To whom it may concern,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the draft 20-Year Preventive Health Strategy.
YIMBY Hobart was established to advocate for:
Housing abundance: More housing of all types where people want to live.
A city for people at all ages and stages, of all means and abilities: Our city and suburbs should reflect the diversity of the community as a whole.
Better access for everyone: Being an active participant in our city should not rely on owning a car.
We are pleased to see the draft strategy’s focus on creating healthy environments, including our towns and cities. YIMBY Hobart believes the way our cities and towns are designed are a critical determinant of community health.
Reducing car dependence is health policy
Car-centric urban design contributes to poor air quality, increased risk of road trauma, and discourages physical activity. Designing cities so that walking, cycling and public transport are the easiest, most convenient choices will have immediate and long-term health benefits, including reduced rates of respiratory illness, fewer road injuries, and lower rates of preventable chronic diseases associated with physical inactivity.
Active transport and density support healthy lifestyles
Enabling more Tasmanians to walk or ride for daily trips requires both investment in safe, high-quality active transport infrastructure and allowing more people to live close to jobs, shops, schools, and services. This means planning for increased density, especially around existing centres and along transport corridors, so more residents can walk or ride instead of drive.
Land use and transport integration is health integration
We encourage the Tasmanian Government to integrate the goals of the Preventive Health Strategy into planning, infrastructure and housing policy by:
Prioritising investment in connected, accessible footpaths, separated cycleways, and frequent, reliable public transport.
Supporting infill and medium-density housing in areas with good access to services and transport.
Reducing the regulatory and practical barriers that prevent people from living close to where they work, study, and socialise.
Thank you again for the opportunity to contribute to this important strategy.
