Bass Coast Shire Council's Community Engagement Policy 2021 was adopted at the Council Meeting held last Wednesday, 17 February.
The new Victorian Local Government Act 2020requires councils to develop and adopt a Community Engagement Policy by March 2021.
The Policy includes the principles of deliberative engagement and was developed in consultation with the community. It defines Council's statement of intent regarding community engagement and aims to increase Council's performance in relation to community engagement.
Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Brett Tessari, said that Council is grateful to all those in the community who took the time to provide feedback on the draft Policy in January.
"It's great to see that we've adopted this updated Policy. It spells out the 'why' of community engagement," Cr Tessari said.
"Sitting underneath this document is the Communications and Engagement Strategy 2018, which is more detailed on 'how' we engage with the community. This Strategy will be reviewed next, with a longer community consultation period.
"This will be where we want to know the best ways to engage with community members, and they're the best ones to tell us how," Cr Tessari concluded.
As well as the Engagement Strategy review, Council will be providing a number of community engagement opportunities in coming months for upcoming projects and initiatives, including the Smiths Beach Master Plan, the Council Plan and the Community Vision.
To view the Community Engagement Policy, visit www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/policies.
