You could start by saying that economic development is primarily concerned with income although it is more than just economic growth. Economic development means improving the living standards of people, for example by improvements in infrastructure, education and health systems as well as income. The central concept of sustainable development is that people’s lives can be improved without exhausting natural resources and without damaging the environment. In other words, it is about friendly coexistence between economic growth and the environment so that the needs of future generations can continue to be met.

Your notes might have resembled the following:

Pillar 1: Economic sustainability

• Efficient and responsible use of land, labour, capital and technology.
• Good value for money

Pillar 2: Environmental sustainability

• Minimise damage and impact on the environment.
• Use renewable energy to limit environmental damage and climate change.
• Minimise waste

Pillar 3: Social sustainability

• Improve quality of life for the population.
• Reduce poverty.

1. It is important to involve users in decision making but future financial sustainability is also important. The service is likely to fall into disrepair if maintenance cannot be paid for.
2. Project design should take account of future needs as well as the current needs. Keeping costs down should not be the only criterion.
3. Consulting with the users about their preferred location is important but other factors must also be considered including the potential environmental impacts and also the costs, which may differ between different possible locations.