A Healthy City Starts with the Soil 

We often think of cities as buildings, roads and skylines. But beneath it all, under the playgrounds, footpaths and homes, there’s something quietly shaping our health and wellbeing: the soil. 

A new report by Dutch research institute Deltares has a clear message. Our cities can only thrive if we start from the ground up. Titled A Healthy City Starts with the Soil, the study calls on governments and planners to consider the vital role of soil in creating healthier, more resilient and more liveable places to live. 

At Healthy Cities Australia, this speaks directly to our work. We know that health outcomes don’t begin in hospitals. It starts in our homes, our streets and our shared spaces. And now, thanks to this report, we’re reminded that it also starts beneath our feet. 

Why soil matters for public health 

Healthy soil isn’t just about agriculture. It’s a key part of our urban infrastructure. 

It helps manage floods, regulate urban temperatures, grow nutritious food and support diverse ecosystems. These are not just environmental benefits. They are public health solutions. 

The Australian Government’s National Soil Strategy reinforces this, outlining how soil underpins everything from food security to carbon storage and community wellbeing. Similarly, the NSW Soil Knowledge Network brings together local knowledge and science to protect and manage this essential resource. 

But in many of our urban environments, soil is compacted, polluted or paved over. Without healthy soil, we lose more than green space. We lose the chance to build neighbourhoods that support wellbeing from the ground up. 

How Australian cities are responding 

There’s growing recognition across Australia that nature-based solutions and healthy soils are central to sustainable development. 

Organisations like the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities are integrating soil and water management into urban design. Local initiatives, from composting programs to green-blue infrastructure and community gardens, are helping people reconnect with the ground they live on. 

We’re seeing momentum, but there is still work to do. 

If we want to create cities where people can thrive, we need to look down as well as forward. Because when we invest in soil health, we’re investing in the health of our communities for generations to come.