Geraldton too quick for State Government’s funding support for local governments’ compulsory health plan

A State Government announcement to provide funding and planning resources to local governments has arrived too late for the City of Greater Geraldton which are already in full swing with its public health plan. The State Public Health Plan mandates that all local governments must have their own public health plans by June this year, and on Friday the Cook Government announced a grant pool of $200,000 to support the program. City of Greater Geraldton acting CEO Paul Radalj said council was supportive of the funding announcement but was already well into developing its own public health plan, a process which started nearly 12 months ago. A step ahead of the game, Mr Radalj said the council was “thrilled to have completed an advanced draft of its public health plan”. According to the Department of Health, a public health plan “outlines the public health needs of the community it serves and establishes clear objectives and policy priorities to effectively address these needs”. Mr Radalj said the team worked with the broader community to identify what the health priorities were in Geraldton and how a healthy and connected city could be created. “The consultation on the draft plan has recently closed and the feedback received is currently being reviewed,” he said. Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton said she was proud to support local governments. “Local governments play a vital role in creating healthy communities,” she said. “They are the heartbeat of our State and help make our communities more welcoming and supportive, ensuring Western Australians can thrive.” Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley said local governments knew and understood their community needs best. “It’s a positive example of State and local governments working together to deliver healthier, more connected and inclusive communities,” she said.