OVERVIEW OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR 2024 · Report

ORDINARY MEETING                                                                      16 MAY 2024


RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Ordinary Meeting dated 16 May
2024 regarding Council's community engagement program for the remainder of 2024.


REPORT
Chapter 1, section 4 (2)(c) of the Queensland Local Government Act 2009 outlines the need for local
government to engage with the community through “democratic representation, social inclusion and
meaningful community engagement”.

Noosa Council recognises that community engagement is a vital part of effective democracy. Quality
engagement between Council and residents across the Shire is critical to good governance and
supports strong, resilient communities. Noosa Council defines community engagement as people-
centred, with a clear focus on working with the community to identify local issues and opportunities
to guide and inform planning and decision-making.

Meaningful engagement is relationship-focused and not just a transactional process. For this reason,
Council is committed to engaging with the Noosa community in line with our Community Engagement
Framework and Community Engagement Policy, endorsed by Council in 2023. The Community
Engagement Framework is underpinned by the International Association of Public Participation
(IAP2) framework, which outlines international best practice approaches in community and
stakeholder engagement.

Our approach to community engagement within the Community Engagement Framework is
governed by a suite of guiding principles to ensure that all of our engagement activities are:
   •   Inclusive
   •   Transparent
   •   Appropriate
   •   Accountable
   •   Timely
   •   Well-resourced
   •   Informative and
   •   Understanding of our changing community.

Benefits of community engagement
As outlined in Noosa Council Community Engagement Policy 2023, the benefits of community
engagement include:
   •   Council and the community working together to address local issues and collectively
       achieving better outcomes.
   •   A higher level of community input into decisions made by Council.
   •   An improved level of community understanding about Council’s processes and services.
   •   Increased awareness across Council of community views and concerns.
   •   Opportunities for Council to draw upon community expertise.
   •   The potential for time and cost savings due to better alignment between community needs
       and Council decisions.