Engagement, consultation, community relations… The shifting requirements for engaging community on infrastructure

Abstract

These are all terms we would have heard but what do they mean and why are they important? Increasingly, some form of community involvement is becoming mandatory when it comes to planning and delivery of infrastructure in the community. Renewable energy projects, for example, are attracting significant attention as federal and state governments legislate clean energy targets. In response, the federal government commenced a review which found that community participation is essential for the effective roll out of renewable energy projects. However, too often engagement with communities is piecemeal, disingenuous or non-existent leading to opposition. The aim of the review and its outcomes is ‘to materially improve community engagement effectiveness and outcomes’ and to do this will require collaboration between governments and a commitment to genuine community engagement.

Mandating community engagement is a positive step no doubt welcomed by the communities that will host renewable energy projects. However, community engagement should be a willing activity of governments at all levels to build social licence, foster a more inclusive, transparent, and effective governance system, provide the people they represent an opportunity to comment on, inform and shape the places where they live, and to expedite the delivery of critical infrastructure while also enhancing the democratic process. Practically, when communities are involved in the planning stages, they can provide valuable local knowledge and insights that may not be available to planners and developers. This input can help identify potential issues early in the process, such as environmental concerns or cultural sensitivities, leading to better-designed projects that are more likely to succeed. Additionally, when residents feel a sense of ownership over a project, they are more likely to support and maintain it, reducing long-term operational costs and enhancing sustainability.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to community engagement. As issues and priorities differ between communities so too must the approach. Recognising this diversity, Articulous undertook an in-depth survey of over 1,000 community members from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria to gauge their thinking about the practice of engagement, not just in relation a specific project. Articulous discovered the key priorities for communities, how, when and why they want to be engaged and their views on the credibility of engagement. A confronting finding is that almost half of all respondents believed community engagement is a ‘box ticking exercise’. And yet engagement is more important and necessary than ever.

With councils often at the forefront of community relations, elected members and staff need to be prepared for difficult community dialogue. Amanda Newbery, founder and Managing Director at Articulous and Fellow at the International Association of Public Participation, breaks down the community engagement survey findings, explains what engagement actually is and details what councils – elected members and staff – can do and when to engage effectivity, genuinely and positively with their communities.