6 August 2019

Canberrans are a dog-loving, outdoorsy bunch of Green Machine supporters

| Lachlan Roberts
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It can now be proven that Canberrans prefer doggy love to kitty cuddles. Photo: RSPCA ACT.

More Canberrans own dogs than cats according to data from an ACT Government survey, which also reveals the postcodes that order the most takeaway and who the most popular sports team in the territory is.

The Lifestyle Survey, which is an ongoing survey conducted through the YourSay Community Panel, is designed to help the ACT Government better understand the behaviours and lifestyle of the Canberra community.

More than 1,330 Canberrans took part in the survey since it opened last month, which asked questions about eating habits, pet ownership, favourite sports team and preferred method of physical activity.

More than a fourth of the survey responders live in the Belconnen region (27 per cent), followed by the Inner North (18 per cent), Tuggeranong (17 per cent), Gungahlin (11 per cent) and Woden Valley (10 per cent), while 53 per cent of responders were female and 45 per cent male.

Cats vs Dogs

According to the data, surprisingly 40 per cent of households do not own a pet, while 36 per cent of households said they have a man’s best friend as a member of the house.

A measly 21 per cent said they own cats (although to be honest, whether humans can truly claim ownership over cats is still disputed) while fish, birds, rabbits and reptiles also polled.

The survey said that Belconnen residents are most likely to own a cat (25 per cent) while Canberrans living in Weston Creek (44 per cent) and Tuggeranong (41 per cent) are most likely to own a dog. Nearly 50 per cent of people in the 45-54-year-old demographic has an adopted canine baby.

According to the poll results, one in every fourth woman owns a cat.

The Green Machine is the most supported sports team in the nation’s capital. File photo.

Sports

Canberra is definitely a two-sport city, with both rugby league and rugby union neck-to-neck vying for sports fan’s support. While shockingly a whopping 60 per cent said they do not support any of the local teams, 18 per cent said they are Green Machine fans, followed closely by Brumbies supporters with 17 per cent.

The GWS Giants who play home games at Manuka Oval three times per season, with a clash coming up this Friday night (9 August), also have a strong support base in the nation’s capital with 10 per cent.

Other popular teams were the Canberra Capitals (5 per cent), W-league side Canberra United (4 per cent), and ice hockey champions CBR Brave (4 per cent) Big Bash’s Sydney Thunder and baseball’s Canberra Cavalry combine for 6 per cent of support.

Physical Activity

When asked if they regularly participate in sports or physical activities, a majority of Canberrans said they participate in running/walking (58 per cent). Younger Canberrans aged 18-24 years are more likely to visit the gym (49 per cent) while residents aged 45-64 are most likely to go for a run/walk (65 per cent).

Swimming was one of the most popular activities (16 per cent), followed by tennis (5 per cent), golf (4 per cent) soccer (3 per cent) and netball (3 per cent).

Inner North residents eat the most takeaway. File Photo.

Eating Habits

When asked how often they eat at a cafe, restaurant or order takeaway, more than a fourth of responders said once a week (26 per cent) while less than a fifth said more than three times a week (17 per cent).

Canberrans in the Woden region may be the healthiest people in the nation’s capital, with Woden Valley residents eating out only once a week (34 per cent).

It is no surprise the gorging Inner North residents are most likely to go for runs (65 per cent) after the data revealed that 27 per cent of Inner North Canberrans eat out more than three times per week.

The Government is urging more Canberrans to join the community panel and take part in the survey through the YourSay website.

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