Sunshine Coast Aquatic Plan 2011-2026 - Sunshine Coast Council

Table 5: Driving factors
Age cohort
Driving factors
6 months-8 years Learn to swim and water appreciation, leisure, social interaction
9-14 years Skill development, participation in competition training, leisure, social interaction
and learn to swim
15-24 years Fitness, leisure, cross training, injury rehabilitation and performance based training
25-55 years Fitness, physical activity, weight management, injury prevention and rehabilitation,
social interaction, family and leisure
Over 55 years
Fitness, non-weight bearing activity, water therapy, injury prevention and
rehabilitation and social interaction
3.5 Aquatic participation trends
Community engagement conducted as part
of this Plan identified the most common
trends in aquatic sport and recreation activity
participation on the Sunshine Coast.
Trends in participation on the Sunshine
Coast are:
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demand for more social, casual and noncompetitive
activities
increasing demand for junior sport and junior
squad programs
night-time/evening activities
newer/alternative forms.
The Strategic Leisure Group, through studies
undertaken for various local governments and
research into the topic, also identified a number
of other trends that are influencing participation
in aquatic sport and recreation activities.
These include:
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Changing patterns of work and declining
availability of ‘uncommitted time’ is placing
greater importance on the quality of the
leisure experience for those in full time
employment. Exercise and competitions
are increasingly being held on mid-week
evenings under lights so that participants
have their weekends free to pursue other
recreation opportunities.
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For many, the leisure experience is one of
limited time availability with an expectation
of ‘instant gratification’. This is evidenced
by a desire for participants to ‘turn up and
swim’ where minimal extra commitments are
involved. In many cases the participants are
willing to pay extra for this service which has
created some opportunities for commercial
provision.
Local and state governments are recognising
the social, health and economic values of
increasing the physical activity levels of their
communities and developing physical activity
strategies to serve this purpose including
the role of contemporary aquatic facilities
that are attracting more attendances and
potentially lifelong interest in aquatic sports
and recreation swimming.
There is an awareness of the importance of
‘risk management’ and the need for a ‘wholeof-life’
approach to facility development and
asset management.
There is an increasing demand for
evening competitions either for reasons of
convenience or, in sub-tropical/tropical areas
to reduce exposure to the sun.
Sunshine Coast Aquatic Plan 2011-2026 37