Have your say on Council's Draft Community Engagement Policy

Published on 17 December 2020

Residents are encouraged to have their say on a document that will guide the delivery of community engagement process across Gannawarra Shire Council.

Council’s Draft Community Engagement Policy is currently on display for comment, with feedback accepted up to 5pm on Friday, 22 January 2021.

“As part of the transition to the new Local Government Act 2020, Council is required to implement a Community Engagement Policy by 1 March 2021,” Mayor Charlie Gillingham said.

“This draft policy recognises Council’s acknowledgement 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 Policy replaces the need to undertake 28-day consultation processes, highlighting that there are different levels of engagement with the community depending on the type of decision that is needed to be made.

“These processes are outlined in Council’s Community Engagement Strategy 2020-2025, which will see Council innovate the way it engages with its community. This includes including more interactive and online engagement and a focus on working with the community on project planning,” Mayor Gillingham said.

“This draft policy also further implements the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Spectrum of Inform; Consult; Involve; Collaborate; and Empower into Council’s operations.”

Copies of the Draft Community Engagement Policy can be inspected online at Council’s Customer Service Centres at Cohuna and Kerang. To view the document, please click here(PDF, 2MB). 

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