Background Information

Community engagement is about involving people in decision-making and is at the very core of our democratic processes in Local Government. Community participation is crucial for building a great shire where people want to live, work, and visit.

Council carries out community engagement on key projects, initiatives, policies, strategies and plans to ensure a balanced and collaborative decision-making process between the community and Council is achieved. As part of the Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) Framework, the Local Government Act 1993 states Council must establish and implement a Community Engagement Strategy to support the development of all plans, policies, programs, and key activities. The Framework stipulates that engagement activities should be incorporated into one over-arching strategy to be endorsed by Council which outlines how it will engage with the community.

Council is committed to involving our community in decision making processes. Through seeking feedback and engaging our community to join the conversation with Council, we will enable better decision making, strengthen our community and build trust.

Submissions received after the exhibition period. Submissions were reviewed and a final report was developed for adoption by Council which can be viewed in the Document Library on this page.

Council adopted its current Community Engagement Strategy including Community Participation Plan on 19 April 2023.

The strategy identifies relevant stakeholder groups within the community and outlines when, how and why each group will be able to provide input into Council’s long-term planning and decision-making activities.

At Council’s meeting held on 21 September 2022, Council endorsed a phased approach to the review of the Community Engagement Strategy and Community Strategic Plan.

The first phase was held between September 2022 and June 2023. As required in this phase, Council’s Community Engagement Strategy has been reviewed and the draft Strategy has been prepared for consideration.

The second phase was held from August 2023 through to the recent Local Government elections in September 2024. As required in this phase, the review focused on implementing newly created community engagement structures and a co-design approach to inform current and future approaches to community engagement.

A third phase will be reconfirmed in consultation with the newly elected Council and based on the Community Engagement Strategy being aligned to the wider Communications and Engagement Framework for Council.

Council delivers a diverse range of services and projects for our community and community engagement is an essential part of this process. Community engagement is undertaken based on the level of impact, interest and influence for our community and is important to:

  • Involve the community in decision making
  • Build relationships and trust
  • Strengthen community
  • Build a sense of belonging; and
  • Keep the community informed.

The draft strategy builds on the existing strategy, developed following internal and external engagement. It outlines Council’s principles, commitments, levels and process for engagement to guide Council’s elected members, staff and consultants when engaging with our community.

The draft Strategy details Council’s commitment to providing a diverse range of opportunities for our community to share feedback and join the conversation on Council’s projects and plans.

The draft Strategy highlights Council’s role in effectively planning engagement activities, keeping our community informed about project updates and the rationale for Council’s decisions.

Following endorsement of the draft Strategy, active engagement will be undertaken during 2025 for the draft Strategy to be incorporated into a wider Communications and Engagement Framework for Council.

During this period a combination of both traditional and emerging engagement activities will take place including face-to-face engagement, village pop up sessions, online digital engagement through Participate Wingecarribee and our Place Portal. The broader community will be engaged via Council’s social media platforms.

Exhibition Period

The Strategy was on public exhibition for a period of 28 days. It was open from Thursday 31 October and closed on Thursday 28 November 2024.

Viewing the Draft Strategy

The Draft Strategy and associated documentation is able to be viewed:

  1. Document Library on this page
  2. Council’s Customer Service Counter, Civic Centre, 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale NSW 2577, between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday

    Providing Feedback

    Feedback was invited from the community during the public exhibition period through the following ways:

    1. Completing the Submission Form (below)
    2. Emailed to mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au with the email subject title Draft Community Engagement Strategy
    3. Hand delivered to Council's Civic Centre at 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale NSW 2577
    4. Posted to Wingecarribee Shire Council, PO Box 141, Moss Vale NSW 2577

    Submission Form

    Your personal information contained in your submission is collected by Council for the purpose of corresponding with you about your submission. Your submission, including only your name and locale, will be contained in the Council meeting business paper and made publicly available on Council's website. If you make an anonymous submission, Council will be unable to contact you further and only a summary of the points made in your submission may be provided.

    Next Steps

    At the Council Meeting held on Wednesday 11 December 2024 it was resolved that:

    1. Council defer the adoption of the Community Engagement Strategy for further community consultation and for a strategic session to be held with Councillors in relation to communication and engagement.
    2. Following further community consultation and the strategic session the General Manager present a draft combined Communications and Engagement Strategy to Council by April 2025.

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