Draft community engagement framework

Council is seeking feedback on a new draft Community Engagement Framework that includes tools that will help councillors and staff decide how and when they engage on major plans and activities that impact the community.

Council engaged KJA, a specialist communications and engagement company to undertake an independent review and prepare a framework to guide councillors and staff in how to carry out best practice community engagement.  The review recommended a Citizens Jury as one way to strengthen community engagement practices and Council will be conducting its first jury later this year.

The framework includes a draft Community Engagement Charter which sets out an agreement between Council and the community about the purpose of community engagement and the responsibilities of Council and community members. It includes a new draft Decision Tool which councillors and staff can use as a guide to determine the right level of engagement, and to match engagement activities for different projects across Council.

While the framework is a primarily guide for councillors and staff who will be trained in how to apply it, Council is inviting feedback from the wider community such as whether you agree or disagree with anything, or if you would add, remove, or change something in the draft. People interested in seeing how the draft decision tool is applied are invited to meet with Council staff to use the decision tool and give their feedback in person. Please phone Council’s communication team on 4474 1085 by 30 June to register your interest in attending a meeting.

The draft Community Engagement Framework is now on public exhibition and Council is seeking comments from the community until close of business on 29 July.

The framework is available for viewing or overnight loan from the Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma libraries. An additional copy is available for viewing at the Moruya Administration Centre. You can also download the framework from our website: