Friday, 16 June 2006

For immediate release
Bigger Backyards Mean Leaner, Fitter Kids

Manukau City Councillor Dick Quax an out spoken critic of so called “smart growth” points to preliminary data from the Flinders University Achieving a Healthy Home Environment study which surveyed the homes and lifestyles of 280 families in the southern suburbs of Adelaide and found that the size and set-up of homes contributed largely to how fit and healthy young children were.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Nicola Spurrier, who headed the study reported that the bigger the backyard, the more active the kids.

This is just another reason to review Auckland’s failing regional growth policy, says Cr Quax.

The Auckland Regional Growth Strategy sets where future growth will take place over the next 50years. Most of that will happen within high density town centres based on rail links within the metropolitan urban limits, an artificial boundary around Auckland.

“We all know that the policy has led to a land shortage which is driving the price of housing beyond the reach of low and middle income earners and now evidence is pointing to the fact the small sections and apartment living are in part responsible for the obesity epidemic”.

This is just another consequence of bad policy making and the high density living around rail stations such as Manurewa, Papatoetoe and Glen Innes will lead to further poor social and health outcomes, according to Cr Quax.

ENDS

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