News

Better Together will provide a significant and meaningful step forward for Council to continue to support the Northern Beaches in becoming an inclusive, connected and safe place to live, work and visit now and into the future.

It’s asking for input to a new social sustainability strategy, Better Together 2041, to ensure the strategy reflects community aspirations and needs and captures and elevates the voices of all those who live and work in our community.

A discussion paper based on feedback collected in the last four years through Council’s community engagement activities, will provide context for the community to provide input.

Mayor Michael Regan said social sustainability is about strengthening our community to improve our individual and collective wellbeing and resilience.

“Our vision is for a just and inclusive community, where equality and social justice are as important as economic wellbeing,” Cr Regan said.

“We’re inviting the community to help guide a plan to shape how we can build an even more inclusive, connected and safe society with shared responsibility for governments, business and the wider community.

Cr Regan said the Northern Beaches Council area in 2019 had a population of 273,499, which is forecast to grow to 308,896 people by 2041.

“Clearly our area is an attractive place to live, based on the predicted population growth alone.

“But expected growth in itself presents great opportunities and some challenges.

“One of those challenges is creating a social sustainability framework that puts people at the heart of everything we do and that recognises citizens’ collective wellbeing.”

Council’s discussion paper explains what social sustainability is and why it is important for the Northern Beaches and outlines the existing strengths and challenges that influence our ability to build social sustainability.

“Communities that make equality and social justice central to their growth are stronger and more resilient, creating opportunities for everyone to thrive,” Cr Regan said.

The Better Together 2041 social sustainability discussion paper, along with a range of engagement methods including a workshop in a box, survey and creative challenge are available on the Your Say page. Choose the way you would like to share your voice.