New residential developments in Queensland would have fewer cul-de-sacs, grid-like blocks, as well as parks and buses within a five-minute walk, under a new planning code proposed by the Queensland Government.
The plan, announced on Sunday, will be open for public consultation until September, with Planning Minister Cameron Dick saying elements could be in place by the end of the year.
While it is voluntary for councils and developers, Mr Dick hoped to make major aspects mandatory.
Those elements include having blocks in a grid pattern, with trees every 10 metres on both sides of the road.
Parks would be within 400 metres of each house, about a five-minute walk away.
Blocks should not be over 130 metres, under the proposal, and those that are should be cut by pathways for pedestrians.
And, no more than 20 per cent of new allotments would be allowed to be in cul-de-sacs, and any that exist would have to be connected with pathways for bikes and pedestrians.
Other recommendations in the document Model Code for Neighbourhood Design include 1.5-metre wide footpaths, bus stops within a five-minute walk, and predominantly rectangular lots, with a length of between 25 and 32 metres.
Mr Dick said simple improvements to the current planning framework could encourage people to walk and exercise more.
"Our built environment has a huge impact on how active and healthy people are," he said.
"Cul-de-sacs are now recognised as not necessarily being the best model design for communities, because they can close off communities, they can stop connectivity, they can create some access problems for emergency services," he said.
The plan has support from the Heart Foundation and the Urban Development Institute of Australia Queensland, representatives for which were alongside Mr Dick for Sunday's announcement.
Heart Foundation Queensland chief executive Stephen Vines said walking-friendly neighbourhoods were needed to get residents moving and leaving their car at home.
