Life in lockdown has allowed Victorians to take more note of the neighbourhood features they are missing.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A new survey by the Heart Foundation asked Victorians to rate the neighbourhood-design features they rate the most important.
More than 90 per cent said convenient access to fresh food was the most important feature.
More news
Rounding out the top five was a sense of safety (89 per cent), accessible walking and cycling facilities (87 per cent), natural elements (86 per cent) and being close to parks or open spaces (83 per cent).
Heart Foundation Victoria chief executive Kellie-Ann Jolly said after eight months of lockdown, Victorians felt their home communities should support active and healthy lifestyles.
"For many people, COVID-19 threw a spotlight on communities that failed to meet these needs," she said.
"COVID-19 restrictions forced Melburnians and regional Victorians to take stock of their health, homes and neighbourhoods.
"We know the way our neighbourhoods are designed and built is closely connected to how much physical activity we do. Regular exercise and being active is one of the best ways to reduce your risks of heart attack, stroke and other chronic diseases."
Bendigo Foodshare manager Bridget Bentley said during the coronavirus pandemic, more people were seeking food relief for the first time.
"Pre-COVID we were supporting nearly 13,000 people each week over a (central Victorian) network of 94 agencies," she said. "Some agencies were reporting a 40 to 50 per cent increase in people wanting food relief.
"We were seeing a change in people requesting food relief, with many more asking help for first time.
"(Many) were finding themselves in situations they had never been in before and had probably taken for granted having access to fresh and healthy food when you need it."
As well as financial difficulties stopping people accessing fresh food, Ms Bentley said physical difficulties also played a part.
"Definitely through the pandemic and lockdown, people were physically unable to get to a supermarket," she said. "Or they would go to one and it wasn't possible to get to the next when the first didn't have things people needed.
"Out in the regions, we were hearing small country towns don't have the same access to fresh, healthy food as some bigger towns.
"It's a basic right and an essential part of life - access to fresh, healthy food. Ninety-one per cent highlights that people see it as an essential service and a part of a healthy lifestyle."
Bike Bendigo president Nicola Dunnicliff-Wells said the pandemic had shined a light on how much people valued cycling and walking.
She said it was a good time for governments to increase spending on cycling and walking infrastructure.
"One thing that has become clear is that we have good places to ride but they're not everywhere," Ms Dunnicliff-Wells said.
"Somewhere like Marong is a rapidly growing area with new housing estates opposite the school over the highway. So it's easy walking distance but there is no safe way to cross the highway.
"We need to be connecting what we have but building more. We spend money to get cars (into the CBD) without batting eyelid - we are asking for a fraction of that money to get bikes there too."
Ms Dunnicliff-Wells said people had also enjoyed the mental health benefits of using walking and cycling trails.
"People have really found walking or cycling is great for their mental health," she said. "Physical health is a no brainer but people didn't realise the mental health benefits until they were in lockdown.
"A 15-minute ride helps you process the day. In years gone by my ride home has been a great way to wind down."