This page includes information on planning for healthy environments including historical materials designed to assist Councils in developing their Municipal public health and wellbeing plans.
Planning for healthy environments
The Public Health and Wellbeing Act requires Municipal public health and wellbeing plans to be consistent with the Council Plan and the Municipal Strategic Statement/ Municipal Planning Scheme.
Each municipality in Victoria is covered by a planning scheme that regulates the use, development and protection of the land. Land use design can support safe, socially cohesive and inclusive communities and healthy lifestyles. This includes pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods, accessible open spaces for recreation and leisure, networks of high quality cycling paths conveniently located public transport and food environments that encourage healthy diets.
Environments in which people live, work, study and have their recreation can be designed or altered to increase physical activity, healthy eating, and safety and wellbeing.
Influence over the built environment is considered a key preventive health strategy in encouraging healthy physical activities such as cycling and walking.
There is also a growing evidence base linking the natural environment with good physical health and psychological wellbeing.
Healthy Active by is a website created by the Heart Foundation to highlight how best-practice planning and design of buildings, streets, towns and cities can improve Australians’ heart health. The website is a practical guide that offers evidence, advice and examples to assist with the development of healthy and active neighbourhoods.
Influence over social and economic environments is also important. Local councils play a critical role in communities across Victoria. They employ nearly 45,000 Victorians and deliver essential services that the community use every day.
With the introduction of the Gender Equality Act in March 2021, local councils are strongly encouraged to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of their communities through progressing gender equality in their workplaces and promoting gender equality in policies, programs and services that impact the public. Targeted is available to support local councils to comply with the Gender Equality Act.
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Environments for Health (2001) provides reference for councils for planning liveable, inclusive and sustainable communities through the built, social, economic and natural environments.
The Evaluation of Environments for health municipal public health and wellbeing planning framework (summary) (2006) highlights the main findings of a comprehensive evaluation of the framework conducted in 2006.
The Guide to municipal public health and wellbeing planning (2013) builds on the Environments for health municipal public health planning framework, which councils can use to consider the impact of the built, social, economic and natural environments on health and wellbeing.
Including public health and wellbeing matters in the Council plan or strategic plan (2013) - advice when considering the legislative and operational implications of including public health and wellbeing matters in their council plan
A practical guide to conducting annual reviews of MPHWPs (2012) - a step-by-step guide to conducting an annual review of MPHWPs (as required by s. 26(4) of the Act).
The guide is supported by 7 modules that assist councils to consider evaluation of their MPHWP.
Reviewed 05 April 2023