Consultation Principles

The development of a community consultation and engagement process will be guided by the following principles:

• Agree the purpose and scope of the process in advance, and make sure it is relevant to the likely concerns of the community and stakeholders.
  
  
• Agree basic procedures and mechanisms with stakeholders and community representatives at the start of the process. The first consultation event should allow for discussion about the methodology for the remainder of the process.
  
  
• Use mechanisms and procedures that maximise people’s ability to participate.
  
  
• Provide participants with information to help them make informed contributions.
  
  
• Support the process by allocating adequate time, staff and funds to it.
  
  
• Explain follow-up processes to participants and make sure they understand how their inputs will be used and what feedback they can expect.
  
  
• The consultation process will be subject to regular evaluation to assess its effectiveness.

Please be aware that the materials presented on this website are at concept
stage, and will change over time as the planning process progresses and
further information becomes available.