Community Engagement Policy 2023-2025

Update: we adopted our Community Engagement Policy in September 2023. The final document can be viewed here or in the documents library on this page.

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We're committed to working with you effectively, to receive your input on projects/issues and policies.

What is a Community Engagement Policy?

Community Engagement Policies outline our commitment to provide the community with genuine opportunities to contribute to and inform projects, strategies, services and decisions that affect them.

This policy aims to clarify how we will fulfil our commitment to engaging with the community.

We last updated this policy document in 2021 to align it with legislation under the Local Government Act 2020. We are now due for a refresh of the policy.

What has been updated in this draft policy document?

This draft policy has been updated to include:

• references to the Gender Impact Assessment we've undertaken, and our efforts to get feedback from all community members.
• its connection with our four-year Council Plan, and
• a description on how we're working with our independently selected Representative Community Panel and Collaborative Engagement Group.

How are we doing?

We've put together a two-page explainer document, which outlines the methods we currently use to consult with our community in Kingston.

Watch this video (below), read the draft policy and have your say to let us know if we're on the right track.

Your input helps to shape Kingston!

The community has helped shape a huge range of projects and services in recent months including:

• Our 365-day-a-year consultation Talking Kingston: Over 160 community submissions have helped shape the Draft Budget 2023/24 - thank you to everyone that contributed! You can view a summary of the submissions here.
• Our draft Walking and Cycling Plan 2023-28: In our first round of consultation we received more than 900 pins on a map, suggesting ways we could improve the experience of walking and cycling in Kingston. We refined these suggestions to 40 priority projects, which you've helped us to prioritise for delivery. We'll be taking the results to Council this spring.
• Our new Aquatic and Leisure Centre: through the first four rounds of consultation more than 5200 community submissions helped to shape the look, feel and location of the new centre, along with the facilities it will include.

Have your say:

Read the draft policy in the document library on the right-hand side of this page and leave us your feedback:

• By taking our quick online survey
• By completing a hard copy survey in libraries/community centres
• By emailing us your feedback here, or
• By sending us a letter to: PO Box 1000, Mentone VIC 3194