Community engagement – front and centre at Byron Shire Council

Published on 17 October 2018

Byron Shire is known for having an active and engaged community and people are encouraged to have a look at the Draft Community Engagement Policy that is currently on public exhibition. 

The policy is an important document because it details how and when Council will engage with residents and other stakeholders.

Media and Communications Coordinator, Annie Lewis, said Byron Shire Council recognised  that effective community engagement can build trust and confidence so that people know their views will be heard and taken into account.

“Good and effective engagement is the foundation of a relationship with the community and meaningful communication means better outcomes for residents, ratepayers, Councillors, staff and other stakeholders,” Ms Lewis said.

“Unlike some other Council areas in New South Wales who struggle to get people to get involved, Byron Shire has very high rates of engagement.

“A recent survey for our Pedestrian Access and Mobility Survey and Bike Plan received 850 responses and more than 300 people did our flood survey.

“The foundations for our relationship with the community should be based on transparency, honesty and trust so I am hoping people will take the time to read the Draft Community Engagement Policy,” Ms Lewis said.

“In early 2019 we will be building on this policy and working with randomly selected citizens, stakeholders and councillors to build a better Byron model of representative, deliberative and trusted democracy.

“We are looking to ‘co-design’ the Byron Model in partnership with our community members and stakeholders and once designed, the model will provide a framework for how Council makes public decisions and how community are engaged in the process.

“From mid-January we will be asking people to nominate themselves to be part of the process,” Ms Lewis said.

The Draft Community Engagement Policy is on public exhibition until 22 October 2018. 

For more information go to the public notices tab on the front page of the website www.byron.nsw.gov.au or call Annie Lewis, Media and Communications Coordinator on 6626 7320.