Mainstreet Exchange Event Series - Healthy Mainstreets

Healthy Mainstreets: Good for People, Places and Business

What makes a mainstreet a place people want to visit, spend time and return to?

Mainstreets are more than places to shop. They are where people move, meet, connect, access good food and participate in community life. Their design can make walking, wheeling and bike riding an easy part of everyday life, while supporting vibrant local businesses and stronger communities.

For Edition 2 of Mainstreet Exchange, Mainstreet SA brings together leaders from across health, planning, economic development, business and place management to explore the relationship between healthy people, thriving businesses and great mainstreets.

Presented by Luci Ward from the Heart Foundation, this session will explore how the planning and design of mainstreets influence health, movement and local economic activity.

Drawing on Healthy Active by Design for SA, the Heart Foundation’s Good for Business evidence and South Australian examples, Luci will highlight practical ways to create greener, safer and more inviting streets where people want to visit, spend time and return

The session will consider walking and riding access, slower speeds, public realm amenity, adaptable street space and the important relationship between mainstreets, schools and community destinations. It will invite participants to consider how our mainstreets can support healthier people, thriving businesses and more connected communities.

Luci will also be joined by a panel of industry leaders to unpack the practical opportunities, challenges and trade-offs involved in creating healthier mainstreets – from access, movement and parking to amenity, investment, growth and the needs of local businesses.

How can we create mainstreets that support healthier people, thriving businesses and more connected communities?

Meet our Speaker

Luci Ward is an urban planner, landscape designer and the Heart Foundation’s Senior Active Living Officer for South Australia. With experience spanning planning, infrastructure, multidisciplinary consulting and public health advocacy, Luci brings a strong understanding of how decisions about our built environment shape everyday life.

Through Healthy Active by Design, she works across planning, transport, local government and public health to promote places that make healthy choices easier. She is particularly interested in the potential of mainstreets, local centres and school catchments to encourage everyday activity, strengthen social connection and create vibrant places where communities and local businesses can thrive.

Through its Healthy Active by Design program, the Heart Foundation provides evidence-based guidance to support the planning, design and delivery of healthy, active and connected communities.  https://www.healthyactivebydesign.com.au

Healthy Active by Design for SA and Good for Business and Designing for Density as well as other Healthy Active by Design publications: https://www.healthyactivebydesign.com.au/resources/publications_and_policies

Who should attend?

Mainstreet and business association representatives, local and state government, economic development professionals, planners and urban designers, transport and public health professionals, place managers, property and development professionals, and business and industry leaders.

Date: Wednesday 4 November 2026
Time: 7.15am arrival and networking | 7.30am–9.00am program
Venue: Tolley’s Room, Mylk Bar, 82 Waymouth Street, Adelaide

Booking information
Members - $84.00 
Non Members - $99.00 
Mainstreet SA Members receive a $15.00 member discount, the code has been emailed to members, if you have not received, please ask your primary Mainstreet SA contact.
Bookings are available via invoice: please send us an email eo@mainstreetsa.com.au

About THE MAINSTREET EXCHANGE SERIEs

Mainstreet Exchange is a new industry breakfast series developed by Mainstreet SA to bring together leaders from government, business, planning, economic development, tourism and place management to explore the future of South Australia's main streets, city centres and activity precincts.