Brimbank has some of the highest levels of childhood obesity in Melbourne, according to new figures.
While just under 30 per cent of Melbourne’s children are considered obese or overweight, most of Brimbank’s suburbs have far higher rates, according to new data from Victoria University’s Australian Health Policy Collaboration.
St Albans was Brimbank’s worst performing suburb, with 39.1 per cent of children considered obese or overweight, closely followed by Sunshine North (38.3 per cent), Deer Park/Derrimut (36.6 per cent) and Albion/Sunshine (35.6 per cent).
Cairnlea bucked the trend with a lower than average rate of 28.8 per cent.
Topping the figures were Campbellfield-Coolaroo (42 per cent) and Clayton (42.4 per cent).
The data’s release comes as Brimbank council calls on the state government to hold off on re-zoning and selling the former Calder Rise Primary School site in Keilor.
Mayor John Hedditch said it was vital that the opportunity to increase and improve sports facilities in the municipality was not lost.
“Unfortunately, the Brimbank community is less active and less healthy than the Melbourne average,” Cr Hedditch said.
“We need some help from state government in turning this around.
“Lands like these former school sites could be used to create an environment that addresses the issues our community face – of being less active, less healthy and battling higher levels of obesity and diabetes than the Melbourne average. We have a crying need for sport facilities in Brimbank.
“We have sporting groups crying out for more facilities so that they can get more people into sport.
“We’re asking the state government to put a hold on disposing of these sites, and to sit down and discuss with us how the sites could be used for the betterment of the people who live in Brimbank.”
– with Chloe Booker/
The Age
