Physical activity

Walk-It Kiama

Kiama is an active community, and results from a survey completed by community members in late 2006 showed that 82% of participants engaged in physical activity more than 3 times per week. It was then found that walking was the preferred activity.

Kiama Municipal Council has been developing a walking intervention - encouraging residents and visitors to utilise the walking paths in the Kiama Municipality for physical activity, enjoyment and transport.

Through community consultation, various areas were identified that the community believed needed improving for them to use the walking paths more frequently. In response to this, Council is in the process of implementing better signage, and promoting the walking paths through an informative map/brochure (pdf 1.47Mb). The map is now available and identifies the locations of popular walking paths and tracks. It is user-friendly and provides information on the time taken to complete each walk, the distance, grade of difficulty and interesting locations to visit during each walk.

At present, Kiama Municipal Council, in association with the Heart Foundation is creating walking-groups that community members can join. These groups will run on a weekly basis and be tailored to fit community member's needs. People interested in joining a group can contact Julie Errey on 4232 0416 or Andy Mark on 4232 0122. Flyer (pdf 40Kb).

People with a disability and older people

Advice from Council's Access Committee played a significant role in producing the Mobility Map (pdf 460Kb), which locates parking facilities, toilet facilities, bus stops and taxi stands, Council services and medical facilities as well as colour coded grading of footpaths to indicate slope levels and sections where wheelchairs may require assistance. The Mobility Map was produced with the assistance of a grant from Illawarra Area Assistance.

The Guide to Physical Activity for Older People (pdf 1.33Mb) provides information about physical activity groups in the area including Women With Weights Classes, Walking Groups and Tai Chi, which operate in the area.

Heart Care Walks

The Kiama Heart Care Walks were developed in the year 2000 as part of a regional project by the Illawarra Branch of Heart Support Australia. All walks are marked every 500 metres with a numbered yellow and blue line. On each side is a red heart shape with the distance from each end of the walk. Any change of direction is marked with four red heart shapes.

Many of these markings remain around the Municipality particularly on the pathway from Minnamurra to Bombo. These walks are currently being updated with Council's Walk it Kiama project logo.

Active commuting

During 2004, the Heart Foundation and Kiama Council implemented a series of focus groups in local schools to explore the issues surrounding children's modes of transport to and from school. The long term aim being to establish a project which encourages children to engage in active transport for short trips.

For further details contact Julie Errey, Team Leader of Health and Environment on
02 42320416 or email: council@kiama.nsw.gov.au

Recommended links

NSW Department of Sport and Recreation

NSW Sport and Recreation is part of the NSW Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation which is an agency within the NSW Government, Australia.

Australian Sports Commission

is the Australian Government body that coordinates the Government's commitment and contribution to sport. It provides national leadership in all facets of sport from the elite level through to the wider sporting community.