Prioritising Healthy Placemaking post COVID-19

What have we have learnt from living through COVID-19 and how do we build back better? How do we deliver placemaking that incorporates the explicit recognition of the need for social, environmental and economic sustainability and puts healthy placemaking at the top of everyone’s priorities? We invite all planners, urban designers, architects, engineers, developers and other built environment practitioners to hear our findings from a NSW state-wide survey about your experiences in making healthier places. We will report back on the barriers you face, and how many of you have overcome them so that your work can positively impact the health of our communities. Where you live shapes how easy it is to buy healthy food, use active transport, and make social connections. The evidence is clear. But how do we make places that improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for all? Let’s share our thinking and best practices to break down existing barriers and deliver places that genuinely provide: Healthy living through active living, active transport, access to healthy foods and social connectivity initiatives Interactive green infrastructure and open spaces Effective urban heat mitigation measures Alternative housing provision (integrating affordable housing into development schemes) Future learning – creating lifelong learning opportunities to reskill and expand minds Strengthening engagement with the wider community and especially vulnerable groups Innovative workplace hubs to stay connected and work from – to minimise daily commutes New employment opportunities connected to activation precincts and beyond New collaborative governance models that offer long term stewardship post-development.