Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council

Community Engagement Policy

Legislative Authority

Local Government Act 2009

Principles

·         Council recognises that it is the body representing the community and it needs to be aware of, and respond to, the needs and wishes of the whole community.

·         Council recognises that community engagement is vital to the democratic process and contributes to building a balanced, healthy community.

·         Community engagement contains the core elements of information, consultation and active participation

·         Council wishes to be as transparent as possible to the community and to make the community aware of its actions and decisions.

·         Council will apply the core elements of community engagement, where appropriate, to facilitate meaningful community involvement in the decision-making process.

Seeking Community Input

The Council will actively seek community input into its planning process.  This will include

·         Holding a community meeting in the process of preparing the Community Plan and Corporate Plan. 

·         Accepting written or spoken submissions from members of the community about the plans.

·         Making the Corporate and Community Plans available for inspection and publishing them on the Website before they are finalised and adopted

Communication

Council will communicate with the community by a variety of methods.  These will include:

·         Notices posted in the Councils main entrance and the Store door.

·         The Council website at www.mapoon.com

·         For items where the Council is required by give formal notice, by advertisement in the Weipa Bulletin.

·         By direct communication with individual residents where appropriate.

In addition a member of the community can contact any of the Councillors or the CEO.

Council meetings are open to the public and are held at the Council Offices on the third Tuesday of each month at 9:00 AM.  The purpose of the presence of the public is primarily to observe the meeting and not to participate.  Members of the public wishing to address a meeting must notify the CEO at least four days before the meeting and this will be permitted, at the discretion of the Chairman of the meeting.  The Council reserves the right to hold parts of the meeting in private where confidentiality issues arise.

Additional meetings may be held as required and except in the case of an emergency will be notified in a similar manner.

Where appropriate Council may conduct community surveys.

Meeting Agendas will be published as above at least 2 days before the meeting.

Council meeting minutes are available for inspection in draft form 7 days after the meeting and the approved and signed copy is available for inspection 7 days after the following regular Council meeting.

All applications to inspect items open for inspection must be addressed to the Deputy CEO, or, in her absence to the CEO.

In some cases, at Council’s discretion, copies of documents open for inspection may be made available for a copying cost, or free of charge.