The challenge
As part of delivering its Open Space Strategy, Bayside City Council needed a better understanding of how parks and reserves across the municipality were actually being used.
While council staff had strong local knowledge and community feedback, decisions about investment and prioritisation were often based on qualitative insight rather than data analytics. Simple distance buffers didn’t reflect real‑world accessibility, particularly where rail lines, major roads, or disconnected streets created barriers to walking and cycling.
At the same time, increased residential density around major activity centres was placing new pressure on open space provision, making it critical to understand where there were gaps in access and which assets were under‑ or over‑serving different parts of Bayside.
The solution
Bayside City Council used Planwisely to bring People Movement Data and network‑based accessibility analysis into its open space planning.
Using Planwisely’s catchment analysis tools, the team was able to assess realistic walk, cycle, and drive access to parks based on the actual street network — rather than “as‑the‑crow‑flies” distances. This helped identify accessibility barriers and compare multiple potential land parcels to understand which locations best addressed open space gaps.
People Movement Data (including Trips, Home Locations, and heatmaps) provided further insight into how open spaces were being used, where visitors were coming from, and which areas within larger reserves attracted the most activity. These insights supported more informed conversations about investment, equity, and future planning.
