Client:
Gwydir Shire Council
Project Overview:
The Gwydir Shire Council initiated a community engagement program to address stormwater-related issues in the Bingara and Warialda townships, focusing on improving stormwater infrastructure across the Shire. This program comprised two phases of engagement, aiming to inform the community and involve them in shaping solutions to stormwater challenges.
Objective:
The primary objective was to gather local knowledge and perspectives from residents with a view to prioritising stormwater infrastructure in the Gwydir Shire, particularly in Bingara and Warialda. The Panel was tasked with describing and key issues such as flooding and property damage through a deliberative engagement program that ultimately sought to prioritise areas for improvement, estimate costs, and explore funding options.
Our Role:
Captivate played a pivotal role in facilitating the community engagement program. Our responsibilities included:
- Implementing a community information campaign, including a letterbox drop and the establishment of a project website.
- Conducting online submissions and feedback collection through postcards.
- Organising and facilitating two Citizens’ Panel workshops involving community members.
- Collaborating with the community to gather insights, address concerns, and formulate recommendations for stormwater infrastructure improvement.
Challenges:
Challenges included addressing negative community sentiment, reaching all residents across two regional towns and encouraging active participation and collaboration among community members.
Outcome:
The engagement program fostered meaningful collaboration between the Council and the community, resulting in valuable insights into stormwater issues. Feedback informed the identification of areas requiring improvement, and the Citizens’ Panel recommendations emphasised assessing existing infrastructure, prioritising issues, enhancing communication with the community, and allocating dedicated personnel to address stormwater concerns. This comprehensive engagement approach enhanced community awareness and informed Council’s decision-making regarding stormwater infrastructure improvements in the Gwydir Shire.
Why Captivate Consulting:
At Captivate, we have years of experience working with regional communities and have worked on various projects. Our approach is all about connecting communities to come together and discuss important topics and projects. We work hard to ensure all participating community members feel valued, heard and appreciated. We are known to achieve desired outcomes whilst ensuring all feedback is captured and reported to our clients.
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