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Case studies

Many councils and other agencies carry out excellent community engagement programs. The Department encourages councils to take inspiration for their Community Participation Plans from the work of their peers, such as the following award-winning programs.

2018 Planning Institute of Australia Awards

 Public Engagement and Community Planning category

Winner: Greater Sydney Commission - Shaping the future with the people of Greater Sydney

In 2016, the Greater Sydney Commission was established to lead coordinated planning across government and deliver a more productive, liveable and sustainable city for all. An important part of that planning was having robust conversations with Sydneysiders about their aspirations and ideas for the future of the city. 

Over two years, the Commission conducted a widespread and in-depth engagement program.

 

Engagement strategies

The process was underpinned by comprehensive engagement strategies for each major phase. The Commission developed an engagement framework to guide the public participation process and provide transparency about how it would be delivered and evaluated.

A critical part was collaborating with people from a range of backgrounds and perspectives. This included community groups, business and industry, State Government, councils, social and environmental peak bodies and the residents of Greater Sydney including young people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, Aboriginal people and people with a disability. 

The voices of more than 40,000 Sydneysiders were heard. The engagement program included two formal public exhibition periods, which received over 3,000 public submissions.

Results

This work has resulted in A Metropolis of Three Cities – Greater Sydney Region Plan, and five District Plans, that have the people of Greater Sydney at their heart.

Commendation: Canterbury Bankstown Council

 Community Voice Panel

The purpose of this engagement was first to build capacity in the community by informing and educating, and then to draw out the community’s views so they could recommend actions to inform Council’s response and advocacy on the urban renewal corridor strategy.

 

Engagement strategies

Canterbury Bankstown Council took an innovative approach. In recognising the general disengagement of the community, Council recruited 14 panel randomly selected from diverse age, ethnic, linguistic and geographic backgrounds.

Named the Community Voice Panel, the members were then taken through a process of becoming properly informed of the implications, challenges and opportunities of the urban renewal project. This was carried out by various experts including academics, government representatives and planning and design consultants.

Results

Panel members have been able to better understand urban renewal and what it means for them in terms of liveability, housing, design and transport.

The knowledge will help inform Council in its response and ongoing advocacy with respect to planning outcomes within this Corridor. 

The project has also established a new, visionary model of engagement for Council. It has also helped build capacity internally for Council in having planners work closely with engagement specialists to deliver tailored information, education and engagement activities.

Commendation: Newcastle City Council

Community Strategic Plan - Newcastle 2030

Newcastle City Council designed and implemented a comprehensive community engagement program to develop a Community Strategic Plan (CSP) for 10 years until 2030.  The Council wanted to develop a CSP that was informed by representative and meaningful community engagement and that identified community goals, needs and aspirations.

 

Engagement strategies

A broad range of engagement and social research activities were undertaken in alignment with the IAP2 engagement spectrum. The consultation process included working with the community to develop, improve and review engagement techniques. Specifically consulted were those groups whose voice is often not heard in community discussions. A community engagement and communication program was then designed to maximise participation in the engagement activities and to ensure a broad range of community members had input.

Results

The finished 2030 CSP reflects a shared community vision to inform actions over the next 10 years.

The community engagement shed light on what the community values in Newcastle, what they want to improve and what Council needs to do to make the city thrive.

Last updated: 04/09/2020