Organisers behind a project inviting residents to reclaim their local streets is hoping more Australians come out of their homes and get to know one another.

Play Streets Australia is helping towns and cities use their local streets as an opportunity for residents to socialise and build safe and friendly communities.

It has rolled out successfully in Victoria and South Australia, and proponents now hope Sydney and Brisbane will follow.

Valli Morphett, the project lead and chief executive of CoDesign Studios, said she wanted to help give people a place to have street meetings, street parties or simply somewhere for children to play for a few hours.

"I grew up in regional Victoria and the streets when I was a kid allowed us to ride bikes, rollerskate and ride horses," she told ABC Radio Brisbane Terri Begley.

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"Contemporary society has shifted and suburbs are having higher levels of isolation than ever before and kids aren't playing outside as much either."

She said growing concerns over increased traffic and the rise of console entertainment meant more families were staying indoors.

"Society is changing and our tastes in entertainment are changing, but play streets are providing opportunities to get people out playing on the streets."

How can it work?

Ms Morphett said the concept also wanted to empower citizens to take an active role in closing the streets themselves.

"It's not about rolling a wheelie bin across the street — there are things that need to be done," she said.

"All the Is need to be dotted and the legislative processes are ticked."

Talk to your council about: Road closure rules to follow

Road closure rules to follow Insurance

Insurance Event planning

Event planning Consulting other residents Source: Play Streets

The group works with residents to handle the paperwork and liaise with local councils, ultimately to see it become a normal workflow for communities.

"It's not the norm at the moment, but we're working with a number of councils that are setting up processes and models to make it easy," Ms Morphett said.

"Council departments like traffic get nervous, especially when it comes to insurance, but the reality is that there are solutions to make it easy and those things don't need to be a barrier.

"Some councils generously support the insurance of the play street, others require the resident groups to get their own insurance."

Street parties, cricket games and meetings are all encouraged on local streets. ( Facebook: Play Streets Australia )

What does the street need to have?

The best streets were ones with little infrastructure and were easy to close, like residential streets, Ms Morphett said.

"You want residents to be connecting on the streets and allow kids to experience the streets as a playground and as a social connection.

"We want to provide streets not just for cars but for people too."

She added that many places in the United States used civic areas as play streets on Sundays, yet in Australia more local communities were wanting their streets opened up.

Listeners and comments to ABC Radio Brisbane's Facebook page were divided on the issue, with some believing more parks would be a better solution.

"Councils should have made plans for traffic, not more houses. More parks are needed for kids to go to." — James Ramone

"What if we need to drive that way? I don't mind if there's a way around." — Yotto Strongman

"Close half the street and make the street one-way." — Hayden O'Sullivan

"Brilliant idea. Encourage community barbecues and events on the day and get neighbours talking again." — Paul White

"Isn't that what parks are for?" — Adele Buzzard

"Reclaim the streets for the people if only for a few hours — sounds great." — Nicholas Whitlock

"Yes, absolutely. We live in a residential 40kph area and still have several P platers insisting on screaming down the street at 70kph." — Claire Fowler

Building resilience

In locations where the project has rolled out, residents have found it empowering running their own events and enjoying getting to know their neighbours.

"It can be as simple as pulling out some tables and chairs and bringing a share plate," Ms Morphett said.

"The more people you know in the street, the greater the levels of community resilience that are experienced, not only social capital but resilience.

"If something happens and there's an emergency situation, resilient communities have people they can go to in times of need."