Less than 200 kilometres from Brisbane, Noosa Shire offers the perfect blend of a laid-back beach lifestyle, with the sophistication of being an internationally recognised holiday destination.

The Shire is a premier sporting destination, hosting such events as the Noosa Multi-Sports Festival, Noosa Blue Water Swim and the Noosa Half Marathon.

Noosa Council's Recreation Development Officer, Alison Hamblin explains how the Council focused on injecting the passion and participation of elite competition into the local community.

Why was the project needed?

When the Council was preparing its Sport and Recreation Plan in 2004, our community consultation process indicated that many residents had difficulty accessing transport to the main recreation centres and meeting the high costs of organised sport and physical activity. They felt there was a lack of opportunities that catered for varying levels of physical ability. We needed to devise a program to provide people with cost effective and convenient ways to participate in physical activity.

When did planning begin?

Planning started in 2004 with the development of the Sport and Active Recreation Plan that outlined how we could promote and encourage a more active and healthier community. Once we secured funding, we went through a tender process to find a company which could provide qualified instructors to conduct sessions and professional health workers to provide free health checks for participants. We developed a partnership with FitnessRox Pty Ltd and they now share their expert knowledge of fitness, diet, exercise and life change strategies with our participants. 

What was the main factor in your success?

Everyone involved in the project was enthusiastic and determined to make it work. We made sure we did the research to know what was possible and what the logistics were. We also made sure we had an effective advertising campaign which focused on a range of mediums including newspaper, radio and the Council newsletter. This ensured participation in each activity was strong. Word of mouth also helped as participants told their friends and family about the program.

What were the main benefits of the project?

The program has improved the health and well-being of residents by providing them with accessible, cost effective and tailored physical activities. Importantly, participants can choose the activities they want to attend based on their interests and physical ability. Over the past two years we've seen numbers grow at our leisure centre and gyms because people are getting more interested in getting fitter and healthier. We've also provided a great social occasion for people to come out and experience a beautiful day in the park with friends, and participate in exercise at the same time. This has reduced social isolation, particularly among older adults, and provided opportunities for residents to interact with other community members and meet new people. 

How was the project funded?

Both the Noosa Council and the Queensland Government, through the Department of Communities provided $15,000 each over the two-year life of the project. We will now look at options to make the program self-sufficient to ensure it can continue in the future.   

How did you find working with the Department?

We worked with officers from the North Coast office. They were particularly helpful and provided us with great advice and assistance which helped ensure a smooth process.  

What advice would you offer to other councils interested in running similar programs?

The most important thing is the research. When preparing the Noosa Plan (the planning scheme to meet the requirements of the Integrated Planning Act), we conducted various studies and extensive community consultation. This revealed a significant population growth, a demographic shift to fewer families and an increase of lower socio-economic hinterland communities. These factors highlighted the need to produce a long-term sport and active recreation plan. This allowed Council to provide cost-effective sport and recreation opportunities. Our extensive research also provided us with a clear idea of what we wanted to achieve and how we could do it. It enabled us to develop and deliver a program that meets the needs and interests of the community. Achieving that has been the key factor in the ongoing success of the Program.

Want to know more?

For more information about the "Get Active Noosa" project, contact Alison Hamblin, Recreation Development Officer, Noosa Shire Council, on Ph: (07) 5449 5112 or email rdo1@noosa.qld.gov.au.

For more information on the Department of Communities funding programs click here or contact us.