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Why is this theme important to small towns? |
Unlike larger urban areas, small towns typically have a very strong link to the surrounding countryside and have a high quality natural environment. A pleasant natural environment serves a number of important functions for a small town. It can be a serve as a place for outdoor physical activities, and have a positive impact on the mental health of local residents (see ‘Healthy Living and Community Well-being’ component). A high quality environment can act as an attraction for workers (see ‘Jobs and Employment’ component), investors (see ‘Marketing and Promotion’ component) and international or regional tourists (see ‘Tourism’ component). Given the importance of the environment to the local economic and social networks, it is important for small towns to protect the environment as best they can and provide all citizens with a high quality environment (see ‘Equal Opportunity and Inclusion’ component).
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