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Residents of the Hawkesbury are being invited to look beyond council boundaries and take part in a regional conversation about climate resilience, disaster preparedness and community health when the Blue Mountains City Council hosts its Planetary Health Initiative event on this Saturday 28 February and Sunday 29 February 2026.
While centred in the Blue Mountains, the forum is expected to address issues that directly affect Hawkesbury communities including bushfire risk, extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and the reliability of essential infrastructure.
The concept of “planetary health” recognises that human health and safety are inseparable from the health of the natural environment. For Hawkesbury residents, that connection is not abstract. The Black Summer bushfires, repeated flood events along the Hawkesbury River and ongoing telecommunications and evacuation route concerns have underscored how environmental pressures translate into real community risk.
Council organisers say the event will bring together local government representatives, environmental scientists, emergency services and community leaders to discuss practical strategies to strengthen regional resilience. Topics are expected to include climate adaptation, bushland regeneration, emissions reduction and improved emergency preparedness.
Importantly for Hawkesbury residents, the forum will also examine how neighbouring councils can collaborate on cross-border challenges such as fire management, road access along Bells Line of Road, biodiversity corridors and coordinated disaster response.
Community workshops will focus on practical steps households and local organisations can take from property preparedness and land management to supporting local sustainability initiatives.
With many Hawkesbury families having strong social, economic and environmental ties to the Blue Mountains, the event presents an opportunity to contribute to a broader regional strategy aimed at protecting both people and place.
Further details: https://bluemountainsplanetaryhealth.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?
