Deputy Mayor on China visit
Deputy Mayor on China visit
November 19, 2008
Section: News
Kiama Deputy Mayor Ben van der Wijngaart was busy packing his suitcase last week as he prepared to go to China to attend the 2008 International Healthy City Mayors’ Forum.
Held in Hangzhou from November 18 to 21, Cr van der Wijngaart and Council Health and Environment Team leader Julie Errey will attend the forum to discuss innovative ways to work towards an ecological future.
Cr van der Wijngaart will deliver a speech entitled “Kiama – a Healthy and Sustainable Community”, outlining Kiama Council’s initiatives to achieve its Healthy City status.
“We are the first council in NSW to develop a health plan that addresses links between our social, economic and physical environments and how they can affect our health,” he said.
Mayor Sandra McCarthy was disappointed she could not attend the forum, but was confident Cr van der Wijngaart’s visit would further relations between Kiama and Hangzhou.
Kiama’s invitation to visit Hangzhou cements the council’s reputation as a leader in the development of healthier cities, having hosted Australia’s inaugural National Healthy Cities Forum earlier this year.