Council adopts Community Engagement Strategy and policy

Bega Valley Shire Council has adopted the revised Community Engagement Strategy 2025-29 and the Community Engagement Policy.

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1 May 2025

Bega Valley Shire Council has adopted the revised Community Engagement Strategy 2025-29 and the Community Engagement Policy.

Council’s Director of Business and Government, Iliada Bolton said Council values effective community engagement, to better understand varied viewpoints, make better decisions, and offer services that reflect the community's needs and goals.

“We were pleased to receive feedback on the draft strategy and made some changes to the document to ensure our engagement is meaningful, effective and appropriate. Our goal is to build trust between Council and our community through genuine engagement” Ms Bolton said.

The Community Engagement Strategy is central to Council’s community engagement framework, which aims to give the community a clear understanding of:

Council’s commitment to engaging with the community
how we will seek and respond to community input
the types of engagement that suit the various activities
how community input is used in decision-making
how community involvement shapes our actions.

“We want the community to be well informed about issues and decisions that could affect their way of life and confident that feedback we receive helps inform Council’s decisions, plans and actions,” Ms Bolton said.

“The strategy integrates several of Council’s legislative requirements for community engagement into one document, including requirements under the Local Government Act 1993 and Crown Land Management Act 2016.

“Our Community Participation Plan clearly explains how people can engage with planning matters and is a subsection of the strategy. This plan meets requirements of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

The Community Engagement Policy includes updated information and references on scope and purpose, a policy statement, responsibilities and other related policies relating to the 2025-29 Community Engagement Strategy.”

Making an enquiry

All media enquiries and interview requests are coordinated by Council's Communication and Engagement team under the adopted Communications Policy. To view this policy, visit Public Policies and search 'communications'.

To submit a media enquiry or to request an interview:

email [email protected]
call 02 6499 2222

Councillors

Councillors can be contacted directly for enquiries regarding decisions of the elected Council and non-operational matters. Interviews with the Mayor should be arranged through the Communication and Engagement team contact details above.

Receiving information

If you’re a journalist or media organisation that would like to receive media releases and notifications about media opportunities, please email your name, title and contact details to [email protected] and we will add you to our distribution list.

You can also subscribe to Bega Valley Together and Business News, Council's fortnightly e-newsletters, or follow @begavalleyshirecouncil on Facebook and Instagram.

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02 6499 2222
[email protected]
Zingel Place
PO Box 492
Bega NSW 2550
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Administration building Zingel Place Bega
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