Assessing the Impacts on Health of an Urban Development Strategy: A Case Study of the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy

Abstract

This paper discusses a strategic policy-level health impact assessment (HIA) on the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy (UDS). The need for a strategy is based on a number of premises, including an expected 120,000 increase in the population in the greater Christchurch region by 2041, bringing the total population to around 500,000. This is one of the first HIAs in New Zealand that assesses the link between urban design, health determinants & health outcomes at a high level of strategic planning. The HIA considered six key health determinants: air & water quality, housing, transport & social connectedness. A second work stream focused on developing an engagement process with local Maori around the UDS. Social connectedness, air quality & the Maori work stream are covered in this paper. This trial of the HIA process was constrained by time & resource limitations, but nevertheless was considered to be an extremely valuable process by participants. The development of a common language between unengaged stakeholders was seen as key to future collaboration. The final report was accepted by the UDS steering group, with population health outcomes having become a key focus. The authors recommend the incorporation of health impact assessment principles & processes into local government policy cycles. Tables, Figures, References. Adapted from the source document.