Connection to nature

Enivornment and climate

Connection to nature

There is a strong link between our access to green spaces/waterways and improvements in both physical and mental wellbeing.

Access to waterways

We are working across Government and with research partners to develop long term measures of the average number of days waterways are closed each year.

Use of green spaces - visitation

This measure shows monthly numbers of pedestrians and cyclists who visited nature reserves or used trails at five selected locations in the ACT.

This is important because our health and wellbeing are enhanced by access to the natural environment. Direct survey feedback from visitors revealed that health and wellbeing was the top reason for visiting a park, reserve or plantation.

Since 2020 there have been, on average, 255,000 visits each year and more than 22,000 visits each month.

Visitation to nature reserves increased during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Numbers have since reduced, likely due to re-opening of travel opportunities and persistent wet weather events.

ACT Parks and Conservation Service Visitor Experience Insights (July 2022-June 2023).

Data custodians at Namadgi and Tidbinbilla, Parks and Conservation Service – Environment Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate.

Line graph of number of monthly visitors to green spaces in the ACT between January 2020 and August 2023. In August 2023, 14,270 people visited nature reserves or used trails compared to 12,070 in August 2022.

Visitor numbers were recorded through automated track counters placed at reserve or trail entrances, as well as through data manually collected since 2020.

For trend comparison since January 2020, five locations across urban areas and on the urban fringe are selected here:

  • Black Mountain Nature Reserve (Summit Walk)
  • Canberra Centenary Trail (between Hall and One Tree Hill)
  • Murrumbidgee Discovery Trail (at Kambah Pool Reserve)
  • Little Mulligans (Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve – Centenary Trail)
  • Mount Ainslie (Summit Trail entrance at the Australian War Memorial)

Use of green spaces - self reported

This measure shows the proportion of Canberrans who report they usually walk in their local area at:

This is important because our health and wellbeing are enhanced by accessing the natural environment.

The proportion of Canberrans who spent time walking outside in their local areas has fluctuated depending on:

In 2023, 80.6% of Canberrans reported spending time walking outside in their local areas in a typical week. People less likely to spend time outdoors regularly in their local areas were those:

2022-2023: Living well in the ACT region survey, unpublished data.

2019-2021: Living well in the ACT region: The changing wellbeing of Canberrans during 2020 and 2021.

Line graph of percentage of Canberrans who spent time walking outside in their local areas between 2019 and 2023. In 2023, 80.6% reported that they walk outside in their local area compared to 67.7% in 2022.

The Living Well in the ACT Region survey, conducted by the University of Canberra, aims to measure, track and understand the wellbeing of adult residents living in the Australian Capital Territory region of Australia. It examines factors known to affect wellbeing at the individual, household, community and regional level.

When generating data for the ACT, statistical weighting is used to address differences between the sample of people who respond to the survey, and the characteristics of the ACT adult population. Differences between groups are reported when there is a statistically significant difference based on 95% confidence intervals or other tests of significance.

Data are produced from this survey for different groups of people in the ACT. The ‘overall response’ category represents responses at the ACT population level. Where reliable estimates can be produced, data are also presented for Canberrans by: gender, age, cultural background, gender identity and sexuality, carer role and experience of disability.

Care is needed when interpreting the differences in findings between groups as the descriptive statistics published here show where there are differences in wellbeing, but not what has caused those differences in wellbeing.

The University of Canberra has been conducting the survey since 2019. As of mid-2023, the survey had been conducted 6 times. Not all questions have been measured each time the survey has been conducted.

The measurement of this indicator was slightly different in 2020 compared to subsequent years, although findings remain comparable over time.

When analysing findings for this measure, it is important to consider the timing of data collection, as there may be some seasonal variation that cause movement in responses.

Data for people with disability can only be compared between 2022 and 2023 due to a change in the way disability was defined and measured in the survey, to better reflect international best practice.

Further information about the survey can be found at Living Well in the ACT Region or by contacting Professor Jacki Schirmer at the University of Canberra.