Guest speakers from Food Fairness Illawarra, the Shoalhaven Anti-poverty Committee, The DENNY Foundation and the Australian Red Cross food mapping project spoke about food insecurity and ideas on overcoming these issues over the next two years.

Groups were asked to be involved in strategic planning activities and plan ways to build community leadership and advocacy.

Australian Red Cross southern region manager Judy Harper said food insecurity was a major issue in the Shoalhaven due to the increased cost of food, poor public transport and a lack of decent parking.

A study done by Victorian Healthy Food Basket in 2014 showed healthy food was unaffordable to many households in the Shoalhaven.

The report revealed there were 70 takeaway food and 19 takeaway alcohol outlets in the Nowra-Bomaderry area alone as opposed to six healthy food shop options in the same area. Public transport was infrequent and limited or not available on school holidays and weekends, the price of meat rose by 11.5 per cent over three years and it cost 35.5 per cent of a two-parent household income, on government assistance, to buy healthy food.

Ms Harper said the Australian Red Cross food mapping project would further studies to help council, local organisations and the community to work collaboratively and address any issues.

Bomaderry Healthy Town Challenge has kick-started a Healthy Town Cooking Class as a community health initiative to teach people about nutrition during a four-week program. It will be held from Thursday, April 30 to May 14. For more information on the Healthy Town Cooking Class or the Heart Foundation’s free, local fitness programs contact NSW Health Illawarra Shoalhaven health promotions officer Kim Thompson on 4424 6389 or 4455 5366 or email kim.thompson @sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au.