To assist local government in creating and planning for environments that support active and healthy lifestyles amongst residents and visitors there are a number of resources available.  Active, Healthy Communities, is a set of tools design specifically for Queensland councils.  Healthy Spaces and Places outlines principles for an Australian context to help local governments tackle some of the major preventable health issues through appropriate planning. 

Green Star Rating Tools is available help the property industry to reduce the environmental impact of buildings, improve occupant health and productivity and achieve real cost savings, while showcasing innovation in sustainable building practices.  It is a good resource for local government planners and builders to be aware of when assessing development.

Managing the amenity impacts of low emission energy generation in commercial buildings: Guide for Queensland Local Governments aims to support local governments involved in assessing development and investigation nuisance complaints arising from existing development.  It focuses on managing potential ‘side effects’, such as glare and reflection from solar energy systems, noise from small wind turbines, and air quality impacts of burning fuel.
 
Next Generation Planning is a handbook developed by the Council of Mayors of South East Queensland and contains model codes compliant with Queensland Government planning policies.  They are designed for incorporation into planning schemes using a flexible, modular format that can be tailored to suit individual councils needs. The guidelines in the handbook have been prepared on a region-wide basis after extensive research, and include easy to use descriptions of desirable neighbourhood styles combined with standards for dwelling size, site setbacks, streetscapes and car parking requirements.

The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, in recognising the importance of walking to improve the future of the transport system, has developed Easy Steps.  It is a package developed to assist local governments in promoting walking.  Walking doesn't cost anything, is environmentally friendly and is healthy for communities and residents.  Each time we walk we help reduce air pollution, wear and tear on our roads and lessen the burden on public transport.

CPTED or Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design is a crime prevention strategy that outlines how physical environments can be designed in order to lesson the opportunity for crime.  The principles are ideally incorporated at the design stage of a development, but can also be applied to existing developments and areas where crime and safety are a concern.

Town Planning For Everyone is a "single point of easy-to-understand information" about planning, designed specifically to help the general community.  The resource covers 17 separate topics including an explanation of commonly used planning words. 

Discover More than the Basics
For access to additional resources and tools, further information about the current challenges of planning and development in local government, news, and our discussion forum, please sign-in or register to the Association’s Member website LG Online.

Other publications and resources, developed by LGAQ to specifically assist local government include:

LGAQ Supporting Queensland’s Resource Regions: Position Paper
AEC An Econometric Analysis of the Determinants of SEQ Housing Prices
LGAQ Public Inquiry on the Need for a State Population Policy
NRM Decision Support Tool