Residents throughout Australia are making greater use than ever before of the amenities on offer in their communities, with parks and reserves seeing the greatest increase in usage.
Andrew Middleton, the Australian Bureau of Statistics' director of culture regulation and migrant statistics, announced today (December 19th) that some 40 per cent of Australians have made use of these facilities this year, as the bureau releases its latest statistics relating to participation in sport and physical activities across the country.
The new report suggests that Australians are becoming healthier and more active than ever before, as life in the country becomes increasingly focussed on sporting participation.
In comparison to 2005-6, the number of Australians who took up running this year has roughly doubled, and 52 per cent of people took part in sporting activities at least 105 times in 2012.
Mr Middleton has also singled out the Australian Capital Territory for particular praise, after it emerged as the most sporting state, with participation rates of 80 per cent.