Burwood Council in New South Wales recently announced that its Community Network program, a new public consultation initiative, has exceeded expectations during its expressions of interest phase and will start taking applications in September.
Interested members of the community have been invited to express their interest in joining the Community Network to have a say on Burwood’s future, voice opinion on matters that affect them and provide feedback all from the comfort of their own homes.
According to Burwood Council’s General Manager, Michael McMahon, the Community Network was designed so that participants could complete on line surveys, answer questions and make comments through online and digital methods, lessening the time commitment pressures that have plagued similar projects in other local governments.
“The Community Network has assisted Burwood Council to engage the community on a range of key strategic directions and initiatives, seek input and feedback on Council’s performance, and increase transparency and accountability in decision making.
“Participants didn’t have to sit through marathon focus–group sessions or listen to Council staff tell them what to think, instead the Community Network were able to have their say at the touch of a button on their computer,” said McMahon.
Burwood Council aimed for 300 people, or 1 per cent of the local government area’s population, to join the program.
The Community Network stems from the successful community engagement programs that were so popular during the drafting of the Burwood2030 Community Strategic Plan.
