Current situation
- Many residents feel they don’t have a real say in decisions that impact their community.
- Generally, decisions are made in meetings closed off to the community and input is only sought at limited stages.
- When residents are asked for their views through consultation initiatives, it often feels as though decisions have already been made. The process can come across as information-sharing rather than genuine consultation, more like a “tick and flick” exercise.
- Community engagement in Council surveys is very low. Municipal-wide surveys received an average of 158 responses in 23/24 and 24/25, despite a voting population of 13,500+.
- Residents often find out about new projects via a Council announcement when construction begins or when they see changes on the ground.
What is the issue
- Decisions are made behind closed doors, with limited communication and transparency about how those decisions are made.
- While making decisions behind closed doors and consulting residents during limited stages may seem efficient, it overlooks valuable local knowledge and often results in poorer outcomes and higher costs (for example, trees planted then removed on Penna Rd, no toilets or parking at the Pawleena Playground, delays to bus stop upgrades on Carlton Beach Rd).
- When outcomes feel pre-determined, community engagement drops and residents feel disconnected to Council.
- Very low numbers of respondents to Council surveys means they are unable to capture the ideas, knowledge and creativity of the community.
- Residents can sit in on Council meetings when decisions are officially voted on, however at this point, generally, the decisions have already been made
My plan
- Recognise that residents are the local experts in their community by bringing them into the decision-making process and being fully transparent about how and why decisions are made.
- Create community volunteer advisory committees on priority areas – waste, transport, sport, and environment – with representatives who have a particular interest, experience or expertise in these areas. The representatives will be appointed by Council via a robust selection process and serve a 2 year term . The committees will meet quarterly and attend Council meetings when important decisions are discussed. The committee will provide advice and input. Council will consider their position and provide an open and transparent response.
- Council to present the community with opportunities to input into decisions from the initial stages.
- Council to introduce a benchmark that will aim to achieve a minimum 10% engagement of the impacted (18 years and older) population for all community surveys.
Benefits
- Builds trust and transparency between residents and Council.
- Achieves better outcomes for the community.
- When residents’ views are genuinely sought early and acted upon, community engagement with Council (e.g. survey responses) should increase significantly.
- Projects are delivered more efficiently, with fewer delays, reduced contractor costs, and less re-work after implementation and greater resident satisfaction.
- When residents are involved in a decision they have a greater sense of ‘ownership’ of it and are more likely to contribute to management and maintenance e.g. assisting in tree plantings to maximise resources.