A Guide for Engaging Communities in Environmental Planning and Decision Making
One of the main lessons from the NSW Government's Urban Stormwater Education Program (USEP) was that community engagement and support is crucial to gaining environmental outcomes.
Government is becoming more complex and community expectations are growing. The active engagement of the community's energy, knowledge, and intelligence is now a vital ingredient in the success of many different types of programs. As a result there is a shift to higher levels of public participation in both the planning and implementation of programs. Actively listening to the knowledge and ideas of community members and facilitating their role in making changes can improve decisions and results.
This brochure has been derived from the content of a USEP training course and based on Community Engagement in the NSW Planning System (DIPNR, 2003).
It draws on the literature on good practice community engagement, on USEP research, strengthening rural communities resource kit, evaluation and case studies, to assist those who have responsibilities for environmental management to be more effective.
A Guide to Engaging Communities is designed for those who need to mobilise their public and stakeholders to participate in policy forums, planning processes or education programs.
It is an easy guide to understanding the concepts and tools for managing community engagement and includes handy 'Success factor' checklists.
Page last updated: 27 February 2011
