New national infrastructure database looks to drive informed decision making

A new national infrastructure database that aims to aid the future planning and provision of aquatic, community, fitness, recreation and sport facilities is now live and available available to the industry.

Powered by SportsEye, the free-to-use resource has been developed to inform local, state and national planning and delivery decisions, as well as investment decisions by the private sector.

Identified as a needed resource by key industry stakeholders over several decades – as far back as 1997 the Rethinking the funding of community sporting and recreational facilities: a sporting chance report, tabled in the Commonwealth Parliament, called for such a resource.

Governed by a cross-industry Steering Group, and already listing key information on over 8,500 sites across Australia, Mark Band, Chief Executive of Parks and Leisure Australia, has described the database as a “key resource for any organisation strategically planning delivery and investment”.

Supported by more than 500 organisations who already have user accounts, the database is governed by an industry-representative group of organisations who recognise the importance of up to date, accurate data in informing decisions.

These are already directly editable by more than 40 state and national sport organisations, over 350 council and leisure venue operators, leading leisure and sport planning consultancies, and state government and associations - all of whom have a SportsEye account and have contributed infrastructure information.

Key Questions about the national infrastructure database

Who's the database designed for?
All stakeholders who have an interest within community sport, leisure and recreational infrastructure. If your council is undertaking any kind of strategy or planning work this toolkit should be of assistance.

What data is contained?
Non-commercially sensitive data on sites and the facilities within these sites. The database structure has had significant input from the Steering Group and will be reviewed on a rolling basis by this group.

What will I be able to access?
Your account will enable you to add and edit details on any sites already contained within the database as well as add new sites. You will be able to analyse the data using the built-in dashboards, as well as export the data in Excel format.

What system is used to manage the data?
ActiveXchange has an existing online platform that is used by around 500 state and local government, sport and operator organisations to access business and shared market insight. This has been expanded to manage this database, governed by the Steering Group. The online platform is being launched with 8,400+ sites listed. ActiveXchange also launched the national infrastructure database with Sport New Zealand last year so have a good understanding of the technical requirements.

Who owns and can access the data?
The data is open to any organisation but a SportsEye account is required in order to manage, analyse or export the information.

Alex Burrows, founder of ActiveXchange and the SportsEye Network, which provides the technology to manage the database, has contributed a feature introducing the initiative in the latest issue of Australasian Leisure Management.

To setup an account go to activexchange.org/national-database

For more information email: intelligence@ActiveXchange.org