.jpeg)

Heart Foundation supports Wollongong City Council’s draft 10-year cycling strategy
Media Release - 30 June 2020
The “Draft Cycling Strategy 2030” seeks to provide an additional 50 kilometres of on-road cycling routes and 35 kilometres of off-road routes. This would expand the area’s present shared path and cycling network from 150 kilometres to almost 215 kilometres.
The plan aims to double the region’s cycling participation by 2030. It includes targets for higher numbers of cycling trips to work; lower numbers of cycling-related crashes; and increased female participation in cycling.
Council considered 350 stakeholder submissions in the development of the draft strategy. It will now be open for public comment over the next 42 days, after which Council will seek to adopt a final strategy.
Comment by Andy Mark, the Heart Foundation’s Senior Coordinator Heart Health (regional NSW), and an Illawarra local
“The Heart Foundation congratulates Wollongong City Council for its visionary, long-term and strategic approach to boosting cycling participation in this region.“During the COVID-19 pandemic, large numbers of people across the Wollongong region have discovered or even rediscovered the joys of simple forms of exercise such as cycling and walking. Like Council, the Heart Foundation is keen to keep this momentum going – and this strategy is a great way to set up our community for a more active, heart-healthy future.
“As noted in Council’s draft strategy, regular cycling can deliver significant health benefits. This includes reducing the risk of heart disease, which continues to be the single leading cause of death in Australia, claiming 48 lives every single day.
“Regular physical activity can also protect you from other serious conditions, like stroke, diabetes, some cancers and depression. If it were a medicine, we’d all be taking it every day to ward off chronic health conditions and help us live longer.
“Around 65% of people in the Illawarra region are not physically active enough for good health. Boosting the opportunities and facilities for cycling will go a long way towards making us not only a more active community, but healthier and happier.
“The long-term approach to this strategy will support people in the Illawarra to use cycling for activity and travel for many years to come.
“The Heart Foundation encourages Wollongong residents to have their say on the draft plan and to support Council in its efforts to make Wollongong ‘the place to ride’.”
Media enquiries
Siobhan McMahon, Media Manager, Physical Activity M: 0478 313 656 E: Siobhan.mcmahon@heartfoundation.org.auTime to book a Heart Health Check?
Time to book a Heart Health Check?
Time to book a Heart Health Check?
If you're 45 and over, or 30 and over if you're of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you should book your Heart Health Check today...
Health Professional Tools
Health Professional Tools
Health Professional Tools
Guidelines, publications and support for the health professional community....
Heart Health Check Toolkit
Heart Health Check Toolkit
Together, we can change the future of heart disease
Together, we can change the future of heart disease
Together, we can change the future of heart disease
The power of your ongoing support can help save lives and keep more families together. Help us continue to fund promising heart research projects by donating today. ...
Heart Week 2022
Heart Week 2022
Heart Week 2022
With one Australian having a heart attack or stroke every 4 minutes, you have the power to change this statistic. ...
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) clinical resources
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) clinical resources
Resources and clinical information for health professionals...
Hypertension clinical information and guidelines
Hypertension clinical information and guidelines
Clinical information for diagnosis and management of hypertension....
Asian recipes
Asian recipes
Asian recipes
Find heart healthy Asian recipes....
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)
Clinical information and links to SCAD resources....
Tahini tofu dressing
Tahini tofu dressing
Tahini tofu dressing
WEBINAR | Pressure rising: Clinical controversies and updates in hypertension
WEBINAR | Pressure rising: Clinical controversies and updates in hypertension
WEBINAR | Pressure rising: Clinical controversies and updates in hypertension
Supporting Your Emotional Wellbeing: An Online Forum for Young Heart Patients
Supporting Your Emotional Wellbeing: An Online Forum for Young Heart Patients
Supporting Your Emotional Wellbeing: An Online Forum for Young Heart Patients
WEBINAR | Absolute CVD risk assessment practical update
WEBINAR | Absolute CVD risk assessment practical update
A multidisciplinary panel of experts discuss the practical application of absolute CVD risk assessment through Heart Health Checks....
Q&A with Dr Ziad Nehme
Q&A with Dr Ziad Nehme
Q&A with Dr Ziad Nehme
Every minute counts: a strategy to strengthen the links in the ‘chain of survival’ for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest...
Italian recipes
Italian recipes
Italian recipes
Find heart healthy Italian recipes....
Being a carer for a heart attack patient
Being a carer for a heart attack patient
Being a carer for a heart attack patient
Your role as a carer for a heart attack patient is an important one – explore some useful things to know....
Reading food labels
Reading food labels
Reading food labels
Nutrition information panels and ingredients lists are a good way of comparing similar foods so you can choose the healthiest option....
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
Information on women and heart disease for consumers....
Australian Heart Maps
Australian Heart Maps
Australian Heart Maps
Our Heart Maps allow you to take a closer look at heart disease indicators across Australia....
Heart Matters
Heart Matters
Heart Matters
A community-based project delivering heart health education in Victorian communities at high risk of heart attack...
Dinner recipes
Dinner recipes
Dinner recipes
Search our heart healthy dinner recipes for tonights main meal...
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Postdoctoral Fellowship
This fellowship funding will allow a recent PhD graduates to boost their research career and enhance their ability to attract and secure future funding. ...
9 food and heart health myths, busted
9 food and heart health myths, busted
9 food and heart health myths, busted
Let’s dive into nine common food and health myths and the facts behind them....
Cardiac Rehabilitation for Health Professionals - Patient Resources
Cardiac Rehabilitation for Health Professionals - Patient Resources
Cardiac rehabilitation resources for healthcare providers
Cardiac rehabilitation resources for healthcare providers
Useful cardiac rehabilitation resources for health professionals....
For professionals: Guidelines for acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease
For professionals: Guidelines for acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease
Australian guidelines for prevention, diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease ...
WEBINAR | Navigating the latest updates on CVD prevention
WEBINAR | Navigating the latest updates on CVD prevention
Support for young adults: Online events
Support for young adults: Online events
Support for young adults: Online events
Check back in for the latest updates on Supporting Young Heart events...
Strawberry fields oats
Strawberry fields oats
Strawberry fields oats
Blood tests for heart disease
Blood tests for heart disease
Blood tests can measure the levels of substances such as blood fat to show if, and how much of, your heart has been damaged....