200 Buchanan Road,
Morayfield, QLD 4506
Tel: 1300 284 531
sales@justpatios.com.au
In Australia,
communities,
businesses,
and
the
government are looking to improve outdoor spaces. This
is being done in an effort to improve residents’ quality of
life, help businesses stay safe from COVID-19, and allow
hospitality
businesses
to
expand
their
dining
accommodations.
Due to the pandemic, many Australians experience high levels of
psychological stress, and mental health crisis lines are receiving
more calls. Not all anxiety or distress is due to a disorder, but it is
important to manage it so that it does not become more serious.
In Port Macquarie, the elderly’s mental health has been
compromised by COVID-19. They have not been able to socially
interact with other tenants as much due to lockdowns and fear of
COVID-19. To address this, Community Housing Limited, a not-for-
profit housing organization, started the Balcony Garden Project.
The Balcony Garden Project aims to encourage seniors to spend
more time outdoors. Community Housing Limited is overhauling
patios and balconies within two Port Macquarie apartment blocks
to add portable gardens, vegetables, other plants, and seating.
The project received local business and volunteer support and was
praised by the NSW Mental Health Commissioner, Catherine
Louerey.
The Outdoors Are Important for Mental Health
Organizations are also receiving support in various forms for new
outdoor infrastructure from the Australian government.
In Morpeth, NSW, Parliament Secretary for the Hunter, Taylor Martin,
funded the Morpeth Men’s Shed’s construction of a carport with a roof
as part of the $1.62 million allocated for the improvement of men’s
sheds. The goal was to renew interest in men’s sheds and foster
interaction within communities.
In the city of Ballarat, over 40 hospitality businesses are set to receive
outdoor dining infrastructure, allowing restaurants, cafes, and the like to
increase their outdoor eating spaces. Similar efforts are being made in
the city of Yara, w