Have your say on Council's Community Engagement Strategy

Published on 16 July 2020

Residents are encouraged to have their say on the document that will drive Gannawarra Shire Council’s engagement with the community for the next five years.

Council’s Draft Community Engagement Strategy 2020-2025 is currently on display for comment, with feedback accepted up to 5pm on Friday, 21 August.

“The Draft Community Engagement Strategy 2020-2025 outlines Council’s commitment to provide our Gannawarra community with genuine opportunities to contribute and inform strategies, projects, services and decisions that affect them,” Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said.

“The draft strategy recommends significant change and innovation in the way Council engages with its community, including more interactive and online engagement and a focus on working with the community on project planning.

“Council acknowledges that engagement should be a planned process that aims to work with our community and stakeholders to shape decisions and actions in the delivery of Council’s services.”

The Draft Community Engagement Strategy 2020-2025 updates Council’s Communications and Engagement Strategy 2016-2020, and takes into consideration current implementation of the new Local Government Act 2020, as well as exploring best practice community engagement.

“Council spent time in February and March seeking feedback from residents regarding how Council currently engages with the community and what measures can be put in place to improve this relationship,” Mayor Learmonth said.

“The 329 responses received during this process assisted with the development of the 41 communication and engagement actions outlined in the draft strategy. These actions are informed by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Spectrum of Inform; Consult; Involve; Collaborate; and Empower.”

Copies of the Draft Community Engagement Strategy 2020-2025 can be inspected online at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/publicnotices. Feedback will be accepted in writing via email to [email protected]; by post to PO Box 287, Kerang VIC 3579; or online at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/publicnotices

ABOVE:Council's Draft Community Engagement Strategy 2020-2025 is based on feedback received by more than 300 responses received as part of Council's Community Engagement Survey, undertaken in February and March 2020.