COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
HAVE YOUR SAY
Community engagement is Cook Shire Council’s approach to involving residents in its decision-making process. Our commitment to effective community engagement ensures mutual benefits for both the Council and the community.
Importance of Community Engagement
Genuine engagement not only informs the community about Council events, activities, projects, issues, and strategic directions but also provides a platform for the community to voice their responses to these initiatives.
Benefits of Effective Community Engagement
Cook Shire Council recognises several key benefits of effective community engagement:
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Enhanced Community Awareness: Keeps residents informed about Council’s services, planning, and program delivery.
- Informed Decision-Making: Provides the Council with a deeper understanding of community views and issues to consider in the decision-making process.
- Insight into Community Needs: Helps the Council gain insights into the needs, priorities, and diversity of the local community, ensuring better service provision and planning.
- Community Ownership: Fosters a sense of ownership among residents over decisions made across the Shire.
- Collaborative Problem-Solving: Enables the Council and the community to work together to address local issues.
- Cost Savings: Achieves cost savings through successful project outcomes for both the community and the Council.
Benefits to the Community
- Voice Your Opinions: Ensures your opinions are heard and considered.
- Better Understanding: Helps the Council better understand complex issues.
- Council Processes: Provides a clearer understanding of Council processes.
- Mutual Learning: Facilitates a collaborative learning experience between the Council and the community.
- Stronger Networks: Strengthens community networks.
- Skill Building: Enhances information skills.
- Valued Contributions: Values and acknowledges your ideas and opinions.
- Sustainable Outcomes: Promotes sustainable outcomes.
Council’s Community Engagement Spectrum
Community engagement encompasses various levels of involvement, illustrated by the IAP2 Community Engagement Spectrum. This spectrum guides the Council’s strategies, helping officers develop activities that match project needs. While some issues may limit community influence, it is crucial that the community is informed and understands the background and rationale of decisions.
Council’s Decision-Making Process
Cook Shire Council values community input in its decision-making process for projects affecting local communities and the Shire as a whole. Various factors can influence decisions, including costs, technical aspects, environmental concerns, legal requirements, and political commitments.
Council is committed to a transparent and inclusive decision-making process. While not all community members may agree with the final outcome, the Council ensures that all feedback is thoroughly considered. The process includes evaluating the needs, priorities, and concerns expressed by residents, alongside the influencing factors mentioned above.
Decision-Making Process Outline
- Identifying Needs: A need is identified or a project idea is formed.
- Assessment: Council officers assess the project and conduct technical investigations.
- Preliminary Proposal: A preliminary proposal is submitted to the manager and/or Executive Leadership Team.
- Draft Proposal: A draft proposal is developed in collaboration with relevant Council areas.
- Public Consultation: The draft proposal may be released for public consultation.
- Final Proposal: The final proposal, including community feedback, goes to the Council for consideration.
- Final Decision: The Council makes the final decision.
By fostering genuine and effective community engagement, Cook Shire Council aims to create a collaborative environment where both the Council and residents can thrive.
If you would like to know more about Council’s Community Engagement process, please contact our Community Engagement Manager, by calling 4082 0500 or emailing mail@cook.qld.gov.au.