By Alesha Capone
WYNDHAM City Council has expressed concern about the area suffering from “an epidemic of obesity and diabetes”, in a submission to a State Government inquiry.
The council’s advocacy program recently sent a response to the government’s ‘Inquiry into Environmental Design and Public Health in Victoria’, which said “the subject matter is of crucial importance to shaping healthy and resilient communities”.
With the municipality’s population predicted to exceed 245,000 by 2021, making it one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions, the council said it received 60 birth notifications, 120 requests for a garbage service (from new households) and issued 100 building permits every week.
“Wyndham’s future as a healthy, resilient and connected community is dependent upon good practice environmental design for health, in particular providing opportunities for active transport such as walking and cycling (supported by accessible and integrated public transport), and providing opportunities for exercise and recreation,” the submission said.
“Wyndham has an opportunity to create new communities, with the benefit of learning from past mistakes. Wyndham communities are suffering an epidemic of obesity and diabetes: a factor in this is previous generations of poor environmental design for public health outcomes.
“The report said a 2001 study showed the leading causes of “loss of healthy life in Wyndham were mental disorders (21 per cent), cancer (17 per cent) and cardiovascular disease (13 per cent)”. The council’s submission asked the government to consider strengthening Precinct Structure Planning guidelines to ensure “that statements related to Environmental Design and Public Health Planning are able to be delivered”.
The council also asked the government to prioritise “integrated public transport and active transport” and to increase incentives for developers and Councils to improve urban design from a public health perspective.
“The funding pressures on Wyndham City Council in providing basic infrastructure for a rapidly growing community is a major barrier to the provision of optimum environmental design for the entire community,” the document said.
