Parks & Leisure Summer 2021 Issue 23.4

parks &leisure AUSTRALAS IAN

Volume 23.4 Summer 2020 ISSN: 1446-5604

Events, Tourism & Arts

GREEN ADELAIDE & The National Park City

CHAMPIONING A MENTORING CULTURE The Coexistence of

NATURE CONSERVATION & TOURISM THE SUPERSWIM INITIATIVE ACCESSIBLE RECREATION

CONTENTS FEATURES

INTERNATIONAL

8 Outdoor Learning Area 10 Green Adelaide and the National Park City 12 We’re not on the Sideline, We’re in the Team 13 Vale Graeme Worboys 14 The Superswim Initiative 16 Outdoor Activity Fund 18 Recreational Trail Guidelines 20 Covid-19 has Devastated Aussie Sports 22 Accessible Recreation 24 A Whole Celebration of Being Australian 26 Championing a Mentoring Culture 30 Older People and Parks 32 Parks Specialist Leads with Sustainability and Innovation 34 Leisure and the Unconditional Basic Income

36 International News 37 Magic in the Forests of Lithuania 38 The Coexistence of Nature Conservation and Tourism 40 Managing Public Parks During Covid-19 42 Play in Lockdown 44 World’s Most Plant-rich Island

REGULARS 4 From the PLA President and CEO 6 From the Recreation Aotearoa Chair and CEO 46 Research Connections 49 PLA Advisory News 50 Join Us on Social Media

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ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR Martha Rubazewicz PRODUCTION EDITOR Nicole Mulloy nmulloy@umco.com.au

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Bethany Shea

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR John Senior journal@parksleisure.com.au

CIRCULATION BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Mark McTaggart CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kate Podger

EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION MANAGER marketing@parksleisure.com.au DESIGNER Michaela Primiano

CHAIRMAN/CEO Prema Perera

PUBLISHING MANAGER Marcus Hucker

PUBLISHER Janice Williams

SALES/ACCOUNT MANAGERS Marcus Hucker (NSW) 0410 338 119 Antonia Bewley (QLD & WA) 0418 424 410 Pilar Danlag (VIC & SA) 0414 468 243

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Vicky Mahadeva ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Emma Perera

COVER IMAGE Image Min An via Pexels

Circulation enquiries to our Sydney head office 02 9805 0399 PLA Journal is published by Universal Magazines, Unit 5, 6-8 Byfield Street, North Ryde 2113.

Phone (02) 9805 0399, Fax (02) 9805 0714. Melbourne office, Suite 4 Level 1, 150 Albert Road, South Melbourne 3205 Phone (03) 9694 6444, Fax (03) 9699 7890. Printed by KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd, Singapore. This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Enquiries should be addressed to the publishers. The publishers believe all the information supplied in this book to be correct at the time of printing. They are not, however, in a position to make a guarantee to this effect and accept no liability in the event of any information proving inaccurate. Prices, addresses and phone numbers were, after investigation, and to the best of our knowledge and belief, up to date at the time of printing, but the shifting sands of time may change them in some cases. It is not possible for the publishers to ensure that advertisements which appear in this publication comply with the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the Australian Law. The responsibility must therefore be on the person, company or advertising agency submitting the advertisements for publication. While every endeavour has been made to ensure complete accuracy, the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

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Summer 2020 | AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE 3

From the PLA President

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Paul Jane

his edition of the Journal focuses on events, tourism and the arts, and highlights the critical nature these areas play in both building community and creating economic prosperity. Sadly, these areas equally have been the most impacted by Covid-19, or The Great Pause as it has been called; a pause that has impacted the vitality of communities and the livelihood of many of our members, family and friends.

It is perhaps because I live in Victoria that I place a heavy focus on this issue, however as we hopefully emerge from The Pause we will need to reconsider how we re-engage the community in the event and tourism space, to reconnect with each other

and bring much needed economic relief to areas reliant on visitors. This is doubly important for those communities impacted by fire last summer that have not had the chance to recover.

I would encourage you all to reach out to colleagues, to break the monotony of the daily grind in isolation, or better still have a chat to your PLA region and get involved in an industry project as a great way to shift your headspace.

Take care out there, enjoy this edition and lets ensure we learn the lessons Covid-19 has taught us all.

Paul Jane PLA President

From the pla CEO

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MARK BAND

ith summer now upon us, and a time when our festivals and tourism should be in full swing, the impact of Covid-19 still remains.

Hopefully, by now, we are slowly gaining momentum in regenerating this pivotal industry and important aspect of our communities.

As one of the industries impacted greatly across the globe by Covid, it’s been sad to see cruise ships being dismantled in Turkey, airlines laying off thousands of people, local artists struggling to maintain their livelihoods, and communities missing out on events that generate jobs, boost local economies and provide a valuable social and cultural outlets for us all.

We have certainly had to look at creative ways of showcasing what we do at the local level. One thing for certain, is that the way we did it in the past is

We thank our national sponsors and partners:

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not the way we will in the future. What this looks like I’m not sure, but as a professional body with many members that work in events and tourism through our local parks, reserves, and projects we deliver on the ground, we need a concerted effort to work together to pave the way forward to ensure these valuable assets and events are protected for future generations.

PLA will continue to collaborate and work with stakeholders in this field, to respond in an appropriate manner to get this sector back up to where it should be once again. In the meantime, we thank all of you that have been impacted in this area and hope you are slowly getting back on track to showcase the amazing work done for the benefit of every Australian and visitor to our shores.

Mark Band PLA CEO

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FROM THE RECREATION AOTEAROA CHAIR

MARK BOWATER

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ia ora koutou. What a crazy year 2020 has been! Unprecedented and extraordinary, we have had so much disaster and adversity happening around the world. Extreme weather events, raging bush fires, drought, flooding, we have seen it all. And Covid-19.

This has been a global pandemic that has radically disrupted our societies and caused over a million deaths internationally. In Aotearoa, our borders have been tightly controlled for months and our economy has struggled with the effects of alert-level lockdowns and restrictions.

We have seen and experienced the huge value of parks and recreation, and connection to nature during these trying times. We have recognised and

appreciated our people who have worked in these areas, and our essential workers have been highly respected. We are evolving new models of how we work, how we communicate, what we focus on with constrained finances, and in local government realms, who needs our help the most. In the process, we are building resiliency, which we will need more of as we go forward.

That brings me to a special point. I want to reference the story of Andrew Leslie, CEO of Recreation Aotearoa, during 2020. In March, Andrew had a serious mountain bike accident. He was doing what he loves to do, but it all went wrong. He suffered a significant spinal injury and was hospitalised in a serious condition. Andrew was in a specialist hospital spinal unit for months. During that time, Andrew’s rehabilitation progress has been inspiring and remarkable, and is a true testament to his inner strength and spirit. We have followed his progress in awe, as he has taught himself how to walk again, from tentative steps on crutches to

cross country mountain walks. This has absolutely been a story of determination, positive attitude and self-belief — often against the odds.

The team at Recreation Aotearoa have been amazing in how they have stepped up to help cover key roles and activities during this leadership disruption, and deserve a huge thanks. The support of the Recreation Aotearoa Board, the wider membership, key stakeholders and colleagues has also been incredible. I know that collectively this has made a big difference for Andrew.

It has been a long road to recovery for Andrew, and following a carefully managed and progressive return to work plan, he is back to working full time and making the positive difference he enjoys. This is an inspiring story, and I know Andrew is looking forward to the opportunity to share it all when the time is right. Noho ora mai (stay well).

Mark Bowater Recreation Aotearoa Chair

FROM THE RECREATION AOTEAROA CEO

ANDREW LESLIE

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020 has been an interesting year for all of us. As the Covid19 pandemic broke and New Zealand went into lockdown, Recreation Aotearoa positioned itself as the organisation for the recreation industry to come to for the latest news and updates. I’m really proud of the response that our team provided, and wanted to share some of it with you.

Starting with an update page, we quickly realised that there was a huge amount of information out there that we would need to share with our members

and the industry. We built a mini-website to collate this information into one location and developed a brand for all Covid-19 related communications.

This made relevant information easy to recognise for our audience and forged a connection with the government Covid19 communications.

The ever-evolving circumstances surrounding Covid-19 are uncertain and challenging, and as the leadership organisation for recreation in Aotearoa, we wanted to be sure to keep an open stream of conversation with the sector.

We set up a series of virtual meetings across our sectors for our members to openly discuss, with us and their peers, the impact Covid-19 is having on their day-to-day business. These virtual coffee and chat meetings provide an opportunity for us to check in on each other and share our stories, strategies and solutions during this time.

We shared these conversations via FAQs on our mini-site, so every sector

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could benefit from the insights shared across all meetings. The coffee-andchats sessions have been incredibly successful and will continue on a monthly basis, hosted by each of our programme managers.

The entire recreation industry has reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic and developed innovative solutions to keep the nation active during lockdown. We created a page on our website to share these fantastic stories and inspire the rest of the industry. Around Aotearoa shared stories of creativity and inspired others to develop their own programmes.

We’re looking forward to building back bigger and better in 2021 and supporting the recreation industry to thrive in the new normal.

Andrew Leslie Recreation Aotearoa CEO

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OUTDOOR LEARNING AREA KING’S BAPTIST GRAMMAR SCHOOL IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA TAKES AN EXTERNAL APPROACH TO LEARNING WORDS RICHARD KLEINIG, PRINCIPAL, JPE DESIGN STUDIO

T

he new Outdoor Learning Area at King’s Baptist Grammar School’s Early Learning Centre (ELC) encourages varied educational experiences and risktaking opportunities that support the important relationship children have with their environment. With a key focus on flexible and nature-focused play, this contemporary landscape has been designed to easily change and adapt with each child’s imagination, inspiring them to be challenged, take risks and engage in creative activities to shape their learning future.

JPE Design Studio worked closely with the school community, engaging them early in the design process to share ideas that helped form a distinct design language unique to the school’s desires. The outcomes gathered in the consultation process were critical in ensuring the school’s objectives were successfully interpreted into the landscape design and responded to the present and future needs of this progressive early learning facility.

Throughout the design process Clare Williamson, King’s Early Learners Director, and staff embraced risk-taking and innovative opportunities, reimagining

what is possible for early learning environments. The result is a unique landscape that pushes beyond traditional expectations to create a response that addresses the project brief requirement for a space — “[representing} excellence in outdoor learning environments.”

As a direct extension of the Reggio Emilia learning principles applied indoors, the outdoor learning area at King’s Baptist Grammar ELC focusses on empowering children in the confident exploration of environments through flexible and engaging experiences.

Encouraging children to push their boundaries and learn through discovery and active participation, the landscape leaves room for the imagination and gives both teacher and student the opportunity to shape their space into something different each day. Catering to the diverse range of curricula offered at King’s ELC, this new outdoor learning area delivers activities that support learning through research, investigation, movement, and discovery.

The education philosophy employed at King’s ELC was a key driver behind the design, with the learning landscape needing to embody contemporary education and the Reggio Emilia

8 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

pedagogy. Responsive to this, the outdoor learning area is open and inviting, creating an environment that encourages creativity, with no prescribed activities and no right way to use the landscape. The design fosters an enriching teaching and learning experience through flexible play elements and activities that support the school’s education philosophy, promoting learning by doing and creating.

Changeable natural and living systems that evolve with each season are folded into the design, expressed through productive gardens, water pools, dry creeks, and deciduous feature trees. The native planting has been selected to complement the existing landscape and placed to maximise site views of the city and coast.

Fostering a connection to nature, the kitchen garden and fruit trees not only provide an educational opportunity, but also give a sense of purpose and custodianship, promoting teamwork and care through cultivated growing.

“The planting of slightly advanced fruit trees in the orchard allowed us to have a crop of apricots in our first season, which are already loved and well-watered features. We use our vegetable planters

inbetween the trees and have used the herbs and veggies in our cooking,” claims Clare.

Rainwater from the shelter roof fills the creeks and is collected and used for play and hand-watering the kitchen garden, with the creek filtering into groundwater at the end of its run. Wherever possible, the landscape design has utilised locally sourced materials, including boulders and logs salvaged from the King’s Baptist Grammar School site.

The considered placement of the landscape elements leaves space for imagination and creativity in how to move through and use the space. The timber platform, sheltered sandpit, log climbing structures and timber bridges that cross over the creek are simple and accessible features that allow them to act in many different roles and encourage creative thinking. The timber platform can act as a stage, a pontoon, exercise equipment, a lecture hall or an island in the lawn sea. The variety of and relationship between spaces across the site provides changing experiences and conditions, with varied educational and risk-taking opportunities that create moments of wonder.

“We all enjoy the elements of risk such as the rock scramble, which includes weather-worn rocks that catch

small puddles after rain, or the firepits for sausages, damper, or marshmallows in the winter,” says Clare.

Working with and incorporating site topography proved to be a challenge for this site, which consisted of fluctuating level changes. The landscape complements this, incorporating rock scrambles and considered planting in areas that would otherwise be too steep to traverse. The overall sense within the landscape is one of adventure and wonder. There are no straight paths, only corners to be turned, winding trails to be followed and discoveries to be made.

The stone scramble that frames the covered outdoor learning environment, acts not only as a play element but also as amphitheatre seating for outdoor lessons. The placement of the scramble complements the architecture and invites children to climb up as their main access to the wider landscape, encouraging them to embrace adventure. Drawing the multi-use rock scramble underneath the canopy blurs the boundary between building and landscape and merges the formal classroom with the playspace.

“The results of the collaborative approach and JPE Design Studio’s expertise is obvious to all who visit,” exclaims Clare. “We have already had

other school’s leadership teams from the Adelaide area, and interstate, come for a visit. The children, families, and staff love this beautiful, inviting environment.”

Since opening in February 2020, this learning landscape has offered a welcoming and innovative environment that enables children to be challenged, take risks, and grow within a safe environment. A new identity for the school, this landscape is a responsive design that creates a space the school can be proud of. Offering a positive and enriching contemporary education experience, this learning landscape provides an exciting and varied environment for children to enjoy, supporting learning through activities centered on health, wellbeing, and adventure.

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Summer 2020 | AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE 9

GREEN ADELAIDE AND THE NATIONAL PARK CITY WORDS PROFESSOR CHRIS DANIELS, CHAIR OF GREEN ADELAIDE

C

reating and maintaining liveable urban environments has come to the fore as an aspiration for urban communities and governments in Australia and internationally. While definitions of liveability span social, economic and environmental objectives, in Adelaide a new organisation, Green Adelaide, has been formed to guide the city’s progress towards being a worldleading, sustainable and climate-resilient urban environment.

Mention of Adelaide might conjure up images of a city of 1.3 million people covered in greenery, nestled between the semi-rural Adelaide Hills and the sea, and surrounded by world famous wine regions. Much of this is true. However, it may also be surprising to learn that tree canopy and green cover across metropolitan Adelaide is among the lowest of Australia’s capitals, sitting just above Sydney but well below cities such as Hobart, Canberra and Melbourne.

Green Adelaide’s role is to lead the change in the way that the environment of metropolitan Adelaide is managed, and bring with it a focus on making the city greener, cooler, healthier and more biodiverse. It forms part of state-wide environmental reforms brought about by the introduction of the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 and appointment of nine regional landscape boards, including the Green Adelaide Board, which has the

wellbeing of the city’s urban environment at its heart.

Green Adelaide’s creation is a response to the challenges facing many other urban areas worldwide: • Increasing population density and associated housing and other development • Loss of natural habitat and pressure on wildlife populations • Increased demand for water resources • Perceptions that social connection and wellbeing are declining Added to this are the looming impacts of climate change, which for Adelaide are predicted to deliver a hotter and drier climate, longer heatwaves and increases in extremely hot days, as well as more intense rainfall and tidal surges.

In tackling these challenges, Green Adelaide will take an integrated approach to seven strategic priorities: 1. Coastal management 2. Water resources and wetlands 3. Green streets and flourishing parklands 4. Nature education 5. Flora, fauna and ecosystem health in the urban environment 6. Biodiversity-sensitive and water-sensitive urban design 7. Controlling pest plants and animals Moving away from the formalised “what” will Green Adelaide achieve, there is much for Adelaideans to be excited about in the prospect of “how” those

10 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

results will be achieved. Emphasis will be placed on innovation in the urban environment, and although Green Adelaide will be responsible for ensuring delivering results, enabling other levels of government, NGOs, community groups and individuals to play a very significant role is a prime objective.

In practical terms, this means partnering with others wherever possible to advance the quest for a more sustainable, climateresilient, greener and enriched urban environment. It means fostering greater connection to nature within Adelaide’s metropolitan community and working with government and the development industry to embed concepts including green infrastructure, biodiversity-sensitive and water-sensitive urban design, and increased tree canopy and green ground cover as key elements in the city’s urban landscape.

First Nations people are also central to Green Adelaide’s vision of the city’s future. The Green Adelaide region is the land of the Kaurna Nation, the traditional owners of the greater Adelaide plains.

Adelaide is subject to the only Native Title Determination in Australia that encompasses the entire metropolitan area of a capital city. The traditional Kaurna name for what is now central Adelaide is Tartanya. It was historically a gathering place for commerce and politics. Green Adelaide is committed to building on its existing relationships with the Kaurna

Nation, to embed traditional culture and knowledge into decision making for management of the natural resources of the city’s urban environment.

After European arrival in 1836, surveyor Colonel William Light chose Tartanya for the location of Adelaide with a vision for “a river city, surrounded by parklands for fresh air and a rural hinterland beyond”, to create a city with greening at its heart and then throughout the suburbs and neighbourhoods where people would also live and work. Light’s innovative design surrounded the embryonic colonial city with the Adelaide Park Lands, 760 hectares of heritage-listed greenspace, sometimes leading Adelaide’s CBD to be dubbed “the city in a park”.

In 1891, building on Adelaide’s affinity for open space, a new generation added Belair National Park. Ten kilometres south east of the city centre, Belair is the oldest national park in South Australia and the second oldest in the country. It is much loved by locals for its conservation and recreation values alike. Since then, dozens of conservation and national parks have been established within or adjacent to metropolitan Adelaide along with countless local government reserves and open spaces.

In mid-2020, Glenthorne National Park-Ityamaiitpinna Yarta was proclaimed

in Adelaide’s south. Covering 1500 hectares, Glenthorne consolidates a number of smaller parks, reserves and open spaces into a thriving environmental and recreational precinct for the whole community.

However, as cities expand and come under pressure to increase their densities, the opportunities to develop new Glenthornes in or near established development diminish. This presents a challenge as to how we can continue to progress the environmental values that support urban liveability and the parallel challenges of sustainability, biodiversity and climate-resilience in an urban environment.

In response, the Green Adelaide Board has committed to exploring a collaborative process for Adelaide to become a National Park City; a concept that directly addresses many of Green Adelaide’s goals and ambitions for metropolitan Adelaide. A National Park City recognises the value of urban life, habitats, landscapes, and people and culture. It seeks to apply appropriate national park principles to whole cities to improve many aspects of urban living including biodiversity, our connections with nature, sustainable living, health and wellbeing, education, history and culture, relationships between people, and generally creating a more liveable city and community.

Putting Adelaide on course to join London as one of the world’s first National Park Cities is a major milestone that Green Adelaide is seeking to achieve as soon as possible. Gaining status as a National Park City will register Adelaide’s commitment to achieving NPC outcomes, but it is just the beginning of the journey.

The task ahead will be to design and put into action a model whereby a government authority can motivate then enable and facilitate action by the broader community, and to the greatest extent possible, step back rather than dictate and direct from the centre. In this regard Green Adelaide is already well advanced in programs that engage and enable the community such as teaming with local government on sustainability courses for residents; supporting community-run environment centres; helping teachers and students improve the sustainability of their schools; and providing grants to people, groups and local government for local-scale environmental projects.

There is a long way to go, but the pursuit of a National Park City vision will be an important vehicle for Green Adelaide to achieve its goals of leading Adelaide’s transition to become a climate resilient and ecologically vibrant city, underpinning future liveability.

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Summer 2020 | AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE 11

WE’RE NOT ON THE SIDELINE, WE’RE IN THE TEAM ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS IN SPORT WORDS CATRIONA MCBEAN, PHD CANDIDATE, UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO AND DSPORT MANAGER

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or the last eight years my professional and voluntary work has focus on helping physically disabled people to participate and compete in sport and active recreation1. It’s not that hard really as most of them, and for disabled young people their parents/whanau, are looking for opportunities for engagement.

I’ve taken my experiences and learnings over the last 20 plus years in the sector and have put them to good use at dsport.

Based in Wellington, dsport provides opportunities for the physically disabled in our region, with a focus on youth. Our organisation is underpinned by the values inspire, enable, achieve.

Outlined below is a summary of my research, the need for it now and how I will actively involve disabled young people so their voices can be included in future decisions regarding sport and recreation.

RESEARCH TOPIC In Aotearoa, disabled young people2 are underrepresented in participation in sport and active recreation. Sport New Zealand (Sport NZ) acknowledges this issue and is working on developing policy to address it.

While working in the disability sport sector I have observed disabled young people missing out, I have also seen some fully engaged in sport and active recreation.

Through hearing from these young people with physical impairments (YPwI) who are active and engaged, I want to find out how more opportunities can be provided to get more disabled young people involved in sport and active recreation. To this end, my research focuses on what contributes to the engagement of YPwI in sport and active recreation in Aotearoa.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TOPIC Sport New Zealand (2018b) concluded in their Value of Sport report that “sport and active recreation creates a happier, healthier people, better connected communities and a stronger New Zealand” (pg 2) and that sport is “in our DNA”. Yet as a practitioner, having worked in sport for over two decades and most recently in disability sport, I have witnessed disabled young people missing out on sporting opportunities. In response, I have searched for pragmatic recommendations and advice as to how to increase sport opportunities and increase the participation rates of disabled young people in a positive way.

While policy advocates for increased opportunities, my experience suggests this does not readily translate into practice and better experiences for disabled young people. The disability rights catch-cry of “nothing about us, without us” applies equally to decisions relating to sporting opportunities as it does other aspects of disabled peoples’ lives. Bridging the gap between policy and practice is imperative, especially at grassroots level, as does including those directly affected by policy, if the efficacy of change in disability sport in New Zealand is to be real.

In Aotearoa, 1 in 4 people identify as disabled (Statistics New Zealand, 2013). For young people (0-14 years), this is estimated to be around 95,000, or 11 percent of their population. Over the last few years, the importance of recognising and acknowledging disabled people in all facets of society has increased for government, including within sport and active recreation.

Internationally, Article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of

12 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) explicitly requires governments party to the convention to take appropriate measures to encourage and promote disability-specific sport. New Zealand, is obliged to provide such opportunities and must be held accountable for our performance in this area.

In the Sport NZ strategic direction Every Body Active (Sport New Zealand, 2019), disabled people are identified as a priority group. Through my experiences, I continue to witness a two-tier system where opportunities for those with an impairment are restricted as compared to non-disabled engagement. My experiences indicate the exclusion of disabled people in sport and active recreation is not for want of trying by disabled people, but rather conditions barring participation outweigh facilitators.

Not only are the opportunities for disabled young people fewer than nondisabled, but the complexity of delivery, especially at grassroots community level, is often cited as a reason why the participation rates are lower (Cockburn & Atkinson, 2018; Gourley & Dwyer, 2005; McEwen, 2008; McKinley Douglas Limited, 1998). Yet when one looks more closely, there appears little reason why this should be so, when we know there are examples of YPwI actively engaged and supported in sport and active recreation in New Zealand.

There is little research evidence that identifies the factors that contribute to the successful engagement of those YPwI who do participate in clubs and teams (Jeanes et al, 2018; Wicker & Breuer, 2014). In order to gather insights into the arrangements and practices influencing the provision of opportunities for YPwI in Aotearoa,

this research will hear from these young people themselves, as well as examining government policy, funding, capacity and capability of the sport sector.

One of the objectives of this research is to provide some practical outcomes for those wanting to become involved in disability sport provision. By identifying these arrangements and practices, illustrative case studies of what enables successful engagement can be articulated to sports organisations, as well as assisting in the development of future government initiatives, perhaps supporting a move from a mindset of “disability sport”, to a true sport-for-all system.

RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS Aligning with the Sport NZ priorities of tamariki and rangatahi, this research shall specifically engage YPwI aged 10 to 14 years who have either been born with or have acquired a physical or sensory impairment. Four (4) to five (5) YPwI is considered adequate to achieve both manageable and robust information. They will be chosen from around the country and across sex, age and impairment. I also believe this age range is appropriate to allow the YPwI’s voices to be heard.

While the voice of YPwI is central, it does not negate the importance and value of adult voices, who may be best

defined as the enablers/champions. It is well recognised that this group play an important role in enabling and supporting young people’s engagement in sport and active recreation and they too will be participants in this study.

PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH The aim of this research is to identify the enablers of disabled young peoples’ engagement in sport and active recreation within Aotearoa. By hearing the voices of participants of their lived experiences, and garnering evidence from providers, this study focuses on the positive influences on sport and active recreation participation.

As a researcher, while I come to this study with a wealth of knowledge and experience working in disability sport, framing this work alongside an academic methodological perspective is essential to ensure the quality and credibility of the work and the outcomes. To this end, I am utilising Participatory Action Research (PAR) as my research methodology.

Utilising PAR for this research highlights the lack of engagement of young people and particularly disabled young people in existing research and is a weakness that requires addressing. More recently researchers have highlighted the inequity afforded to disabled young people in participatory research. They acknowledged

that including children as participants is now increasingly common, but this trend towards consulting children themselves is rarely extended to those with disabilities.

Arguably, they are accidentally forgotten, assumed to have nothing to say or perceived to be methodologically difficult to include. Thus, disabled children and young people’s perspectives are overlooked (Wickenden & Kembhavi-Tam, 2014, pg 400).

WHERE TO FROM HERE? From here the real work begins. I am currently recruiting participants for my research and intend to spend the beginning of 2021 listening to these disabled young people about their experiences in sport and active recreation.

If you are interested in my research email me at catrionalmcbean@gmail.com

AUTHOR’S NOTES 1. Catriona is a Board Member of Paralympics New Zealand and volunteered at the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

2. For this research the term “disabled young person/people” will be used rather than “young person/people with a disability”, to align with the social model of disability, which recognises people have impairments but society disables them.

VALE GRAEME L WORBOYS

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arks and Leisure Australia is sad to announce the passing of one of the most dedicated park professionals Dr Graeme Worboys, AM. Graeme epitomised the nature of those who are committed to conservation. A career protected area manager, he started working as a ranger, becoming superintendent and senior manager in protected area authorities in Australia. He then contributed to the science of governance and management of protected areas internationally through his contributions to the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas.

Graeme had a special interest in mountains and connectivity conservation.

He mobilised resources and encouraged people to study and develop guidance on these topics, notably through meetings in Ecuador, Nepal and other workshops, which many had the pleasure of attending.

Contributing his skill and expertise to the evaluation of prospective World Heritage Sites, Graeme was awarded the IUCN WCPA’s Fred Packard Award for Outstanding Service at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawai’i in 2016.

A remarkable man, Graeme was a doer who not only campaigned constantly to strengthen management in Australia’s protected areas, especially his beloved Kosciuszko National Park, but also responded to the need to build expertise for conservation management more generally, via his prodigious publishing efforts. He recognised the need to develop freely-available learning resources, and with his quiet persistence and determination, motivated hundreds of professionals to contribute voluntarily towards the state-of–the-art publication Protected Area Governance and Management, which launched in Sydney at the World Parks Congress in 2014.

Despite the medical demands of the last few years of his life, Graeme continued to write, teach and mentor colleagues and students through his work with WCPA specialist groups and Australian universities.

In a fitting acknowledgement of his service, on Australia Day 2020, Graeme’s life of contribution was acknowledged by this nation when he was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia

(AM). Covid-19 delayed the ceremony at Government House in Canberra, but fortunately Graeme was able to receive the honour in person just before his passing.

In the many tributes made to him, which have come from all around the world, colleagues and friends have remembered Graeme as gentle and unassuming. Those who knew him well also reflect on his driving commitment and motivation, undeterred and unflinching, to achieve the outcomes he so passionately believed in.

Our thoughts go out to his family, Bev, Patty and Andrew and their families and the grandchildren, in whom he delighted.

Summer 2020 | AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE 13

THE SUPERSWIM INITIATIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP OLDER ADULTS ACTIVE WORDS NAPIER CITY COUNCIL

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cross Hawke’s Bay we have a significant and growing population of older people.

As our population ages, it is critical for their ongoing health, wellbeing, independence, and quality of life that a good level of appropriate physical activity is maintained. Water is the perfect medium for this, through swimming, water-walking or other water-based activities.

We also know, for many of our older adults affordability is an issue. If we can reduce the cost of facilitiy use, then one of the key barriers is minimised.

To address this issue in Napier, the Napier City Council has, for almost two years, been running the SuperSwim initiative: providing $1 (NZD) entry to the Napier Aquatic Centre for SuperGold Card holders.

The special offer first became available in Napier in 2018, thanks to the generous financial support of Texas-based couple Philip Krueger and Judith Newman, who call the city their

second home. The couple has a special connection to Napier and spend January and February there each year.

Philip and Judith wanted to use some of their retirement money to do something for their adopted country.

The subsidy for senior swimmers is one of the latest initiatives they have put their money towards. Others include a kiwi breeding programme at The Cape Sanctuary at Cape Kidnappers, restoration of the old Napier Cemetery on Napier Hill, and upkeep of Napier’s Botanical Gardens.

Prior to the start of SuperSwim in Napier, seniors were charged $3.50 per visit. Under SuperSwim, seniors pay $1 per entry, with the per visit subsidy of $2.50 provided by Philip and Judith.

The $1 rate applies to single visits and to concession cards.

Data on the total number of SuperSwim visits is being collected within the operating system of our aquatic centres and has shown that the number of seniors using the facility has

14 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

increased by 33 percent in the first year.

The initiative has brightened the day of many SuperGold Card holders, with one pool-user writing to the Aquatic Centre expressing her gratitude. The 80-year-old woman, who suffers from arthritis, uses the pool five days a week and wrote to express her “appreciation for the kind gift.” She said due to daily use of the swimming pool, it enabled her to continue daily care.

The reduction of entry prices for senior swimmers to the Napier Aquatic Centre has been hugely successful since its launch, and now the initiative is coming to Hastings pools.

Napier City Council Sports and Recreation Manager Glenn Lucas said local benefactor, the Colgan Foundation, saw what Philip and Judith had done and wanted to jump in to support SuperSwim.

“Because Napier was already underway, and due to the fact that Philip and Judy had expressed an interest in seeing SuperSwim spread

more widely, I approached the team at Hastings District Council to see whether they were interested. “They were, and we were able to partner up and get this going.”

From 1 October 2020, the SuperSwim $1 discounted entry price will be offered at both Flaxmere Pool and Clive War Memorial Pool.

Hastings District Council acting aquatics manager Peran Hutchings said keeping up a good level of physical activity was critical for ongoing health, wellbeing, independence and quality of life for Hawke’s Bay’s growing population of older people.

“Through the generosity of the Colgan Foundation, we aim to increase the number of seniors visiting our indoor facilities by 15 percent on last year’s visits,” pledges Hutching.

“The results from Napier show this is more than possible. We are really happy to provide the opportunity for more seniors to enjoy a dip, keep fit and healthy and socialise.”

Philip, Judith, and the Colgan Foundation are passionate about the health and wellbeing of our older adults and about water-based recreation. They are very keen to see this be picked up in other regions. The intention with SuperSwim is to not leave it with Napier

THE REDUCTION OF ENTRY PRICES FOR SENIOR SWIMMERS TO THE NAPIER AQUATIC CENTRE HAS BEEN HUGELY SUCCESSFUL SINCE ITS LAUNCH, AND NOW THE INITIATIVE IS COMING TO HASTINGS POOLS and Hastings but to challenge other regions to get onboard to grow the initiative into other regions. If you are reading this and think it may have value in your region, and you are in a position of influence, then please start having some conversations with the right people about bringing SuperSwim to your region.

Napier City Council and Hastings District Council are more than happy to provide any information and assistance they can to help more of New Zealand’s seniors reap the benefits that aquatics-based recreation can provide.

Currently, Ministry of Health and Sport NZ strategies are focused on children and young people.

Accordingly, much of the funding to support people and organisations working in this space is focused here.

Older adults, unfortunately, do not benefit in the same way through national funding, though there is so

much to gain from older adults being active in terms of quality of life and being able to get the most out of their later years.

Providing aquatics facilities is expensive. While the SuperSwim initiative is simple in concept and application, it enables councils to provide greater benefits to an important part of our population, while not increasing the ratepayer burden of operating aquatic facilities.

A further advantage is many seniors use the pool during off-peak hours, which increases utilisation while not adding capacity pressures during peak times. Initiatives like this, with support from private backers, are so important to fill provision gaps and enable increased community wellbeing.

Now is the time to connect with local philanthropists and foundations to ensure our older adults stay active and connected in our communities.

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Summer 2020 | AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE 15

OUTDOOR ACTIVITY FUND FUNDING PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN OUTDOOR RECREATION WORDS LEAH MACLEAN & SARAH FORD, RECREATION AOTEAROA

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ecreation Aotearoa are funding projects that promote diversity and inclusion in outdoor recreation, and last year we awarded 12 organisations with funding from the Outdoor Activity Fund.

The purpose of the fund is to enhance diversity and inclusion in outdoor recreation and to connect people with their culture through the outdoors.

For Māori, we support projects that engage Māori as Māori in outdoor activities. For non-Māori, we support projects that help to overcome barriers and enhance accessibility. Specifically for projects that increase engagement in the outdoors for Asian and Pacific people, and for people with disabilities.

Encompassed within all projects, we want to support those that encourage young people and families to engage in outdoor activities. Funded projects have ranged from wellbeing and leadership camps, growing and building on outdoor accessibility and equal opportunity, and encouraging passion and respect for the outdoors.

Over the last year, these 12 groups have been working hard on planning and delivering their projects. While some projects have been disrupted by Covid-19, there have still been some fantastic

outcomes from projects that went ahead.

Read on for some of the highlights.

OUTWARD BOUND: SOUTHERN CROSS COURSE ($10,000) PROJECT In early February, 14 young people aged between 18 and 25 travelled to the Outward Bound School in Anakiwa to attend the 21-day Southern Cross course. The group included young people from organisations such as the Baha’i community, Refugees as Survivors, Youthline, Ngāti Whātua, NZ Chinese Youth Trust, and the Muslim Association.

Participants were put through their paces with a series of physically, mentally and emotionally challenging activities.

Activities included kayaking, hiking, sailing, high ropes, rock climbing, and a half marathon.

Prior to the trip, participants were asked to document their goals and outcomes for the course. The Outward Bound team discovered some common objectives among the group.

Students wanted to learn how to work collaboratively, explore cultural diversity and identity, make new connections, and identify goals for the future.

OUTCOMES Outward Bound were proud to report

16 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

that their 2020 Southern Cross intake responded well to the tasks set out for them, achieving a sense of community, resilience and identity.

In their feedback, participants showed their gratitude for the experience and the instructors witnessed incredible growth in each student. Throughout the course, the group displayed many acts of compassion, resilience, leadership, honesty, determination and discipline.

TE WAIARIKI PUREA TRUST (TWPT): TE ARAWA JOURNEY ($8970) PROJECT Te Arawa Journey is a longstanding outdoor pursuits and life-skills programme open to rangatahi aged 10-15 years. The programme seeks to develop rangatahi into leaders and encourage understanding of oneself and one’s whakapapa through outdoor activities and challenges.

Over four weekends throughout February and March, Te Waiariki Purea Trust (TWPT) and their group of rangitahi embarked on a journey of self-discovery.

Weekend one saw the group plan for a trip to Maketu where they went seakayaking and attended a noho marae. The goal for this trip was to “set the scene” and make connections with their fellow rangatahi (whakawhanaungatanga).

FAR OUT, DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START. BEING ON THIS CAMP HAS HELPED ME DEVELOP MY SOCIAL AND SPEAKING SKILLS TO SPEAK AND MAKE FRIENDS MORE CONFIDENTLY. THIS WAS THE BEST CAMP EXPERIENCE EVER - NOXX (AGE 14) The second weekend was spent camping on Mokoia Island where the rangatahi had a chance to connect to their whakapapa and to Te Arawa.

Weekend three of the journey involved more gruelling sea-kayaking on Lake Rotomahana and Lake Tarawera. This experience taught the group about positive reinforcement and positive mindsets.

The final weekend was a three-day mission around Mount Ruapehu, where the biggest learning came in the form of teamwork and moral support.

OUTCOMES TWPT found that their selected cohort responded well to the challenges of this wānanga and that their achievements resulted in self-confidence and positive mindsets. Based on feedback from the rangatahi some of the key outcomes were: • Resilience and improved/increased leadership capabilities • Everyday life skills learnt and ready to be utilised outside of the Te Arawa Journey • A desire to support future rangatahi in the Te Arawa Journey programmes • Leadership is about the “We” and not “I”

YOUTHTOWN CHRISTCHURCH: OCEAN TO MOUNTAINS CHALLENGE ($14,149) PROJECT Youthtown’s Ocean to Mountains Challenge is a week-long outdoors experience designed for Pasifika youth, aged 10 – 18. The aim of the programme is to increase opportunities for young people to experience nature in an authentic and meaningful setting.

Youthtown ran two Ocean to Mountains camp in March. Through connections with the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Education, Youthtown were able to promote their project through the schools and select a strong cohort of youth to attend the camps (12 girls and 11 boys).

The camps were designed to be hands-on with plenty of team building, learning, and leadership opportunities.

Youthtown partnered with members from the Department of Conservation, Rod Donald Trust, and Joseph Langer Trust to ensure a strong connection/link to the environment and environmental learnings.

OUTCOMES Youthtown reported that the camps were big learning opportunities for the participants and the organisers. Some key outcomes and learnings included: • Bonding sessions were important for the participants to connect and feel safe • In Pacific culture it is typical for the older kids to look out for the young; Youthtown saw this in action and noted a positive impact on the group • Giving participants choices was key in fostering a positive environment • Almost all the of the participants commented on a new sense of confidence and were excited about meeting new friends of different ages • The participants developed a new appreciation for their backyards • Most participants wanted a second camp

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Summer 2020 | AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE 17

RECREATIONAL TRAIL GUIDELINES GETTING REGIONAL TOURISM BACK ON TRACK WORDS LISA CHEESEMAN, MARKETING AND PROJECT SUPPORT, TRC TOURISM

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RC Tourism (TRC) has recently released the Recreational Trail Planning, Design and Management Guidelines to help the outdoor tourism sector and regions with their recovery efforts post Covid-19.

Free to download, these new global best-practice guidelines incorporate TRC’s 20 years’ experience and knowledge working with Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island’s highest profile nature-based tourism regions.

Covid-19 has hit regional areas particularly hard, stripping millions of dollars of tourism revenue from economies and turning bustling regional hotspots into ghost towns. “Our hope is that the new guidelines will help the tourism industry and communities to develop compelling and sustainable recreational trail experiences to attract visitors back into their regions when we come out of Covid restrictions,” TRC Director Janet Mackay said.

According to a SkillsIQ report, Nationwide Impacts of Outdoor Recreation, the outdoor recreation sector is a major pillar for Australia’s economy, with more than $11B estimated to be contributed nationally, $20B in estimated expenditure on outdoor recreation

nationally, and 16,000 to 30,000 fulltime equivalent (FTE) jobs attributable to outdoor recreation.

“With increasing investment in trail infrastructure globally, upgrades and new developments need to be competitive to attract visitors, and to generate economic and employment opportunities in a region,” Ms Mackay said.

Ms Mackay added that now is a good time for industry to get planning and invest in their regions, with considerable funding available for tourism and infrastructure projects in a bid to help the struggling tourism sector recover from the economic challenges of Covid-19.

The TRC Tourism team is passionate about trails. As avid trail users, they have paired the right mix of tourism expertise and understanding of what constitutes a good trail experience to enable them to deliver the Recreational Trail Planning, Design and Management Guidelines.

The Guidelines cover all aspects of trail planning including integrated regional trails strategies, mountain bike strategies, iconic multi-day walk product development, trail masterplans and feasibility studies, cycleway planning, rail trails, drive trails and assessments of the economic benefits of trail development.

18 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

The guidelines are not just about creating new trails, they are about understanding and evaluating the existing experience. Can it be improved or enriched? Do you know who your current trail users are and is there an opportunity to grow through aligning with target markets? Is there potential to link and package your existing trail experiences to create a trail network?

Are the assets, facilities, location values, packaged needs, management and maintenance, marketing and promotion fit-for-purpose? Are your trails and the environment they travel through the most sustainable they can be and have you considered the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

The Guidelines are a free resource created to provide best practice guidance to the outdoor recreation industry, local community groups, regional councils and others to help regional centres provide best practice solutions and develop world-class experiences.

For a copy of the Guidelines visit trctourism.com/services/recreational-trails

WHO BENEFITS The Recreational Trail Planning, Design and Management Guidelines will be especially useful for: • Park and reserve managers • All tiers of government • Trail planners, designers and builders • Community groups and trail volunteers • Trail managers • Trail users • Clubs and associations that use trails • Land owners through which trails pass • Traditional owners and their corporations

ABOUT TRC TRC is based in Jindabyne, an area heavily reliant on outdoor and naturebased tourism. The consultancy has offices across Australia and New Zealand.

The TRC team works across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and Asia. TRC is renowned for its significant experience, out-of-the-box thinking, and passion for the tourism and recreation sector.

TRC offer a professional, holistic approach with innovative, creative thinking to provide integrated solutions.

The team works extensively on all aspects of trail planning, including integrated regional trails strategies, mountain bike strategies, iconic multiday walk product development, trail masterplans and feasibility studies, cycleway planning, rail trails, drive trails and assessments of the economic benefits of trail development. The TRC team are experienced in planning for all the features of successful trails — the right products, distinctive market positioning, quality infrastructure, support services and workable management and investment arrangements.

Many of TRC’s projects have been successful in attracting grant funding.

The team has also assisted with major repairs and upgrades to existing trails and conservation areas, and developed

governance and funding models for the sustainable future of trail projects.

A great example of TRC developing a trail governance model is the NZ Wellington Regional Trails Strategic Framework project. TRC worked with 7 local governments and regional government in Wellington to develop a strategy that would underpin the development and promotion of Wellington as a trails destination. The region wanted to achieve economic benefits from trail tourism and its associated revenue, employment and business opportunities, overall increasing the broader tourism offer.

The strategy adopted a classification of trails of national, regional and local significance to prioritise investment and ensure optimal funding that would create the greatest benefits of growing visitors to the capital.

TRC love trails so much that they developed the very first Australia and New Zealand Sustainable Trails Conference in 2017 to share their knowledge, while learning from trail experts across Australia, New Zealand and beyond. For more information about this year’s conference visit trctourism.com/sustainable-trailsconference-2021

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Summer 2020 | AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE 19

COVID-19 HAS DEVASTATED AUSSIE SPORTS COMMUNITY SPORTS CLUBS ACROSS AUSTRALIA ARE CLOSED. MANY WILL FIND IT HARD TO SURVIVE WORDS AUSTRALIAN SPORTS FOUNDATION

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he financial impact of Covid-19 is devastating Australian sport — particularly community and club sports that rely on membership fees and local sponsorships to keep the lights on. The role of the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) is to raise money for sport and it is launching a national campaign to help community clubs and organisations access funds to recover. To do this it needs help from the public.

ASF has created a survey to understand the impact on local clubs and the funding needed to help them recover. Currently, over 500 clubs have completed the survey, but there are tens of thousands more out there who haven’t been heard from and who may miss out on the funding and support that ASF is trying to generate. To those involved in community sport across Australia, ASF want to know who you are, hear your story, and go to bat for community sport.

Club sport is in crisis. In May and June, ASF carried out a survey to assess the impact of Covid-19 on community sport.

It is estimated that over 16,000 local sports clubs are at risk of closure due to

financial losses and new costs associated with the global pandemic.

The Coronovirus contagion has created a crisis that threatens the existence of thousands of community sport clubs across Australia, and the communities of members, volunteers, coaches and families that are involved with them. The survey reveals that community sport’s shutdown has damaged the physical and mental health of millions of Australians. Key findings include: • Of all clubs surveyed, 93 percent have lost money since the onset of COVID-19, caused by a steep decline in revenues and the need to pay ongoing costs.

• Up to 80 percent of clubs forecast ongoing reductions in core revenue streams, such as memberships, local sponsorships and community fundraising, while 97 percent of all clubs surveyed face additional Covid-19 related costs.

• These new financial realities threaten the sustainability of community sports clubs. Around one in four respondents cited organisational solvency as

20 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

a major concern — meaning over 16,000 community sports clubs are at risk of closure if financial support is not provided.

• Covid-19 has also significantly impacted Australia’s 3 million sporting volunteers, with up to 43 percent of sports clubs projecting a decline in volunteering, contributing further to fears about the sustainability of many local community clubs.

• In aggregate, the support needed is in the region of $1.2B across Australia’s 70,000 community sports clubs.

Without financial support, thousands of community sports clubs risk closure.

This would have a devastating impact on physical and mental health for millions of Australia’s sports participants and volunteers.

The full report covers the financial impacts on small and large community clubs, club concerns, and issues clubs face when resuming activities. To find out more visit covid.sportsfoundation. org.au or access it through Parks & Leisure Australia’s PaRC library at parksleisure.com.au/library

Wheelchair user Angela Barry at Blacksmiths Beach

ACCESSIBLE RECREATION ACCESSIBLE WATERFRONT HOLIDAY CABINS IN LAKE MACQUARIE ARE SETTING NEW BENCHMARKS IN NSW WORDS NEIL KEENE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER, LAKE MACQUARIE CITY, NSW

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ccessible waterfront holiday cabins are setting new benchmarks, but that’s just the start of the story when it comes to opening up recreation and tourism for people of all abilities.

“Creating an accessible city requires a big-picture approach,” Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Community Partnerships Andrew Bryant says. “It’s more than just being wheelchair-friendly.

It’s about catering for the many and varied needs of everyone, whether it is visitors with mobility restriction, parents with a pram or people in our community with myriad other unique needs.”

Research commissioned by the Australian Government has found that accessible tourism is worth an estimated $8 billion a year domestically.

International travellers with accessibility needs add another $2.8 billion in annual value. That makes it Australia’s highestvalue tourism market sector, ahead of tourists inbound from China.

But provision of accessible tourism and recreation options is not just about capitalising on financial opportunities.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Cr Kay Fraser says it helps create a city with more liveable communities, and one that nurtures a positive community attitude towards

people with disability. “Providing state of the art accessible accommodation, facilities, infrastructure and recreational opportunities helps us drive towards these goals.”

Community Planner Ageing and Disability Jennifer Linton-Webb says Council is increasing its focus on providing access to facilities, infrastructure and attractions that most people take for granted.

The new accessible holiday cabins across Lake Macquarie Holidays Parks’ Swansea Lakeside, Blacksmiths Beachside and Belmont Lakeside sites are a prime example. Equipped with technology that far exceeds Australian standards for people with disability, the cabins feature accessible ramps, fully automatic doors and blinds, motorised adjustable shelves and benchtops, and accessible bathrooms. Swimming pools and other facilities throughout the park have also been upgraded to improve accessibility.

Sydney magazine editor and blogger Julie Jones, whose Have Wheelchair Will Travel blog catalogues her family’s travels, says that while a growing number of Australians live with disability, there is “a distinct lack” of truly accessible accommodation. Ms Jones says it isn’t just the features that make the new cabins

22 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

stand out — it’s their prominent location within each holiday park. All too often, she says, accessible accommodation and features are tucked away out of sight.

“The attention to detail and consideration of the needs of people with disability shown in the design and features of the Belmont property are the best we’ve seen in a mainstream accommodation provider’s offerings,” Ms Jones says. “The fact the accessible accommodation has a view is even more rare.”

That deliberate prominence of accessible facilities has increased right across Lake Macquarie under Council’s four-year Disability Inclusion Action Plan, which will undergo a complete refresh in 2021. The plan focuses on four key areas: attitudes and behaviours, liveable communities, employment, and systems and processes.

“An inclusive community is about acceptance,” Cr Fraser says. “It works to break down barriers, raise awareness and provide equal opportunities to everyone.”

Most recently, the popular Blacksmiths Beach on Lake Macquarie’s coast has undergone a $380,000 upgrade project to install an accessible ramp and viewing platform at the high point of the foredunes, overlooking the water. The striking constructions were made with fibreglass

reinforced plastic mesh, designed to withstand the harsh beach environment.

“It’s great to see Lake Macquarie Council investing in making our beaches more accessible to people with mobility limitations,” Lake Macquarie wheelchair user Angela Barry said. “Without ramps such as this, our beautiful city beaches are off-limits to wheelchair users.”

A similar ramp was installed at nearby Redhead Beach in 2018, while further south at Caves Beach, a makeover to the amenities building allowed a Changing Places facility to be installed. It features a hoist, adult change table, accessible toilet and shower. In addition, the amenities include a parents’ room with an accessible toilet, with upgrades to nearby pathways, public barbecues and picnic areas also providing wheelchair access.

A $6.5 million upgrade to Toronto Swim Centre — the city’s largest indoor swimming complex — also focused on delivering enhanced accessibility features.

Funding for the overhaul included a wheelchair lift and aquatic wheelchair to lower users directly into the centre’s new hydrotherapy and 25-metre pools.

A separate hoist provides access to the learn-to-swim pool. The swim centre also features a Changing Places facility.

At Council’s other indoor swim centre at West Wallsend, a $10,000 Australian

Government/Swimming Australia grant has paved the way for an innovative aqua fitness program targeting people with disability. The 45-minute classes, set to get underway once Covid-19 restrictions ease, have a “wild west” theme, complete with props, floats and swim equipment made for people with physical and intellectual disability.

Ms Linton-Webb says that while all Council’s aqua fitness classes are accessible for most people in the community, “offering classes tailored for people with disability helps build participants’ confidence in the water.”

She adds, “It’s also a fantastic social outlet, contributing to ongoing health and wellbeing.”

Within the lake at Belmont, a $2 million reconstruction of a historic baths complex provided an opportunity to make them wheelchair accessible for the first time ever. That meant building a 40-metre ramp sloping gently into the water, as well as an accessible change room and a $4400 Mobi-chair: an amphibious wheelchair stored onsite and accessible to anyone with a Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK).

The spotlight has also been shone on Lake Macquarie playgrounds, with the goal of opening them up to kids of all abilities, and parents or carers who might

Toronto Swim Centre accessible facilities

also have accessibility needs. Warner Park near the lake foreshore was among the first to enjoy accessibility upgrades, with a wheelchair-friendly ‘spinner’ installed.

Similar features are in the pipeline for playgrounds being planned or built in other parts of the city — some under the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play grant program. The program, following on from a commitment by the State Government to ensure people of all ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds can play, saw funding awarded to 30 local government areas in the 2019-20 financial year.

“It is so important — today more than ever — that we provide dignified and equitable access for everyone in our community, regardless of their ability,” said Ms Linton-Webb. ”Doing so makes it a better place for everyone to live, work and visit.”

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A WHOLE CELEBRATION OF BEING AUSTRALIAN AUSTRALIA DAY DANDENONG STYLE, COMPLETE WITH BEACH, INFLATABLE TOYS AND A GIANT SAND SCULPTURE WORDS AGNES DE ROMAS, FESTIVALS AND EVENTS OFFICER, CITY OF GREATER DANDENONG

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ecognised as Victoria’s Event of the Year at the 2020 PLA Awards of Excellence, the 2020 Dandenong Australia Day Festival was held on a warm, sunny day in Dandenong Park with 12,000 people in attendance. Across the afternoon and into the evening, families and friends enjoyed a fun-filled day of rides, food trucks, free workshops and activities, exciting performances and a firework show to conclude the event. To bring it to a whole new level of national pride this year, Greater Dandenong Council also brought the beach to the middle of Dandenong Park, complete with a sandpit, inflatable beach toys and a giant sand sculpture.

Australia Day Festival is a significant celebration for the Greater Dandenong community, the most culturally diverse city in Australia. With residents from more than 150 different nations — many of whom are first-generation Australians and from non-English speaking backgrounds — it is a unifying celebration.

The Australia Day Festival was created with the aim of celebrating different communities and bringing them together in an event that honours and celebrates those similarities and differences. This year’s event was able to do this successfully in four ways: an exciting new beach theme, the Australia

Day Awards, community-focus, and a culturally diverse program.

For the 2020 Australia Day Festival, City of Greater Dandenong’s Festivals and Events team sought a new way for the community to celebrate being Australian. The theme of Bringing the Beach to Dandenong, in a landlocked suburb, brought a novel and enjoyable element to the day. A key beach attraction was the sand-play area built by Council’s Operations team the day prior to the festival. The dimensions of the sand-play area allowed for the easy installation of pop-up marquees that provided children with shade as they played. The marquees’ blue and yellow colours evoked the beach, as did the colourful deckchairs surrounding the play area.

The event also featured the live build of a giant koala-themed sand sculpture

by Peter from Sandstorm Events. The sculpture acknowledged the Australian native wildlife and habitat lost during the bushfire season of 2019-2020. Attendees saw a koala and its baby come to life before their eyes with the word “Hope” engraved at the base. This popular art installation was a highlight for many, and further engendered pride in Australia.

Each year, the Greater Dandenong Australia Day Awards ceremony is held

24 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

as part of the Australia Day Festival. It is a highlight of the event program, recognising outstanding local people who contribute to the welfare of their city and betterment of their peers. The program awards efforts in areas such as volunteering and charity work, and encourages and inspires others to make a difference in the community.

A key attraction of the Australia Day Festival is its exciting multicultural entertainment program. The Melbourne Djembe troupe kicked off the festivities, treating the crowds to lively West African drumming. Hustle Dance Crew also had people moving along to many K-Pop dances. With a style reminiscent of the suave, swinging sounds of Serge Gainsbourg and the French Yéyé genre of the 60s, Moogy and Ash Davies delivered musical performances in both French and English. Finally, before the fireworks show that ended the night, the Wadaiko Rindo group energised the whole audience with visual displays of stamina, strength and humour from their unique blend of Australian and Japanese drumming.

The Australia Day Festival provides an opportunity for many diverse communities to come together and engage in the one space while enjoying a diverse program, different free activities and food. The event organisers worked closely with

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INTERVIEW WITH DON KULASINGHE (Bank of Melbourne Manager, Dandenong) Q. As you have been an event partner with Greater Dandenong City Council for the past two years, what are your views about Australia Day Festival?

Greater Dandenong Council’s Youth Services FReeZa Committee. FReeZa is a state-wide initiative that provides young Victorians aged 12-25 opportunities to perform and engage with live music. The FReeZa Committee coordinated the standalone FReeZa Stage at the Australia Day Festival and contributed to the main stage program, giving the opportunity for local young people to perform in front of larger audiences. Overall this event provides numerous opportunities for young people to volunteer for and engage with the wider community in a safe, supportive and positive environment.

The event also had a quiet space, a designated area for people to retreat to when feeling overstimulated, or as a safe space for meditation and prayer. The safe space was positioned next to the Council Information Tent, which made it easy to

locate. At this tent, attendees were also encouraged to donate to the Australian Bushfire Appeal.

Attendance numbers increased from the previous year from 10,000 to 12,000, and the majority of attendees were young people and families from the local area.

Feedback drawn from surveys on the day cited “the great atmosphere”, “the stage program and kid’s activities”, and “the happy family environment”.

Participants were surveyed after the event and 83 percent of respondents indicated they felt the event was “very good” to “excellent”.

The Australia Day Festival will continue to celebrate the multiculturalism of Greater Dandenong by bringing communities closer together through honouring and celebrating similarities and differences of being Australian.

A. I think as an event, it was very coordinated and also very multicultural with significant community groups coming together. Council has really given them the opportunity to shine and it is definitely an event that should be recognised.

Q. What was your personal experience being present at Australia Day Festival? How did you feel being there?

A. I felt very happy being at the event. The engagement level was really good, and I loved the relationships created and the newfound clients, some of whom have now been with us for two years. This is why I am happy to support all the events, even for next year – the whole team is very organised, and I can see the passion that goes into the events.

Q. What was it like being a partner with the Greater Dandenong City Council for Australia Day Festival?

A. It is a very successful partnership as there has been so many opportunities to connect with and support the local community and businesses. On the day, I had the opportunity to talk to leaders from different ethnic groups I didn’t even know of. Our motto is to be to be the most loved bank and everything that Council does has really resonated with our motto.

CHAMPIONING A MENTORING CULTURE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MENTOR AND A MENTEE IS A POWERFUL THING WORDS GENERATE NETWORK AUSTRALIA

A

s a Mentor you have the opportunity to transcend someone’s career, and life, through the guidance you provide; the perfect balance of support and challenge as you watch them grow. For a mentee, this will make all the difference.

Championing a mentoring culture and legacy leadership across the parks and leisure industry is a core focus of Generate Network Australia (Generate AUS). Generate AUS is Parks and Leisure Australia’s commitment to the development of young professionals and emerging leaders; which would not be possible without the unwavering support and legacy leadership of our national sponsor Otium Planning Group.

With this story, we want to share an

inspiring journey and the relationship between a mentor and a mentee in our industry, in the hopes of inspiring a little legacy leadership in you all.

MEET SARAH MCPHEE: THE MENTEE Sarah is 32 years old, moved to Melbourne from regional Victoria, loves sports and relishes trying new things. She describes herself as a passionate foodie who likes exploring new places, easygoing, curious, honest, and ambitious.

SARAH’S JOURNEY In 2015, Sarah graduated the from Federation University with a Bachelor of Sports Management/Bachelor of Business (Marketing), after which she completed a four-month internship

26 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

with the Sport and Recreation Team at the City of Ballarat. “I didn’t realise it at the time, but the internship was my first step in expanding my professional network,” Sarah explained.

Thanks to the relationships built during her internship, Sarah was offered a graduate role as the Promotions and Social Media Officer at the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre.

In 2017, Sarah landed the Recreation Development Officer role at Macedon Ranges Shire Council.

In 2018, Sarah was the recipient of the PLA VIC/TAS Emerging Leader Award, and later that year won the PLA National Emerging Leader Award. “The number of people who came to congratulate and introduce themselves to me afterwards was amazing, so much support shown

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and experience within the industry through a different lens is something I’m very excited about.”

There is no doubt that building great working relationships has attributed greatly to Sarah’s progression over the past five years; from the internship to her current role, each leap forward has been influenced by opportunities presented from her existing network — and through Sarah being willing to put her hand up and accept the challenge!

MEET KATE MADDOCK: THE MENTOR

Sarah McPhee and Kate Maddock

by the industry,” she exclaimed.

As the Awards Sponsor, in 2019, Otium Planning Group offered Sarah mentoring sessions with Managing Director, Kate Maddock throughout the year. “As a young woman trying to navigate my path, it was a great opportunity to speak to a female leader who has been successful at juggling family life and career aspirations. Kate has always been approachable and willing of her time, providing help and insight when I was looking for my next move,” a grateful Sarah said.

Appointed to the Executive Committee for Generate Network Australia, Sarah had the privilege of travelling to New Zealand for the Recreation Aotearoa Conference. “I had the most amazing and inspiring trip to New Zealand thanks to PLA; the cultural diversity and love for the environment was heartening and infectious,” Sarah claimed.

“I’m so excited to see where the Generate Network journey takes us and the opportunities it will provide for the many students and young professionals looking to take their next leap. Speaking from experience, I can’t stress enough how many opportunities come your way from within your professional network and linking to industry.”

In 2020, Sarah started her current role as Senior Leisure Planner at the City of Whittlesea — through her Generate connections. Mentoring from Kate also led to a secondment opportunity with Otium Planning Group. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to spend time with the best brains in the business,” she claimed.

“Having a predominately local government background, the opportunity to expand my knowledge

Kate is the Managing Director of Otium Planning Group and mother of two teenage boys who inspire her daily.

She loves to explore new places and is passionate about sport and recreation, embedding it into her personal and working life. “Do what you love and you’ll never work another day in your life”, are words Kate lives by. Kate describes herself as hard working, focused, determined, and slightly crazy!

KATE’S JOURNEY Kate started her career as a Recreation Planner at the Shire of Corio and the Geelong Department of Sport and Recreation on a three-month contract.

She then took on the role of Recreation Planner for the City of Moorabbin, before becoming the Manager of Recreation and Cultural Services a short time later.

“Not long into the role, the organisation underwent a major restructure that saw Doug Owens appointed as CEO and taking a gamble on a fresh-faced 21-year-old as Manager of Recreation and Cultural Services,” Kate explained.

“This incredible opportunity at such a young age became my training ground and launching pad for the rest of my career.”

In 1994, Kate was given the opportunity to move to the newly formed City of Glen Eira; a growth opportunity where Kate became responsible for the new departments of Recreation, Arts and Culture, and Parks and Gardens and Libraries.

After 10 years in local government, Kate felt it was time to take on a new challenge and joined Mike King and Associates. “Who would have thought that this would become the start of a 25-year-plus working relationship and the launching pad for the Otium Planning Group, an international company that has undertaken in excess of 600 projects across Australia, New Zealand, China, India, PNG and America, and has seen the construction of more than 200 facilities,” Kate said.

28 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

Otium Planning Group is the inaugural sponsor for Generate Network and has been instrumental in supporting the expansion of the network. Two of Otium’s emerging leaders are members of the Executive Committee, and all Otium Directors commit their time as mentors to the annual PLA Emerging Leader Award recipients.

Much like their support of Generate AUS, Otium Planning Group was borne from the coming together of like-minded people sharing similar values, passions and aspirations. Their vision was to become a national company of trusted advisors with local understanding and global knowledge, and now have offices and strategic alliance across Australia and New Zealand, while also playing their part in supporting a thriving and connected industry for generations to come.

“In my early career I had a number of people who took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity to learn new skills and advance my career,” Kate remembers.

“I am particularly interested in supporting and mentoring young women to take on leadership roles in the industry and guiding them along their career path. I value and appreciate staff who show initiative, have a sense of humour and are reliable, team players. Leadership to me is leading by example. As Managing Director, it is my responsibility to set the culture of our organisation, including how we work, the quality of our work and how we treat our clients and each other. We call ourselves the Otium Family and we live and breathe this each and every day.”

Guided by her passion and leadership, Kate invited Sarah to become part of the Otium Family through her mentorship.

Through this experience Sarah was able to explore other aspects of the industry and gain exposure to new ways of innovative thinking and leadership. Kate extended this opportunity for Sarah to include a cross-sector secondment to further develop her skills and experience.

“Sarah McPhee was a very worthy recipient,” Kate stated. “It was through Sarah’s initiative and tenacity that we agreed to a secondment opportunity with Otium — which has unfortunately been delayed due to Covid-19.

“Once the doors are open again, we look forward to Sarah joining us once more, spending time with associates and directors on a range of projects where we will have the opportunity to impart our knowledge and further develop her skills and experience. Hopefully, she will also have a bit of fun along the way!”

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OLDER PEOPLE AND PARKS PATHWAYS FOR INCLUSIVE PARKS AND OUTDOOR SPACES WORDS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR PAZIT LEVINGER, SENIOR RESEARCHER, NATIONAL AGEING RESEARCH INSTITUTE (NARI)

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he National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) is a not-for profit research institute that aims to improve older people’s health and wellbeing. NARI, as a national leading research institute, is pleased to provide input and expertise from our extensive research and community work with older people. NARI is keen to work closely with relevant stakeholders, organisations and local governments to positively impact on the built environment to better suit the ageing population and to assist with future work around the environmental infrastructure as the population grows.

The NARI and PLA VIC/TAS region have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to join in partnership in acknowledgement of the research undertaken by the NARI research and the importance of this knowledge for the development of public recreation facilities, spaces and programs for older people.

Global population forecasts suggest the proportion of people aged 60 years and over will continue to increase and

will nearly double from 12 percent to 22 percent by 2050. In fact, the World Health Organisation estimated that soon the number of people aged 60 years and older will outnumber children younger than 5 years.1 In Australia, it is projected there will be 8.8 million older people by 2057 (22% of the population compared to 15% recorded in 2017; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; Older Australia at a glance. 2018: Canberra).

As people get older, numerous underlying physiological changes occur and they become more susceptible to health risks, particularly chronic and degenerative conditions and diseases.

Aging can also lead to negative changes in innate and adaptive immunity (impaired immune response), which is a major contributor to poor health in older people.

This is likely to predispose older people to greater risk of infections, cancer and chronic inflammatory disease contributing to age-related multi-morbidity. Decline of physical or cognitive capacities, chronic conditions and illness, and loss of

30 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

social networks are only a few of many adversities older people face. As we move towards an increasingly older population, it is important to consider the needs of older people to promote healthy ageing and to build outdoor environments and spaces that support active ageing and good health.

The health benefits of outdoors, parks and nature is well recognised. It can improve our physical and mental wellbeing as well as our social health.

Green and open spaces facilitate contact with nature and provide us with the opportunity to rest, reflect, and restore our state of mind. However, the valuable role that parks and outdoors play for older people is often overlooked. Access and exposure to urban greenspaces and parks offer great health benefits for older people from increased engagement in physical activity to promoting social interaction, improving physical and psychosocial health, as well as promoting longevity.

As older people become less mobile or develop increased physical limitations, their effective neighbourhood and local public space are likely to shrink to include the immediate areas near their homes. This means that older people are more likely to be adversely impacted by their local neighbourhood outdoor environments and its design. The design of the physical outdoor environments are therefore required to be carefully planned to meet the physical needs of older people.

There are various methods/approaches that can be incorporated during the design process to maximise safe usage and access by older people. Some tips and recommendations are provided below, and further information can be found in the publication Guidance about agefriendly outdoor exercise equipment and associated strategies to maximise usability for older people.2 Firstly, the location of the park and its distance to residential areas can influence usage; where parks in close proximity to a large target population that are easily accessible are likely to attract visitors.

Easy access (by foot/motor vehicle) and the location of nearby amenities and community hubs/facilities (eg. community centres) can also promote greater usage by older people. Proximity to public toilets and adequate lighting is important given the potential existence of visual impairments and incontinence associated with ageing.

Secondly, older people might have physical limitations and hence may need to use walking aids and or hand rails for support. Therefore, safe outdoor spaces should include safe pedestrian infrastructure (sidewalks, trails, even paths), accessible surfaces for people using walking aids or wheelchairs and safe areas

to rest with benches/seating with armrests at suitable heights. The weather can also negatively impact on older people, as their bodies are less able to tolerate stress posed by the environment (extreme hot/cold weather). Benches and sheltered resting areas and a drinking fountain are therefore important to be included.

Thirdly, exercise equipment such as fitness stations/gyms are very common in recent years and are often installed in parks to promote physical activity. The inclusion of equipment that caters to a range of abilities and ages should be considered, with suitable equipment for safe usage by older people. Older people are recommended to engage in various types of physical activities that promote muscle strength, improve balance, mobility, and cardiorespiratory function. Providing a wide range of outdoor equipment to target these various physiological elements can enhance engagement in physical activity and the associated physical health benefits.

As some older people may not be familiar with appropriate usage of equipment, signage with clear and user-friendly instructions and graphic illustrations of an adequate size (and content) to account for potential sensory deficits should be provided onsite. Similarly, signage indicating the condition of the parks/open spaces (eg. terrain, length) and

its suitability for older people with a range of mobility limitations (eg. rails, walking/ trails/path width) is also an important addition as an effective communication tool for the public.

Older people often take their grandchildren to local parks to play, but very rarely the play equipment is agefriendly. Intergenerational relationships are imperative to foster, and providing equipment that everyone can safely enjoy and use is important. While children enjoy unstructured play and will naturally use equipment creatively, older people may need organised activities to engage in play and exercise. The social element of engaging in activities, fun and enjoyment are key motivators for older people to engage in physical activity. Providing organised and/or structured outdoor activities (eg. walking groups, exercise classes) can facilitate social interaction and social support, motivating older people to engage in physical activities.

Engagement with older people and community members during the design phase can be very valuable to better care for older people’s needs. Older people are valuable members of our society, they bring a wealth of skills, experience and wisdom. Capturing the voices of this important segment of the community is a vital component in the development of

age-friendly parks and outdoor spaces.

Therefore, including older people in the planning and the decisions that ultimately affect them is likely to result in better decisions and outcomes for all members of the community.

We are facing challenging times with the Covid-19 pandemic impacting our lives and potentially reshaping the future of parks and outdoor spaces.

The current crisis has highlighted the importance of parks and outdoor space for our physical and mental health across the lifespan. This has also been reflected in recent actions by state and local governments, with funds being allocated for the refurbishment and creation of parks and leisure spaces.

This offers a great opportunity for the design and creation of inclusive, equitable and accessible spaces for older people to engage in safe physical and social activities.

REFERENCES 1. WHO: World report on ageing and health.

2015, World Health Organisation: Geneva, Switzerland.

2. Levinger, P, et al. Guidance about age-friendly outdoor exercise equipment and associated strategies to maximise usability for older people. Health Promot J Austr, 2020.

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Summer 2020 | AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE 31

PARKS SPECIALIST LEADS WITH SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION NEW ZEALAND’S MOST DIVERSE PARKS SPECIALIST TAKES THE LEAD IN INDUSTRY INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRATICES WORDS CARLA REINKE, RECREATIONAL SERVICES, NZ

O

ne of the biggest challenges faced by government and councils today is sustainability and futureproofing cities and communities. This is also a topic that has had an increase in conversation and media coverage, as seen with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s visit to Fiji early in 2020, and the War on Plastic documentary created by BBC. This in turn puts pressure on policymakers to take action at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, in reality, the rate of change doesn’t always meet the intention rate to act. The increased urgency to act and enforce real change has increased the priority and emphasis placed on business practices across industries, including the parks and facilities maintenance industry.

Recreational Services is New Zealand’s largest and most diverse parks and open spaces maintenance and management company, tasked with looking after more than 5530 sites across 12 council districts.

Founded in 1992 as a specialist golf turf management company, Recreational Services has grown into a full facility maintenance organisation employing over 500 staff. It now specialises in the development and maintenance of parks, reserves and sports fields, tracks and walkways, including facilities and asset management, project management and long-term contract management.

Recreational Services is tasked with keeping New Zealand’s greenspaces in pristine condition and with being an advocate for the community and a catalyst for sustainable practices in the industry.

This mission has seen the company at the forefront of introducing ‘greener’ technologies to New Zealand such as Weedingtech’s Foamstream technology, a chemical-free alternative to Glyphosate.

Recreational Services was also the first New Zealand company to import Mean Green commercial mowers. The benefits of these mowers are that they have zero emissions, offer low noise and vibration levels, and do not use diesel. Since bringing these mowers onboard, the team has collaborated with Te Tari Tiaki Pūngao (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) to offer monitoring and benchmarking data to the industry.

Another sustainable first for the company was owning New Zealand Mitsubishi Canter Eco Hybrid transporter trucks with AdBlue technology, which reduce exhaust emissions by breaking down and removing nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas, and offer the highest fuel efficiency in its class.

Since its inception in 2018, the Queenstown Lakes District maintenance contract has been equipped with 100 percent electric facility vans and fully electric handheld equipment, including handheld blowers, weedeaters, backpack blowers and hedge trimmers.

Recreational Services.

“This offers the benefits of increasing fuel efficiency, reducing emissions and helps manage overall vehicle maintenance. We work alongside our industry suppliers to test new technologies, ensuring we are always on the lookout for the latest and greatest industry innovations for the parks industry.”

With a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030 and achieving zero-net greenhouse gas emission by 2050, greater transparency is required from council.

STAYING AT THE FOREFRONT AUT: PARTNERING FOR CHANGE In December 2019, Recreational Services was appointed as one of Auckland University of Technology’s (AUT) grounds maintenance contractors. For the University, the decision was based on finding partners with the same sustainability objectives and who are committed to ongoing contributions to achieving sustainable development practices.

For this contract all equipment used to undertake the grounds maintenance is 100 percent electric. To transport the tools and equipment around campus, two electric vans were purchased.

Foamstream is also used to combat weeds, moss and mould on all hard surface areas. Other than reducing emissions, another great benefit to the University is the significant reduction in noise from the electric equipment, making the grounds maintenance far less disruptive to other university activities.

MAKING EQUITABLE TRANSITIONS With a fifth of New Zealand’s emissions stemming from the combustion of fossil fuels emitting CO2, this is a good starting point for businesses wanting to make strides towards reducing their carbon footprint when faced with offsetting cost against impact.

“With a large fleet to manage, we have EROAD E2 installed in our assets. This not only enables fleet tracking but also allows us to monitor driver behaviour and ensures our teams’ maintenance regimens are route optimised,” claims Mike Keith, National Fleet Manager at

32 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

Remaining at the forefront of the latest industry technology and sustainable practices is a whole organisational approach. Every employee at Recreational Services is encouraged to share ideas and be on the lookout for new opportunities and ways to improve existing practices.

By fostering a culture that values improvement, all ideas are formally documented and reviewed, with no idea too big or too small. It’s the incremental change that leads to an equitable transition to a greener and sustainable organisation and future.

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Far left: Eleanor Rosevelt Below: Leisure: The Basis of Culture (book cover) Left: Sheep drafting stamp

LEISURE AND THE UNCONDITIONAL BASIC INCOME WORDS SHAUN CAVANAGH

A

llow me to preface this article with a description of the image of the New Zealand postage stamp depicting sheep drafting above.

This resembles our capacity for attention and memory. In this metaphor, the sheep represent external stimuli (ie. media) that need sorting. The gate represents attention that determines how sorting occurs and the manner in which our beliefs are formed. The use of this image attempts to describe the plurality of content on Basic Income and approaches to leisure, and to acknowledge this image as a form of regulation that selects and directs content.

Basic Income is being discussed more frequently, especially in the Covid-19 era. It is often described as UBI, with the U standing for Universal and/or Unconditional. Some prefer the term Basic Income. The relationship of leisure to Basic Income is worth exploring on the premise that implementation of Basic Income in New Zealand is likely to give New Zealanders greater access to leisure, which is an important goal of recreation therapy as a profession.

The context for this article is that 14-20 September is Basic Income week1, with various international events happening under the tagline Freedom to Choose. September 17 saw the announcement of New Zealand being officially in recession, with a 12.2 percent drop in GDP (June quarter) following our lockdown from March 26 this year, and a forecast of 280,000 unemployed New Zealanders by 20222.

Also worth noting is that the 2020 Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) Congress

was to be held in Brisbane from 28-30 September, but was cancelled due to Covid-193. At the time of writing, I had just participated in a World Leisure Organisation (WLO) webinar on the topic of Human Rights and Leisure: the WLO Charter for Leisure, to inform participants about important updates and changes to the Charter in line with emerging social and global issues4.

Several books on Basic Income have been produced in recent years, including The Precariat Charter5, Utopia for Realists6, Basic Income: And How We can Make it Happen7, Give People Money8, The War on Normal People9, and Basic Income: A Radical Proposal for a Free Society and a Sane Economy10.

Basic Income has also been addressed by New Zealand authors: The Big Kahuna11, Pennies from Heaven12, and The New Zealand Project13. It is a challenge to do justice to all with a single article, although valuable patterns and similarities can be observed among their writings.

The main focus of this article is to investigate how authors treat leisure as a concept. Both leisure and Basic Income can be regarded as amorphous concepts, and require workable definitions. It is observed that leisure is frequently referred to in terms of time use, although some authors (Standing, Bregman, Van Parijs and Vanderborght) discuss leisure indepth, either through the historical figures who’ve contributed to discussion, or providing examples of how leisure and recreation have gained through government intervention. The impact of automation and artificial intelligence on the future of

34 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

work is a focus for Andrew Yang9. The WLO webinar covered French sociologist Joffre Dumazadier’s (1974) approach to leisure, revised to include personal development and self-realisation in the manner of Aristotelian thought.

Basic Income is defined as “a modest amount of money paid unconditionally to individuals on a regular basis.”7 Paid as a dividend to citizens of a given area, it is distinct from the associated term of a Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI). Descriptors of Basic Income include “venture capital for the people”, “foundation” or “floor”, “dividend” and “the power to say no”. One perspective on leisure, paraphrasing Cicero (106-43 BC) is: “Leisure consists in all those virtuous activities by which one grows morally, intellectually, and spiritually. It is that which makes a life worth living.”14 Each concept has variations in how they are defined, though for the purpose of this article these definitions are useful.

A starting point is to realise that the passage and use of time is a central element of leisure, and this entails a lot of reflection. This is an activity closely associated with a prominent author (Josef Pieper, 1952) and his book Leisure the Basis of Culture15, 16, 17. Leisure is a necessary component of producing an article like this through reflection on different forms of content. Readers will be aware of the expression, “Work is fascinating. I can sit and look at it for hours” — which many students will identify with. Our Recreation Therapy degree taught us that leisure is generally classified in three ways: 1. Specific recreation activities; 2. Unobligated or

REFERENCES 1.

discretionary time; and 3. A state of mind.18 Pieper defined leisure as “a state of being necessary for a true vision of reality”15, 16, which aligns closely with leisure as a state of mind (an example of the third definition).

Maria Popova has summarised Pieper’s thought well in a Brain Pickings article17.

In 2018, just a few weeks after receiving a post-graduate Diploma in Public Health, I attended the Wellbeing and Public Policy conference in Wellington. The theme anticipated the Government’s first Wellbeing Budget, and the words of Amartya Sen’s capabilities theory were a common feature: “People leading lives they value and have reason to value.”19 The message taken from this phrase is that the enjoyment must be an inherent part of our regular activities.

There is a contemporary expression that rolls easily off the tongue about “work-life balance”, although it implies work and life carry the same value to our wellbeing when it is possible the expression is an example of false equivalence. Of course, people should gain fulfilment from work.

What I’m interested in is how we tend to think of leisure as free-time only without acknowledging its classical meaning.

Rutger Bregman6 conveys a similar thought when discussing prosperity and gains in technology: That UBI allows for

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Income Movement. Portland, Oregon. basicincomeweek.org Tim Watkin (17 September). rnz.co.nz/programmes/ caucus/ story/2018764442/gulliver-s-electionand-is-labour-angling-to-govern-alone Basic Income Earth Network. London. basicincome.org World Leisure Organisation. worldleisure.org/ charter Standing, G. (2014) A Precariat Charter: From Denizens to Citizens. London: Bloomsbury Plc. Bregman, R. (2017) Utopia for Realists. London: Bloomsbury Plc. Standing, G. (2017) Basic Income: And How We can Make it Happen. London: Penguin.

Lowrey, A. (2018) Give People Money. London: Penguin.

Yang, A. (2019) The War on Normal People. New York: Hachette.

Van Parijs, P, Vanderborght, Y. (2017) Basic Income: A Radical Proposal for a Free Society and a Sane Economy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

Morgan, G, Guthrie, S. (2011) The Big Kahuna:

a capacity of people to “spend time on things that genuinely matter to us” rather than remaining idle and doing nothing.

The bold statement in Māori korero, “Tihei Mauri Ora!”, is spoken with belief and conviction. The translation20 of this statement indicates that the value of life will always transcend that of work.

The popular contemporary expression work-life balance says something about commodification of time and leisure for commercial ends, with leisure defined as free-time in relation to work.

Turning Tax and Welfare in New Zealand on its head. Auckland: Public Interest Publishing Company Ltd. 12. Berentson-Shaw, J, Morgan, G. (2017) Pennies from Heaven. Wellington: Public Interest Publishing.

13. Harris, M. (2017) The New Zealand Project.

Wellington: Bridget Williams Books Ltd. 14. quotefancy.com/quote/1037462/Marcus-TulliusCicero-Leisure-consists-in-all-those-virtuousactivities-by-which-a-man 15. Pieper, J. (1952) Leisure, the basis of culture. New York: Pantheon Books Inc 16. Lambert, C. (2010) Josef Pieper: Sisyphus and the Defense of Leisure. vimeo.com/16982563 17. Popova, M. Brain Pickings. brainpickings.org/ 2015/08/10/leisure-the-basis-of-culturejosef-pieper 18. Datillo, J, and Murphy, W. (1991) Leisure Education Program Planning. State College, PA: Venture Publishing.

19. Dalziel, P. and Saunders, C. (2015) Wellbeing Economics: Future Directions for New Zealand Wellington: Bridget Williams Books Ltd. 20. Tihei Mauri Ora. maoridictionary.co.nz

This article briefly compares two related concepts that are defined and supported in varying ways. I am conscious of various contributions on both topics, but these are outside the scope of this article. The main focus is to make an initial attempt to account for how proponents of Basic Income conceptualise and value leisure. It is anticipated this will be an important area of study as the world adapts to the socioeconomic effects of Covid-19 and climate change, and a growth in automation and artificial intelligence.

LOCAL UNDERSTANDING, GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE, TRUSTED ADVICE Otium Planning Group is a contemporary sport and leisure consultancy providing trusted advice to the sport, recreation and leisure industries in the following areas.

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To find out more please go to www.otiumplanning.com.au, call Head Office on (03) 9798 7300 or contact one of our offices via email: Melbourne vic@otiumplanning.com.au Brisbane qld@otiumplanning.com.au New Zealand nz@otiumplanning.co.nz Cairns cairns@otiumplanning.com.au Perth wa@otiumplanning.com.au Canberra act@otiumplanning.com.au Sydney nsw@otiumplanning.com.au Darwin nt@otiumplanning.com.au

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

W

hile this edition inevitably covers the on-going response to Covid-19 in the UK, examining its impact on children and the role of play, as well as investigating some guidelines on managing parks postpandemic, we also take a look at a few environmental attractions.

In New Guinea we explore the planet’s most plant-rich habitat, then take a journey through the forests of Lithuania to discover its magical offerings, and finally consider the role of sustainable nature tourism as the key to mediating conflicts between tourism and conservation, according to researchers in Finland.

Enjoy the read!

John Senior Editorial Coordinator

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MAGIC IN THE FORESTS OF LITHUANIA SEVEN OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS IN DEEP FOREST GREEN WORDS OLEG VOLKOV, PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER, LITHUANIA TRAVEL, TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

H

istorically a forest country, Lithuania has much to offer travellers looking for sustainable outdoor adventure. Under-theradar wonders of nature draw one into new experiences. Visitors may try herb picking, dragonfly watching or forest bathing. With discussions over climate change and world health gathering pace, ever more people express support for sustainable travel. In a recent survey, 42 percent of respondent travellers indicated their willingness to prioritise sustainability.

For those seeking sustainable underthe-radar experiences, Lithuania is a destination of peaceful respite. Its natural forests offer aesthetic pleasures of colour and sound. Not long ago these woods hid military secrets, as well. The remnants of Soviet ballistic missile bases may still be found in the forests of Central Lithuania, such as the ground-based medium-range nuclear missile base in the district of Ukmerge. But with the end of the Cold War, the forests of Lithuania have been returned back to people to enjoy, camp in, hike through, and so on.

“We are a forest country,” explained Indrė Trakimaitė-Šeškuvienė, Head of Marketing at Lithuania Travel. “Forest is an important symbol of Lithuanian history and culture. Despite the industrial development of the last two centuries, we have preserved large spaces of natural forest. With the rise of eco-tourism, these locations are turning into sites of meditation, natural health practice and other ways to achieve a deeper sense of unity with nature.”

Trakimaitė-Šeškuvienė lists seven opportunities to explore Lithuanian Forest Green in all its depth. Several sites can be combined in one tour, taking one of the suggested camping routes, or developing a route of your own.

Lithuanians know the basics of herbal medicine: herbs that help digestion, ease coughing or other symptoms of cold and flu. But some go much deeper than that.

In north-eastern Lithuania, in the forestsurrounded town of Anykščiai, professional herbalist Ramūnas Daugelavičius combines traditional Lithuanian experience with knowledge of other cultures and scientific methods to provide a unique experience of herbs from herb picking for spices to special tea ceremonies, fire rituals and seed root coffee — all possible ways to enjoy the original gifts of nature.

forest in Asveja Regional Park in eastern Lithuania to view the largest dreamcatcher in the world, which measures almost 13 metres high and 10 metres in diameter.

It is made of more than 1 kilometre of rope, 700 hundred wooden parts, 319 beads, and weighs 156 kilograms. The dreamcatcher is located in the territory of the eco resort Golden Forest. The resort also houses a forest labyrinth of four elements that can only be passed using intuition, and holds the annual Masters of Calm festival for the active and conscious community.

TWO | BUTTERFLY AND DRAGONFLY WATCHING

FIVE | FOREST GRAMOPHONE

ONE | HERB PICKING

Dreamcatchers are said to protect sleepers from bad dreams. Those with serious nightmares should visit the pine

Using herbs and herbal tea as a cure is an established tradition in Lithuania. Most

Butterfly and dragonfly watching may be as interesting and rewarding as bird watching. Lithuania is the only place in the world where dragonflies are professionally monitored and marked. These small animals travel thousands of kilometres, scientists have found. At Ventė ornithology station the secrets of dragonfly migration are only now being uncovered. Not far from the station, in the western part of Lithuania, ecotourism enthusiast Daiva Stanislovaitienė offers butterfly, dragonfly and bird watching trips combined with a cosy stay in a comfortable villa.

THREE | FOREST BATHING The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) is a way to heal and restore the human spirit, which tires of work and the rush of a technology-dominated world. The slow immersion into the forest through sight, sound, smell and even taste helps to relax, regain intellectual focus and strengthen health. A certified guide of shinrin-yoku, Mila Monk, gives private and group tours in different Lithuanian forests.

FOUR | LARGEST DREAMCATCHER IN THE WORLD

The forest sound catcher may be found in the Curonian Spit — the natural seaside reservation in western Lithuania. A threemetre-high gramophone-like construction enhances the natural sounds of the forest.

Visitors should spend about half an hour inside to experience the peaceful flow of the forest symphony.

SIX | FOREST DUNES Sand dunes are the usual sight of the Baltic seaside. But some of them are located far from the sea and deep in the forests. In the pine forests of southeastern Lithuania the dunes totally transform the landscape and provide unique experiences of raw nature.

SEVEN | METEORITE CRATER Over 165 million years ago a huge meteorite landed near Vepriai in Central Lithuania. The explosion and fire extinguished all life in the territory of Lithuania and left a crater of 50 square kilometres. The best way to explore the site is to take one of the many bicycle routes across the crater.

Deep, green and magic, Lithuanian forests are a place to enjoy peace and solitude whether on foot, by bike or with camper. So when the travel restrictions are over, a trip to Lithuania may be just the recuperation you need!

Summer 2020 | AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE 37

THE COEXISTENCE OF NATURE CONSERVATION AND TOURISM NATURE CONSERVATION AND TOURISM CAN COEXIST DESPITE CONFLICTS, ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN FINLAND WORDS UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN FINLAND

A

new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that the concept of sustainable nature tourism plays a key role in mediating conflicts between tourism and nature conservation. The study takes a geo-historical approach to analysing the environmental conflict surrounding the founding of Koli National Park in Finland, where the idea of sustainable nature tourism was used as a way out of the conflict.

In Koli National Park, sustainable nature tourism has proven to be a useful concept for conflict resolution. “Adopting the principles of sustainable nature tourism helped the national park’s management to reach nature conservation goals,” Researcher Jani Karhu from the University of Eastern Finland says.

“Moreover, the hopes and wishes of local residents and companies on how to develop tourism and the economy were also taken into consideration as part of sustainability, and this fostered a positive attitude towards the national park among locals.”

The study was published in Tourism Geographies. The researchers interviewed managers and designers of Koli National Park, and they also analysed local newspaper articles.

National parks are a key instrument

of nature conservation, and one of the most recognised institutions in nature tourism worldwide. Koli National Park was founded in 1991. The founding of the park was preceded by heated debate over whether the area should be developed into a modern resort for mass tourism, or whether its unique national landscape and nature should be protected. In Koli, the approach to solving the conflict was through sustainable nature tourism.

“Creating more jobs, preventing environmental harm, guaranteeing the satisfaction of tourists, and operating within the local cultural and social frameworks all constitute part of sustainable tourism.

All of these aspects should be developed equally,” Karhu claims.

In the early 2000s, the concept of sustainable nature tourism was largely accepted as a principle that guided the planning and management of Finnish national parks. Nowadays, this principle is also widely accepted among tourism developers. However, there are indications that the concept of sustainable nature tourism is used for green-washing extensive tourism projects.

In Koli, too, the past few years have witnessed the revival of large projects that have failed in the past.

“These economy-driven ideas of sustainability push the idea of sustainable

38 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

nature tourism away from nature itself, and serve as fuel for new conflicts,” Karhu points out.

Funded by Kone Foundation, the study constitutes part of the geo-historical research project Lively Border: The Nature Tourism and History Politics in the Finnish-Russian-Norwegian Border Region, focused on the historical sites and conservation areas within the Finnish-Russian-Norwegian border region. In the Fennoscandian Green Belt, history awareness and cultural heritage are only now becoming part of an ecofriendly tourism concept that is based on natural heritage.

“In the future we may have large green parks, a new type of conservation area, which doesn’t push people away but rather highlights coexistence with nature, interaction with other people, and wellbeing,” says Professor Maria Lähteenmäki, the project’s principal investigator.

RESEARCH ARTICLE Jani Karhu, Maria Lähteenmäki, Oona Ilmolahti & Alexander Osipov. From threat to opportunity: sustainability and tourism in Koli National Park.

Tourism Geographies. An International Journal of Tourism Space, Place and Environment. 2020. doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2020.1812112

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MANAGING PUBLIC PARKS DURING COVID-19 A HELPFUL GUIDE TO MANAGING GREENSPACE AS LOCKDOWN STATES EASE WORDS UK HERITAGE FUND, NATIONAL TRUST AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

U

rban Open Space Governance and Management by Märit Jansson and Thomas B Randrup is a guide intended to help local authorities and other organisations who manage urban and country parks and the wider greenspace, to think through how sites can be managed as the government steadily releases the lockdown state. The guide was produced collaboratively with key input from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Local Government Association, National Trust, APSE, the Midlands Parks Forum and parks practitioners.

Throughout lockdown, the Government has emphasised the need for public parks and greenspaces to remain accessible to the public in order to assist people to take exercise and get fresh air close to home. While the majority of urban parks and country parks have remained open, many facilities within them have been closed, such as children’s play areas, multiuse games areas, public toilets, cafes, tennis courts etc. During the first phase of lockdown, many councils have also closed carparks that serve parks in order to try to limit use to those within walking distance.

On 23 May 2020, Government also relaxed its advice to allow the opening of ticketed gardens and land maintained for public use as an alternative open space to spend time outdoors. Although, they

confirmed that buildings and amenities such as cafes should remain closed and access may be limited to members or those with tickets to ensure social distancing. This means that any ticketed attractions in parks such as walled gardens can now be opened. Further guidance was issued by DEFRA on 1 June regarding accessing greenspaces safely with revised social distancing recommendations.

We are mindful that the situation in England is different to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and we hope that the experiences of English local authority parks managers, where lockdown has been released first, will be of help to our colleagues in other countries.

Urban Open Space Governance and Management is split into three main areas: Infrastructure and facilities, staff and volunteers, visitors and activities. This edited volume defines and compares central aspects of governance and management related to urban open spaces (UOSs) such as long-term management, combined governance and management and strategic management of UOSs. Perspectives such as ethical considerations, user participation and changes in local governmental structures frame the governance and management of UOSs. Jansson and Randrup create a comprehensive resource detailing global trends from framing and understanding to finally practising UOS governance

40 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

and management. They conclude by promoting positive changes, such as proactive management and strategic maintenance plans to encourage the creation of more sustainable cities.

Illustrated in full colour, this book is an essential read for students and academics of landscape architecture, planning and urban design, as well as those with a particular interest in governance and management of UOSs.

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PLAY IN LOCKDOWN COVID-19 AND ITS IMPACT ON CHILDREN’S PLAY AND MOBILITY WORDS TIM GILL, IPA MEMBER, AND ROBYN MONRO MILLER, IPA PRESIDENT

T

he International Play Association (IPA) has just released an international study of government and civil society responses to Covid-19 and their impact on children’s play and mobility. The study compares international responses (which have had significant adverse consequences for children’s health and wellbeing) and seeks to identify emerging good practice on how children can be better supported through such a crisis. A summary follows.

This report sets out the findings of a global study of the impact of measures prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic on the play and mobility of children. The aim is to provide baseline information, to make international comparisons, and to gather emerging good practice on how these measures can be mitigated.

It is clear that children face a very small direct risk from the disease. Hence the implementation of measures that harm them are a judgement — implicit or explicit — that this collateral damage is a price worth paying, because of the greater good. However, the study is important in bringing to light the sacrifices that children have been asked to make, and the potential consequences for their rights, health and wellbeing.

CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PICTURE Covid-19 is unusual for an infectious disease, in that children are a low risk.

Statistics from many countries show that children are less likely than adults to be seriously affected. Covid-19 has been described by a global expert on risk as posing a level of risk to children that “would normally be deemed an acceptable part of life.” Some media reports have suggested

higher mortality rates for children in some low and middle income countries, including Brazil and Indonesia, possibly due to malnutrition and lower background levels of child health. However, there is some uncertainty about the statistics. Even in these contexts, the risk to children is significantly lower than the risk to adults.

While children are very rarely badly affected by the disease, they do become infected, and can pass the disease on to others. However, emerging evidence suggests that children are less likely to become infected, and may have a less important role in transmission than adults.

RISKS TO CHILDREN FROM PANDEMIC CONTROL MEASURES As the pandemic has spread, many governments have put in place drastic measures that have transformed the lives of hundreds of millions of children. These measures represent an infringement of children’s basic rights as laid down in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

What is more worrying is their potential impact on children’s health, wellbeing and development. Consideration of the policy side-effects for children has largely focused on their formal education. The wider child health and wellbeing impacts of lockdown and other measures have received less attention (although the topic has featured in media coverage) and has been the focus of academic research and professional debate.

One obvious consequence of infection control measures is that children are less able to play freely, especially out of doors. The benefits of play are widely recognised, and cut across physical and mental health, child development and wellbeing. Play is both a way for children

42 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

to keep healthy, and a process that helps them to deal with everyday uncertainties, stresses and anxieties.

Opportunities to play may be even more beneficial during a pandemic. To quote from the 2018 IPA report Access to Play for Children in Situations of Crisis: “In situations of crisis, stress, weakened physical and emotional development, feelings of lack of control and loss of trust steadily multiply if children lack everyday opportunities for play.”

Even where children have been allowed out of doors, the typical justification — physical exercise — has in some countries been interpreted in highly adult-centred and restrictive ways. It has failed to recognise that for many children play takes the form of physical exercise.

Children in disadvantaged circumstances are hit hardest, especially those with no access to private gardens, or in neighbourhoods with little or no public space. In response, the International Play Association (IPA) has raised children’s loss of play opportunities as an issue of concern and developed resources for children and caregivers.

The variation in national responses, and their potential impact on children’s play and mobility, provide the foundation for this study. It collates baseline facts on relevant infection control measures introduced by national governments, along with emerging responses from government and NGO sectors.

DISCUSSION A mixed picture is emerging of pandemic responses and their impact on children’s play and mobility. Some countries (including Sweden and Taiwan) have mostly kept schools and

playgrounds open, and introduced few, if any, measures restricting freedom of movement. Some (including Indonesia, Italy, Nepal, Spain and Turkey) prohibited children from leaving home altogether for at least a month, on top of school and playground closures. This effectively left millions of children imprisoned inside their apartments. Most others (including the four UK nations) have allowed children outside the home with family members only for limited reasons, alongside widespread school and playground closures.

On a more positive note, a number of countries are reopening schools and childcare (often taking a phased approach) and many countries are relaxing some lockdown and social distancing measures, including opening previously closed parks and playgrounds, more permissive guidance around social gatherings, and phased opening of schools and childcare settings. In a few countries, municipalities have been taking advantage of plummeting traffic levels to temporarily close streets to cars, widen pavements, or introduce other highway measures, partly to make it easier to follow social distancing rules and partly to promote walking and cycling.

CONCLUSIONS

measures. Sadly, it seems likely that restrictions on movement and activity may need to be reintroduced in some countries to control infection outbreaks.

As knowledge about the virus and children’s role in its spread grows, governments need to take a balanced approach to the measures it introduces, and to pay more attention to how these measures may restrict children’s play opportunities. One approach that will help in this respect is to adapt the riskbenefit assessment tool that has been developed by play advocates in several countries. The implementation of measures that harm children represent the view — implicit or explicit — that this collateral damage is a price worth paying because of the greater good.

However, it is important in bringing to light the sacrifices that children are being asked to make, and the potential consequences for their rights, health and wellbeing. Advocates across the world need to work with governments to find solutions that address play deprivation and minimise the impact on children’s development.

THE FULL REPORT To view the full report visit: playaustralia.org.au/ sites/default/files/LibraryDownloads/ IPA-Covidreport.pdf

20

20

Ou Cat t N alo ow gu e

Almost all of the 25 countries covered in

this study have implemented measures that have transformed children’s lives, and dramatically curtailed their play opportunities. Children in some countries have been particularly hard-hit. Some measures were brought in at an early stage in the spread of the disease, when there was considerably more uncertainty about the science than there is now. We know that these restrictions will leave their mark, although the full impact may not be apparent for many months or years.

We should not forget that millions of children have experienced months under what is in effect house arrest.

Many millions more have faced social isolation and domestic stress. They may be anxious for their own health, worried about sick friends and relatives, and grieving for loved ones who have died before their time. The most vulnerable children are likely to be particularly badly affected, including those in poor housing and homeless circumstances, and children with special educational needs and disabilities. All the while, in being deprived of play, they have been denied one of the simplest and most effective ways to maintain their physical, emotional and mental health and well-being.

As the pandemic evolves, it will be vital to track its ongoing impact on children.

While illness is part of this, even more important, is to track infection control

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Dendrobium tapiniense. Cool growing epiphytic orchid. Appears at elevations of 1500m to 1950m. Image Andre Schuiteman

WORLD’S MOST PLANT-RICH ISLAND NEW GUINEA NAMED THE MOST BOTANICALLY-DIVERSE ISLAND IN THE WORLD BY 99 REASEARCHERS WORDS CSIRO

N

early 100 researchers have completed a comprehensive study of plant life on the island of New Guinea, finding more than 13,634 species and earning it the title of the most botanically-diverse island in the world. The finding comes as logging, mining, and agriculture increasingly threaten the island’s forests, which are vital to the world’s carbon sequestration needs.

Led by Dr Rodrigo Cámara-Leret from the University of Zurich, the study involved 99 researchers from across the globe, including Dr Bruce Webber from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and was published this week in Nature.

New Guinea is the world’s second largest island after Greenland, and is part of both Papua New Guinea to the east and Indonesia to the west.

The study found that the island had 19 percent more species than Madagascar and 22 percent more species than Borneo across its varied climate, which includes lowland mangroves rising to tropical alpine grasslands and a glacier on the 5030-metre mountain, Puncak Jaya.

Dr Webber said this was the first attempt to critically catalogue the entire vascular plant diversity of New Guinea. “This is the most mega-diverse island, from a floristic perspective, with 68 percent of plants only found in the region, which is unmatched in tropical Asia. In an area so varied, it is likely there are many more plants on New Guinea that are undescribed and unknown to western science.”

However, Dr Webber added that the island’s floral diversity was increasingly under threat from logging, mining and

44 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

conversion of forests for subsistence agriculture. “This is the most concerning part of the work for me,” Dr Webber said.

“It’s likely that we’re losing plants before we even know they exist.”

Dr Cámara-Leret said because nearly 70 percent of the flora was endemic, it was important to document and understand the region. “New Guinea’s flora is also globally important because, along with the Amazon and the Congo, it is one of the last three tropical wilderness areas with around 70-75 percent of its original forest cover intact.

Therefore, it has a major role in carbon dioxide sequestration. Indigenous communities domesticated some of the most important plants that are eaten today, including the banana and sugar cane, and have discovered a wide range of uses of other plants,” Dr CámaraLeret claims.

“Looking after the plants of New Guinea is important for supporting local livelihoods. Some of the authors of this paper are actively involved in working with policy makers to help Indigenous communities preserve their forests.”

To find out more, access the full article at nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2549-5

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The range consists of exciting obstacle courses that have been thoughtfully configured to be accessible to a broad cross-section of users. The challenge for some is simply to get through the course, for others it is to achieve personal bests or to compete with their friends.

To learn more about this exciting new range, contact a_space on 1800 632 222 or visit aspace.com.au

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RESEARCH CONNECTIONS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR: PREDICTING TOURISTS’ PROENVIRONMENTAL INTENTIONS AFTER A HUMPBACK WHALE ENCOUNTER (2019) Authors E Clark, K Mulgrew, L KannisDymand, V Schaffer & R Hoberg Abstract Nature-based experiences can contribute to individuals’ connection to nature and intentions toward sustainable environmental behaviours.

Conservation psychology can use tourism as a platform to modify tourists’ intentions and behaviours regarding key marine threats such as single-use plastics. This study examined changes to pro-environmental intentions, particularly regarding plastic use, in 267 nature-based tourists from Australia and Tonga who completed a whale watching/swim experience. A theory of planned behaviour (TPB) framework was used incorporating moral norms and environmental identity, which have been previously implicated in explaining proenvironmental actions. This study found that including moral norms in the TPB model significantly increased the ability to predict pro-environmental intentions.

Further, when controlling for the TPB and moral norm variables, environmental identity explained a further 15% of tourists’ pro-environmental intentions.

The findings suggest the original TPB model may be less suitable within a marine conservation context.

Published Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27:5. pp 649-667 Download doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2 019.1603237 Cost $44 (US)

THE NEXT FRONTIER IN TOURISM EMOTION RESEARCH (2019) Authors Brent D Moyle, Char-Lee Moyle, Alexandra Bec & Noel Scott Abstract Emotion is emerging as a central concept in tourism research, critical for the delivery of memorable tourism experiences. However, existing approaches in tourism do not

adequately explain the process by which emotions are elicited. Recent advances in cognitive and neuropsychology demonstrate that emotions are elicited through an appraisal process, which occurs in the cortex of the brain.

These processes produce chemical monoamine neurotransmitters that lead to bodily feelings, which in turn enable our brain to recognise emotions.

This research note draws on Lövheim’s Cube, a self-report scale that provides a proxy indicator of the likely presence of monoamine neurotransmitters of serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline.

Six images of the Great Barrier Reef were used as a stimuli in an online panel survey (n =1 249). Results demonstrate that images used by tourism stakeholders are likely to produce stronger neurological reactions than images from an environmental nongovernmental organisation. Combining recent advances in self-report methods with a neurocognitive approach has the propensity to offers additional insight into emotional reactions to visual stimuli.

Further research should focus on the efficacy of utilising self-report measures with cutting edge psychophysiological techniques, such as ambulatory electroencephalography (EEG) to open the door to the next frontier in tourism emotion research.

Published Current Issues In Tourism, 22:12. pp 1393-1399 Download doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2 017.1388770 Cost $44 (US)

URBAN HERITAGE WALKS IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING CITY: TENSIONS BETWEEN PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT ON THE GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA (2020) Author Zelmarie Cantillon Abstract This article examines the emergence of urban heritage walks on the Gold Coast, Australia. As a popular beachside mass tourism destination, the Gold Coast has a longstanding reputation for rapid development and for lacking historical and cultural depth. In this context, heritage walks present an

46 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

opportunity to reorient the city’s identity and to stage a sense of heritage in the urban environment. Focusing on a case study of the Gold Coast’s Southport Heritage Walk (SHW), this article aims to analyse the discursive, material and political dimensions of urban heritage walks, and how practices of heritage unfold in places marked by rapidly changing urban landscapes and resident populations. Drawing on observational fieldwork, as well as interviews with key individuals involved in designing the walks, the article discusses the dominant narratives of history and urban identity enshrined in the SHW, and how these discourses are encountered and interpreted within the context of the contemporary materialities of lived space. Although the SHW aims to highlight the city as a place with a rich history and heritage, the walk’s missing interpretive markers and scarce remnants of built heritage instead emphasise the city’s ongoing tensions between development and preservation.

Published Journal Of Heritage Tourism, 15:2. pp 149-163 Download doi.org/10.1080/174387 3X.2019.1618315 Cost $44 (US)

MINDFULNESS PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE TOURISM: THE CASE OF ULURU (2019) Author Eugene Y Chan Abstract Mindfulness refers to the state of being aware, taking note of what is going on within oneself, without any judgment. Mindfulness has been shown to affect decision-making, empathy, and sustainability in non-tourism contexts.

We conducted an experiment to see if mindfulness can promote sustainable behaviours in a tourism context. After listening to a mindfulness-inducing audio track, participants expressed a lower preference for a group tour to Uluru, NT, Australia, that prominently featured climbing the sandstone formation as part of the package. Process data suggested that being mindful made participants more aware of the environmental and cultural consequences of their decisions.

Our findings contribute to the growing

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literature on the many positive impacts of mindfulness on individual and social well-being – this time within a tourism context in which both mindfulness and sustainability are showing important applications as well as consequences.

Publication Current Issues In Tourism, 22:13. pp 1526-1530 Download doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2 018.1455647 Cost $44 (US)

UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF TRACKING TECHNOLOGY FOR CO-CREATED TOURISM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT: TOURISM TRACER (2020) Authors Richard E Eccleston, Anne L Hardy & Sarah Hyslop Abstract Tourism industries and governments have typically been slow to embrace technology and data analytics as planning and development tools.

The Tourism Tracer team in Tasmania used technology to find out where tourists go and collect other information about them. The team collaborated with stakeholders on project design, including survey questions, recruitment design, Dashboard features and functionalities, and reporting. An app collected locational and survey data from approximately 1000 tourists.

This data was disseminated back to the community on the Tourism Tracer Tasmania Dashboard. Further specific data analytics were sought for infrastructure planning, road safety planning, and a better understanding of conversion and dispersal. With clear benefits flowing to many stakeholders, platforms such as Tourism Tracer should be regarded as key infrastructure that deliver “public goods” to the industry and wider community. While the values of such technologies are widely recognised, governance and funding issues remain.

Published Tourism Planning & Development, 17:1. pp 82-95 Download doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2 019.1683884 Cost $44 (US)

USING INNOVATIONS TO UNDERSTAND TOURIST MOBILITY IN NATIONAL PARKS (2020) Authors Anne Hardy & Jagannath Aryal Abstract Technological advances have had profound impacts upon tourists’ mobility. However, until recently, there has been a gap between technological advances and their integration into tourism research methods. This paper addresses this gap by presenting

a research method that utilised an application (app) equipped with a synthesised demographic survey and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology. This enabled automated tracking of tourists’ behaviour for their entire stay within the island state of Tasmania, Australia. This paper focuses on tourists’ movement within the well-known Freycinet National Park. The highly detailed granular data were assessed in three phases, revealing segments of tourists more likely to use the walking tracks, those more and less likely to visit during peak crowding times and finally, the development of an automated spatio-temporal dependence model via a machine-based learning environment, designed to operate in real time. The paper details the implications that innovative methodologies such as this may offer natural resource managers and tourism authorities, particularly in terms of locating, assessing and ultimately alleviating crowding and overtourism.

Published Journal Of Sustainable Tourism, 28:2. pp 263-283 Download doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2 019.1670186 Cost $44 (US)

INTERNATIONAL

PLANNING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS: COASTAL TOURISM DESTINATION RESILIENCE POLICIES (2020) Authors David Jarratt & Nick J Davies Abstract Coastal tourism is a vital part of the world economy but also facilitates access to “blue spaces” — this offers significant health benefits to populations and shapes our relationship with the coast. At present, climate change impacts on the coast, such as storm surges and rising sea levels, are an inevitability and in some regions are already damaging coastal tourism economies. Given the importance of coastal tourism, this new relationship needs to incorporate adaptive measures; including a blue space and wellbeing focus, education and awareness of challenges facing the natural environment. We make this case by re-evaluating the literature on coastal tourism and climate adaptation policies.

Using recent examples, we also offer an indication of new policy directions for coastal destinations. At present coastal tourism plans and policies largely ignore how destinations might respond and adapt to climate change impacts.

We critique this and suggest that the human–environment relationship should

48 AUSTRALASIAN PARKS AND LEISURE | Summer 2020

be placed directly at the centre of all thinking on this topic.

Published Tourism Planning & Development, 17:4. pp 423-440 Download doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2 019.1667861 Cost $44 (US)

CURRENT STATE AND DEVELOPMENT OF AIRBNB ACCOMMODATION OFFER IN 167 COUNTRIES (2019) Author Czesław Adamiak Abstract The paper examines the size, structure, distribution, dynamics, and use of Airbnb accommodation offered in 167 countries. Web-scrapping Airbnb website in fall 2018 and 2019 resulted in datasets on 5.7 million listings. Listings are divided into four groups based on types of properties and numbers of offers hosted by one platform user.

The results show that the platform is most commonly used to rent out entire apartments by multi-hosts. The numbers of Airbnb listings in countries depend on the level of economic development and size of inbound tourism. Airbnb offer grows most quickly in its relatively new markets, while in primary urban destinations of some European countries it is stable or decreases. The offer of professional hosts is growing more quickly than of peer-to-peer hosts.

Differences in the frequency of use and prices of listings exaggerate the geographical unevenness in benefits and impacts of Airbnb activity. Airbnb supply is not a uniform segment of tourist accommodation and its effects on destinations should be considered in relation to territorial context.

Published Current Issues in Tourism Download https://doi.org/10.1080/1368 3500.2019.1696758 Cost FREE

CALL FOR ARTICLE ABSTRACTS Abstracts of research projects of interest to PLA members are always welcomed, in particular research relating to: •

Community and urban planning

•

Community and open space planning

•

Sustainable design

•

Landscape design

•

Parkland design

•

Grounds maintenance

•

Cycleways/ walkways

•

Planning for play

•

Vertical walls and green roofs

•

Trends and future directions

Abstracts are required by 21 December 2020. Please forward material or enquiries to John Wood at jwcs@bigpond.net.au

PLA ADVISORY NEWS WORDS ANDY SMITH, PLA ADVISORY CHAIR

T

he last 12 months have been both challenging and exciting for PLA Advisory, (The Team). Our small but very dedicated group has produced a number of position papers for PLA and are working on several projects that will be of great value into the future for our wonderful industry.

Our recently released Parks and Leisure Australia Gender Equity Charter has been well received and is being referenced widely both in Australia and internationally. Key principles include: Non-discrimination, equity, participation, and inclusion.

Addressing the key principles are nine key targets that will assist PLA to be a leader and a champion of gender equity in the Australian parks and leisure sector. To download a copy visit parksleisure.com.au/documentlibrary/submissions Without the help of our members, the development of Charter would not have been possible. The seed for this project was planted at the Melbourne Conference in 2017 and, with the support of amazing woman from all over the country, the Charter was

developed over the last three years.

Many of you would have heard of the PaRC Library. This is a depository of papers, academic literature and other references relevant to our industry. In partnership with AIPR, who initiated the project and established a Trust, the library is fast becoming a goto resource for the industry. Please visit the site at parksleisure.com.au/ library. I would like to acknowledge the dedicated work of Geoff Edwards, Secretary to the Trust, in driving the development of this resource.

The Research Working Group, in conjunction with the University of South Australia, is also developing a national industry survey to follow up on the last survey undertaken in 2016. The survey is due for release in late 2020. Thank you for the dedicated work undertaken by John Tower, John Wood, Oliver Townson, Stephanie McCallum and Anand Pillay.

In the last 12 months the team have met on ten occasions via teleconference.

The group has now taken like ducks to water in using video conferencing tools.

Unfortunately, due to Covid, our planning session in Melbourne was cancelled this

year, however there is a standing agenda item that is developing into a rolling planning session.

The Team is continuing to work on a number of other position papers, including Developers Contributions: Guiding Principles. Considerable work has been done on this paper to date.

There is an industry demand for this work and it will be a priority for Advisory to complete this paper in the next 12 months. Also, Urban Forests.

The Team will take a key role in the internal review of the National Board and on-going business of the organisation. A key focus for us is: 1. To proactively develop stronger synergies between PLA Advisory and the PLA membership 2. Improved communication between Advisory and the National Board 3. Review of Terms of Reference and ensure they are relevant to the industry Finally, it would be remiss of me not to identify the dedicated Advisory Team.

A great big thankyou to Cathy Kiss, Wendy Holland, Ben Bainbridge, Tessa Pentony (retired), Anand Pillay, John Senior and Neal Ames.

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