Community consultation, local government and the hard to reach

This paper explores how local government can involve a broader range of people in service planning, without intruding on privacy or making onerous demands on residents’ time. Local councils are keen to make their decision-making processes open and representative. They are also expected to build community cohesion and involve all sections of the community in municipal activities (service planning in particular). But only a small number of residents participate. Some groups are active, others are indifferent at best and prefer not to be contacted or sent material. People may be time-poor or difficult to contact. They may be uninterested in local planning and local politics. However, they may also expect to be informed about local development, services and cultural events; they may wish to put a view. But how to contact them without harassing them? These issues are explored in a new collaborative research project, between Swinburne University and six Victorian local government authorities (Nillumbik, Port Phillip, Melbourne, Darebin, Whittlesea, Moreland, and Maribyrnong) and the Victorian Local Government Authority. The aim is to develop a more inclusive and less intrusive model of local consultation.