Key directions for achieving our people objective:
1.1 Promote and support health and wellbeing Good health and wellbeing is fundamental to quality of life, quality of human relationships and the capacity to participate in education, work, recreation and the community. Good health and wellbeing can be supported at any age through individual and public policy measures, such as promoting age friendly environments.
Our focus areas We will: 1.1.1 Develop passive and active recreation, leisure and arts Key initiatives include: • Develop a policy for the use of temporary spaces (Council owned or managed empty shops, unused sites etc.) to support place making and community engagement activity.
The importance of a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity, in improving health and wellbeing is well established. Regular quality exposure to nature has also been shown to be important.
• Maintain active community engagement programs to encourage greater use of leisure centres by Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and Indigenous communities:
We are committed to providing accessible, safe and appealing sport, recreation and community activities. We will achieve this through direct service provision, support of organised community based recreational groups, advocacy, and planning with the community and key stakeholders.
• Consult with the community in the development of community facilities
Our role in public health focuses mainly on health promotion and prevention activities. We also play a role in the minimisation of disease, illness and injury, reducing health and wellbeing inequalities, and supporting health-focused behaviours and conditions. This is particularly important given the recent emergence of new public health risks such as the impact of climate change and the spread of swine flu during 2009.
-- Develop a targeted soccer program for groups in West Heidelberg from a CALD background
• Arts and Cultural strategic plan development and implementation: -- Continued provision of an extensive arts, culture and festival and events calendar
1.1.3 Foster communities that support and create opportunities for people to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
Provide services for people at important life stages
-- Introduction of Movies in the Park
Key initiatives include:
Banyule’s population is changing and growing every year. Banyule has a significant ageing population; however, similar to the nation as a whole, it is also experiencing a ‘baby boom’, with a strongly increasing number of 0 to 4 year olds. There is a slight decrease in the number of dwellings occupied by traditional family groups. The locations where high numbers of children and young people live are changing. An increase in the overall birth rate, multiple dwelling sites and a slight growth in migrants coming to Banyule are contributing to our overall growth.
• Continue the support and development of Council’s facility managed by Macleod YMCA • Adopt and implement a Play-space plan that provides a strategic vision for appropriate play spaces for our community to meet and recreate at. 1.1.2 Protect the community against preventable diseases and hazards associated with food, water and the environment Key initiatives include: • Review, implement and promote Council’s public health programs and services • Promote access to healthy foods by implementing programs and services that maximise food safety, access and nutrition • Continue Council’s program for water quality monitoring of public pools • Co-ordinate and deliver immunisation services to protect children from communicable diseases • Undertake educational and enforcement activities to reduce the health impact of tobacco on the community • Respond to emerging and future preventable disease outbreaks and public health risks though education, promotion and advocacy.
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BANYULE CITY COUNCIL CITY PLAN 2013-2017
1.2
• Support Neighbourhood Houses to provide community and education programs: -- Support an additional portable classroom for Watsonia Neighbourhood House • Support community groups with community grants and access to buildings • Support the resurfacing of the lower ground at the Montmorency Bowling club • Explore the feasibility, costs and operational impacts of a possible Council-facilitated service that would assist our senior citizen organisations in the set-up and pack-up of tables, chairs and other furniture for their meetings and gatherings • Work towards making Banyule an ‘Age Friendly’ place to live, including: -- Celebrate and co-ordinate activities for seniors during the October ‘Seniors Month’ • Plan and deliver services, activities and information to support seniors in living a full and independent life in Banyule • Advocate on behalf of disadvantaged members of our community in Council related services and appropriate areas of need affecting their life in Banyule • Review the Banyule Electronic Gaming Machine Strategy.
To enjoy health and wellbeing, people need strong social connections to family, friends and the wider community. Such connections support the development of mutual trust, shared values and more cohesive communities. We will advocate for and support the development of services and resources for people of all ages, genders, abilities, cultures and household types in Banyule. This involves planning, developing and delivering appropriate services and resources in partnership with the community, other levels of government and key stakeholders.
“As a father with a young family I have first hand experience of both the needs and pressures that face our important community services. Council is constantly balancing the challenge of increasing community demand, cost pressures and cost shifting from other levels of Government.” Cr Mark DiPasquale
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