Colac Otway Shire Council is inviting residents to have their say on a proposed new Community Engagement Policy, with the draft policy set to be placed on public exhibition for six weeks.
The policy outlines how Council will engage with the community when making decisions, developing plans and delivering services, ensuring local voices continue to play an important role in shaping the future of the shire.
Council CEO Andrew Tenni said the new Community Engagement Policy was an important opportunity to strengthen Council's commitment to meaningful and transparent engagement.
"Community engagement is about more than asking for feedback. It's about creating genuine opportunities for people to participate in decisions that affect them," Mr Tenni said.
"The proposed policy builds on our existing approach and introduces clearer processes, stronger accountability and practical tools to support engagement across Council."
The update of the policy has been undertaken as part of Council's commitment to regularly refresh its policies and ensure they align with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2020 and current best-practice standards.
Key enhancements in the draft policy include:
- A stronger focus on transparency, accountability and inclusive decision-making.
- Greater alignment with Council's strategic objectives and community expectations.
- Increased emphasis on the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Spectrum, which guides how and when communities can participate in decisions.
- Introduction of a Community Engagement Toolkit to support consistent and effective engagement across Council projects and initiatives.
The IAP2 Spectrum identifies five levels of participation: Inform, Consult, Involve, Collaborate and Empower, helping ensure engagement activities are proportionate to the significance and potential impact of an issue.
Mr Tenni said the new policy would help provide a clearer framework for how engagement activities are planned and delivered.
"The policy recognises that not all decisions require the same level of engagement. It provides a transparent framework to ensure the community has appropriate opportunities to contribute, particularly when issues have a significant impact on residents and stakeholders," he said.
The accompanying Community Engagement Toolkit, currently being developed, will provide practical guidance for staff and will be made publicly available to help the community better understand how engagement decisions are made.
"By making the Toolkit public, we are helping to build trust and understanding around our engagement processes and demonstrating how community input contributes to Council decision-making," Mr Tenni said.
Council is encouraging all individuals, community groups, businesses and stakeholders to review the draft policy and provide feedback.
Following the exhibition period, all submissions will be considered by Council. Submitters will also have the opportunity to present their views, either in person or through a nominated representative, at a Submissions Committee meeting before Council considers adoption of the final policy.
The draft Community Engagement Policy will be available for public exhibition for six weeks.
Community members can view the policy and make a submission via our Have Your Say pages.
