Queensland Health implements a multi-strategy approach to prevent and reduce Queensland’s skin cancer burden. Ensuring shade is prioritised in built environment policy, planning and investment agendas and providing evidence-based advice and systems to optimise shade provision is central to this approach.
Whilst ‘seeking’ shade requires positive behaviour from individuals, shade must also be available. Unfortunately, many Queensland communities have limited access to quality shade along active travel routes and neighbourhood footpaths. To address this issue, we consulted state agencies and local councils on how policies regarding the amount and quality of shade are developed, implemented and how they could be influenced for health outcomes. We identified whilst shade and heat data is available to policy makers, UV data was absent. We commissioned research to measure how shade and UV protection are delivered through current street tree planting. Analysis identified tree characteristics, orientation, and planting intervals for footpaths to maximise shade and UV protection.
With researchers, urban design and landscape experts, digital strategists, government and community stakeholders, we co-designed the CanopyCast, which translates complex data into a practical web-based tool to guide street tree planning to maximise UV protection.
This tool comes at a critical time with large infrastructure projects, that have mandatory shade targets, underway across Queensland for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We will continue to consult with government and industry stakeholders regarding CanopyCast’s use and impact to improve shade planning and delivery of UV protection outcomes, including options to measure and monitor progress to meet shade targets.