A health impact assessment of an environmental management plan: the impacts on physical activity and social cohesion.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes a prospective health impact assessment (HIA) on a local government environmental management plan, the Shellharbour Foreshore Management Plan (SFM Plan). The health outcomes of interest were physical activity and social cohesion.


METHODS
The procedures undertaken include: screening; scoping; assessment of potential health impacts; negotiation; and decision-making. The potential positive and negative health impacts of the SFM Plan were assessed and opportunities to enhance the positive and mitigate the negative were identified.


RESULTS
Implementation of the SFM Plan was supported as the HIA showed a potential to benefit the health of local residents and visitors to the Shellharbour Foreshore area by increasing physical activity and social cohesion.


CONCLUSIONS
The HIA provided a useful framework for establishing a collaborative relationship between the local government and health sector. It improved the local government's understanding of the inter-relationship between the environment and physical activity and social cohesion and enabled health authorities to have an impact on a capital works program to maximise health gain.
Neville
Leonie
L
New South Wales Public Health Officer Training Program, New South Wales Department of Health.
Furber
Susan
S
Thackway
Sarah
S
Gray
Erica
E
Mayne
Darren
D
D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004779:Environment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D009043:Motor Activity; D012932:Social Facilitation