A DRAFT council engagement strategy will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days.
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The strategy intends to clarify what projects and plans trigger community engagement. Residents are asked to provide feedback.
Goulburn Mulwaree Council general manager Warwick Bennett presented the report at last week's meeting.
He said the Community Strategic Plan (CSP) called for "meaningful, informed and genuine community participation" in local government.
"The council aims to do this through effective engagement involving the local community in the preparation of strategies, plans and policies and the implementation of projects and council activities," he said. "Community engagement will become an important component in our decision-making processes."
The CSP stated a set of principles to shape how the council should engage: 'inclusiveness and diversity', 'openness, respect and accountability', 'leadership', 'purpose', 'information sharing', 'feedback and evaluation' and 'resourcing and timing'.
Post Weekly advertisements, the mayoral column, fact sheets, the council website and social media would be used to inform the community.
Public comment, surveys and public meetings would be used to consult, and workshops and focus groups to involve. Collaborative engagement will stem from working parities and consensus building. Empowering the community would be achieved by giving working parties the chance to make final decisions.
"The council is seeking to implement community engagement as a critical part of our core business.
"Using contemporary forms of community engagement to inform, consult, involve, collaborate and empower the public needs to become part of our everyday activity."
The Community Engagement Strategy was placed on exhibition for 28 days. It is available at the Civic Centre and on the council's website.