Experts warn: Walking to school must become the norm again

WITH more than 70 per cent of Aussie children not meeting the national physical activity recommendation, health experts want our kids walking to and from schools or risk having shorter life spans then their grandparents. JOIN THE CONVERSATION

A SEVENTEEN Mile Rocks mum has vowed to continue fighting Brisbane City Council for better pedestrian access to Corinda State School as Australian health experts warn more must be done to encourage “active travel” for students.

Jamie Quinn has been lobbying for upgrades to Cliveden Avenue West for three years to allow parents pedestrian access to their catchment school.

But the steep road has no pathways or lighting.

Mrs Quinn described the road as “dangerous” and said she would be forced to drive her daughter to school for what was an easy walking distance.

“The road has got bush on both sides, it’s uncurbed, winding, steep and narrow and the shoulder of the road is rocky,” she said.

“There's no safe passage through at all for anyone wanting to get to the school or Oxley Station.”

Cliveden Ave West in Oxley is a main thoroughfare for pedestrians accessing Corinda State School and Oxley Station. IMAGE: AAP/Richard Walker

Yesterday, the Australian Health Policy Collaboration (AHPC) report, Active Travel: pathways to a healthy ­future, recommended all levels of government needed to step up to improve ­active access to schools.

Professor Rosemary Calder, from the Australian Health Policy Collaboration, Victoria University, said childhood health was at stake with over 70 per cent of Australia’s children and 91 per cent of young people not meeting the national physical activity recommendation of sixty minutes physical activity every day.

Seventeen Mile Rocks resident Jamie Quinn with her children Elsie and Samuel. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Walker

One quarter of all children and 29 per cent of young people are overweight or obese.

“Unless we become more active, Australian children will live shorter and unhealthier lives than their grandparents,” Prof Calder said.

“We have taken away the opportunity for them to get enough daily exercise by walking, riding or scooting to school.”

One of the report’s recommendations was for a ­national active school travel infrastructure grant to build active environments around schools.

“The evidence we’ve got is that local government is increasingly recognised as the linchpin to enabling community environments to be walker friendly ... but they can’t do it on their own,” Prof Calder said.

Cliveden Avenue West was located within Jamboree Ward until boundaries changed at the 2016 local government election.

Prior to this, councillor Matthew Bourke met with and surveyed residents regarding a footpath between Blackheath Rd and Fort Rd.

He said the boundaries were changed before he was able to fund the works.

Tennyson ward councillor Nicole Johnston said she would liaise with residents about the western section of Cliveden Ave.

“The big unknown is the future of the old Oxley Secondary College Site on Cliveden Ave and any new infrastructure that may be associated,” she said.

Originally published as Experts warn: Walking to school must become the norm again