For outdoor leaders and providers

Instructor qualifications

To be a leader or instructor in outdoor recreation, there are various qualifications that you will need. This could be anything from formal certifications to on-the-job training. To find out what qualifications you need, see:

• an overview of outdoor recreation education and training
• the National Outdoor Leader Registration Scheme
• the Australian Adventure Activity Standards—guidelines for leaders conducting group outdoor recreation activities
• a list of skills and qualifications for specific outdoor recreation activities.

Building outdoor recreation facilities

If you’re interested in building an outdoor recreation facility on your property, there are several guides available, including the:

• Design and development of an outdoor recreation facility (PDF, 2.09MB)
• Maintenance and management of an off-road motorcycling facility guide

Your local council may also have some information or advice specific to your region.

Recreation planning

Queenslanders are increasingly recognising the benefits to their quality of life from participating in recreation and sport.

As our population increases and recreation and sport interests become more diverse, people are seeking a wider range of recreation and sport facilities and outdoor recreation opportunities. Larger areas are often needed to satisfy these demands. Increasing populations, changing technology, social expectations and expanding economic activities all contribute to increasing competition for the available land.

Knowledge of trends, tastes, needs and preferences of the community with regard to sport and recreation is required in order to provide these communities with the widest range of appropriate, sustainable, quality opportunities in which they can participate, both now and in the future.

Recreation planning involves collecting and analysing information, to make sure the right facilities and venues for recreation and sport are developed and that the right places are protected to meet our future recreation needs.

Successful planning for recreation and sport is based on consideration of current and future demand, existing options for meeting those demands, the nature of spaces required for particular activities, and the types of services that support particular activities.

Get involved

There is more attention being paid to how our communities are planned and designed to enable people to access places for recreation. This includes the development of walkways and cycle paths. In rural areas, it may also include horse trails. These linkages encourage people to move about in the community which fosters a sense of social connectedness and gives a sense of community - all while people get out and about and exercise!

By being involved in planning processes, you can make suggestions for changes to improve access to parks and other open spaces, shopping centres, schools, places of employment, transport and community centres.

The community can also participate in both the recreation planning and the planning scheme processes. Notices usually appear in the newspaper or newsletters may be used to invite participation.

What information do planners use?

Planners study a range of information including:

• demographics
• recreation needs
• recreation settings
• recreation opportunities
• supply and demand for recreation facilities
• recreation programs
• participation rates in recreation activities
• people's views on recreation issues
• the impact of recreation on the environment
• issues affecting user groups and land management agencies.

Successful planning for recreation and sport is based on consideration of current and future demand, existing options for meeting those demands, the nature of spaces required for particular activities and the types of services that support particular activities.

Facility planning is part of the recreation planning process. It helps local governments and organisations to make decisions about what facilities they need and where they should build them, based on supply and demand.

Planning for shooting and motor sport facilities

Planning for shooting and motor sport facilities (PDF, 318KB) aims to inform effective planning to enable participants to enjoy shooting sports and motor sports without undesirable impacts on neighbouring communities. The resource is intended to assist with the drafting of new or amended planning instruments and to inform consideration of development applications for either:

• shooting or motor sport facilities, or
• sensitive developments near existing or approved shooting or motor sport facilities.

Outdoor recreation facility guide for private land owners

Sport and Recreation have developed guidelines to assist the private sector plan and manage land to increase the amount of private land made available to the public for outdoor recreation activities.

Design and Development of an Outdoor Recreation Facility (PDF, 1.8MB) as been developed for private land owners or land managers who are interested in establishing outdoor recreation facilities on their land.

The guide provides basic advice about issues to consider when planning and constructing an outdoor recreation facility and identifies relevant sources of further information. Issues covered in the publication include initial planning, including assessment of the project’s feasibility and suitability of the site, through to facility design, development approval and phases of construction.

The guide is not intended to be comprehensive and does not replace the need for wider research and/or expert advice, but highlights a range of essential, generic issues to consider when planning and developing an outdoor recreation facility.