Social sustainability is about the equitable distribution of physical resources and social resources.

Physical resources are things like food water, shelter, housing and energy. Social resources include things like access to information, participation in community decision-making, and strong community networks.

In a socially sustainable community, residents should be able to access all of the above without compromising the ability of future generations to access them too.

This plan is different from our other supporting plans in that it looks at what actions we can put in place to benefit the entire community, not just particular groups.

Key themes covered in this plan will include things like:

• Adaptability and resilience: ensuring Council services and infrastructure can adapt to changing community needs over time and withstand social, economic and environmental changes
• Voice in decision-making: ensuring residents’ have opportunities to influence their daily lives and decision that affect them
• A rich social and cultural life: promoting community cohesion, safety and relationships between people from different backgrounds and local social networks
• Access to appropriate infrastructure: ensuring our facilities, services and programs fit the needs of our community, and allow people to meet and develop their social relationships.

There are three pillars which must work together to achieve sustainable development: social, environmental and economic sustainability. In this plan we will consider how what we do in the social sphere impacts sustainable development as a whole.

We will be working closely with other parts of Council to ensure this plan aligns closely with the priority areas identified in our current Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2030 and Economic Development Strategy.

Examples of social-environmental concerns might include:

• environmental justice
• opportunities to enjoy and protect our natural environments
• sustainable use of resources to prevent their depletion.

Examples of social-economic concerns might include:

• business ethics
• fair trade
• worker's rights.