BBQs and car parking; and
upgrades to the boat launching facilities and
improved car parking at the Morgans Creek
precinct within Georges River National Park
• Forests NSW will build on the Communities
in Forest Program in partnership with
Conservation Volunteers Australia.
• Continuation of Department of Lands programs
for maritime infrastructure, providing benefits
to all boating users, and development of key
coastal sites providing enhanced tourism and
recreational opportunities.
Sport and Recreation
• Implement three pilot Sport Accords with
local government.
• Work with the Department of Education and
Training to identify and promote models
for improving access to school facilities for
community use.
Arts and cultural activities
• Implement Stage Two of Western Sydney
Arts Strategy.
• Implement the Indigenous Arts Strategic
Initiative in Western Sydney.
• Expand the ConnnectEd Arts program
• Australian Museum to complete its
redevelopment project to house museum
collections, staff and upgrade exhibition spaces.
E8
What we aim to achieve
in the next 12 months:
E8 More People Using Parks, Sporting And Recreational Facilities, And Participating In The Arts And Cultural Activity
will be achieved