Better Community Infrastructure Decisions: An Evidence Base

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The Social Planners partnered with specialist planning analysts Xypher Sport + Leisure to develop an integrated evidence base for a strategically identified portfolio of community infrastructure. The project informed a future needs analysis to guide decisions around investment, asset performance and the long-term role of community facilities. 

Understanding community infrastructure requires more than a single data source. Our approach combined spatial intelligence, behavioural data and community insight to build a comprehensive evidence base capable of supporting long-term infrastructure decisions.

How well does this infrastructure serve the communities around it? 

Using spatial analysis and GIS, we explored catchments, accessibility, service overlap and the geographic relationship between people and place.

How do people actually use community infrastructure?

Mobility data provided an independent picture of visitation patterns, travel behaviour and utilisation across the network.

What do the people who use these places value most?

Targeted engagement with clubs, residents and community stakeholders uncovered local priorities, aspirations and opportunities for improvement.

Is each asset performing the role it was intended to play? 

Facility assessments considered function, condition, utilisation and contribution across Council's broader infrastructure network. 

Where should Council focus next? 

We explored future demand, investment priorities and opportunities to maximise community benefit. 

No single dataset tells the full story. 

By integrating multiple evidence streams, we developed a robust evidence base to support confident, long-term infrastructure decisions.