Draft Communications and Community Engagement Strategy

The City of Burnside invites you to comment on the Draft Communications and Community Engagement Strategy.

The City of Burnside has long held a strong commitment to community engagement and a desire for the community to be informed of, to consult on, and be involved in, Council's direction and decision-making processes. This commitment was clearly stated in Be the Future of Burnside Strategic Community Plan 2012-2025 that "our Strategic Direction is for Council to be engaging, open and approachable, to listen to and be representative of our views, and to act on our behalf and in our best interest".

Local Government organisations are different from other industries as:

• Councils provide many intangible services
• Councils are not profit-oriented / private sector organisations
• The nature of competition is different
• Councils provide services to stakeholders within geographic boundaries
• Payment for council services is compulsory (i.e. through rates)
• Community Engagement is an essential pillar of the decision-making process.

Councils are complex organisations. They provide a range of services in the one organisation, from Immunisations to Community Buses, Animal Management to Roads and Footpath Maintenance and there is a range of diverse customer groups/communities each with diverse issues and needs.

Local Government has the challenge of clarifying its image in the community and improving perceptions about Council and service delivery. There is a great need for effective two-way community engagement. Local Government also has the challenge of creating opportunities to encourage community input into Council decision making.

Through a concise and informed communications approach, Council will achieve continuous improvement in the City of Burnside's image and enable a community engagement approach that will result in better decisions.

This strategy expresses Council's commitment to open, participatory and transparent engagement that forms the foundation of responsible government. The strategy also provides a framework for improvements to the City of Burnside's corporate image, the internal and external communications and community engagement practices.

Have Your Say

Council is seeking your feedback on the Draft Communications and Community Engagement Strategy. You are invited to comment by submitting an email below by Friday 3 April at 5 pm.

More Information

View the Draft Communications and Community Engagement Strategy in the Document Library in the right hand column above or contact Bernie Auricht on 8366 4208.