The Greater Macarthur Health and Wellbeing Strategy has been endorsed for public exhibition at Tuesday night’s Council meeting, with community members now able to have their say on the strategy.

The need for a social health and wellbeing strategy was identified in Council’s Operational Plan in response to the State Government’s rezoning of Greater Macarthur for urban development. This includes Appin in the Wollondilly Shire.

With more than 20,000 new dwellings planned for Appin, the resident population of the Wollondilly local government area will more than triple over the next 30 years. In total, the Greater Macarthur Growth Area (Appin) is forecast to grow to around 68,900 people.

Mayor Matt Gould said, “Council continues to advocate strongly for the infrastructure and services that our growing community needs.”

“It is essential that our future residents have access to things like public spaces, walkable streets, diverse housing, social and health services and accessible shops and amenities, right from the start.”

“Key areas of concern including mental health challenges, a limited public transport network and dependence on cars for transport, and extreme heat impacts during summer need to be addressed so that we can have the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes for these future communities.”

“The Health and Wellbeing Strategy sets out opportunities to plan for, deliver and manage these outcomes, as well as Council’s advocacy priorities and recommendations for developers.”

The draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy highlights eight planning areas that facilitate health and wellbeing. These are: social connectedness, access to nature and open space, employment/income, active transport, equity, education, access to health care and access to healthy food.

With the future population likely to be more culturally diverse and having a younger age profile, recognising the unique experiences and needs of these groups will help ensure a healthy place for everyone.

Incorporating health and wellbeing into planning policies is important for creating healthy communities. Without this early planning and delivery, the likelihood of new residents becoming socially isolated and lonely is increased, creating significant long-term health impacts.

Council officers are currently reviewing and providing preliminary advice on the precinct Structure Plan, draft Development Control Plan and Transport Management and Accessibility Plan being prepared for the Appin (part) precinct, with the documents expected to be publicly exhibited by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in the coming months.

Council will be seeking input and a commitment from key developers in Greater Macarthur to deliver a healthy built environment.

Council will also write to the Hon. Ryan Park MP, Minister for Health and the Hon. Paul Scully MP Minister for Planning and Public Spaces to seek a commitment to embed health and wellbeing principles into the planning process.

The Health and Wellbeing Strategy will be soon be on public exhibition for community members to have their say.