Queenslanders are increasingly recognising the benefits to their quality of life from participating in recreation and sport.

As our population increases and recreation and sport interests become more diverse, people are seeking a wider range of recreation and sport facilities and outdoor recreation opportunities. Larger areas are often needed to satisfy these demands. Increasing populations, changing technology, social expectations and expanding economic activities all contribute to increasing competition for the available land.

Knowledge of trends, tastes, needs and preferences of the community with regard to sport and recreation is required in order to provide these communities with the widest range of appropriate, sustainable, quality opportunities in which they can participate, both now and in the future.

Recreation planning involves collecting and analysing information, to make sure the right facilities and venues for recreation and sport are developed and that the right places are protected to meet our future recreation needs.

Successful planning for recreation and sport is based on consideration of current and future demand, existing options for meeting those demands, the nature of spaces required for particular activites, and the types of services that support particular activites.

The Department of Communities works with Queensland's local governments and other organisations to make sure Queensland's recreation needs are met into the future.

The Department works with local governments by:

• providing advice and financial assistance to undertake recreation, sport and open space plans, and facility needs studies
• participating in the planning scheme process and providing comments on the recreation and sport components of local government planning schemes (town plans).

What information do planners use?

Planners study a range of information including:

• demographics
• recreation needs
• recreation settings
• recreation opportunities
• supply and demand for recreation facilities
• recreation programs
• participation rates in recreation activities
• people's views on recreation issues
• the impact of recreation on the environment
• issues affecting user groups and land management agencies such as rock climbing and trail bike riding.

Open space plans and facility needs studies

Recreation, sport and open space plans and facility needs studies may be developed by many local governments in Queensland with financial assistance from the Department of Communities through the Sport and Recreation Program.

Successful planning for recreaton and sport is based on consideration of current and future demand, existing options for meeting those demands, the nature of spaces required for particular activities and the types of services that support particular activities.

View the Open Space for Sport and Recreation: Planning Principles and Implementation Notes for Local Government (PDF, 2.1 MB) Sport and Recreation Queensland, September 2003.

Download a list of all plans (PDF, 111 KB) that have been undertaken by local governments using funding from this program or the Local Government Recreation Planning Program.

Facility planning is part of the recreation planning process. It helps local governments and organisations to make decisions about what facilities they need and where they should build them, based on supply and demand.