project highlights - case study

Project

Harvest Lakes Walking Group

Client

LandCorp

Opportunity

LandCorp’s 2006 Community Survey of Harvest Lakes residents revealed there was a strong interest by residents to belong to a local walking group to improve their health and to meet their neighbours.

Strategy

As part of the broader Harvest Lakes Community Development Program, Creating Communities partnered with the City of Cockburn’s Community Services Directorate to establish and support a walking group in the area. The aim was to kick-start a walking group that met on a regular basis and then assist the group to become self-sufficient.

Success

• Formation of the Harvest Lakes walking group in 2006 called the “Penguins”, which walks three times per week;

• Ongoing friendships have been formed between walking group participants;

• The group organises social occasions for its members;

• After six months, the walking group is self-managed but with support from the City of Cockburn, which has provided a portable first aid kit and reflective safety jacket for the group leader; and

• The City of Cockburn also facilitates walking group committee meetings, attended by walk leaders from all suburbs within the City of Cockburn.