Community Engagement Strategy 2026-2030 adopted

Published on 05 January 2026

Gannawarra Shire Council’s efforts to deliver timely, targeted, transparent and inclusive engagement opportunities will be guided by a new strategy.

Council adopted its 2026-2030 Community Engagement Strategy last month, with this document outlining Council’s commitment to provide the community with genuine opportunities to contribute and inform strategies, projects, services, and decisions that affect them.

“Council’s role is to represent and serve our communities, and this can only be achieved through effective communication and engagement, and by actively listening and responding to the needs and feedback of our community and other stakeholders,” Mayor Garner Smith said. 

“The 2026-2030 Community Engagement Strategy, which builds on the work undertaken thanks to the 2020-2025 Community Engagement Strategy, ensures the community not only has access to relevant information, but also opportunities to contribute to the decision-making process.”

The 2026-2030 Community Engagement Strategy aligns with the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) spectrum’s five principles – inform, consult, involve, collaborate and empower – with the document featuring 27 actions that will better inform decisions in the planning of services, setting budgets, identifying and planning projects, and developing policies and strategies.

“The strategy outlines actions that align with feedback received from the 2025 Community Satisfaction Survey and the How Can Council Work With You? survey, which includes the development of an annual community pop-up session program, continued use of online surveys and feedback forms for all engagement opportunities, and enabling for Council publications to be sent digitally to people,” Mayor Smith said.

To view Council’s 2026-2030 Community Engagement Strategy, click on the Strategic Documents heading at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/documents