Release of Communications Strategy for Town Planning Scheme Review

At its meeting of 14 November 2007 Council adopted the Shire of Busselton Scheme Review Communications Strategy. The Strategy has been prepared to guide the process of community consultation and involvement in the preparation of the new Local Planning Strategy and District Town Planning Scheme, a project that will continue for at least the next 4 years.   The purpose of the Strategy is to:

- outline the consultation methods to be used in consulting and informing stakeholders, the community and industry sectors about the Scheme Review project;

• - promote and build awareness of and involvement in the planning process;
• - identify community values and attitudes to key planning issues and build community engagement in both the process and its outcomes;
• - test that identified community values and needs are effectively represented in the prepared strategies; and
• - ensure transparency and accountability of the process outcomes.

The preparation and implementation of this strategy is based on and is consistent with the Shire's Strategic Plan 2006-2011, Communications Framework 2007 and statutory requirements for community consultation as part of the preparation of a new Town Planning Scheme.   

The Strategy will be used as a leadership document for the Project Manager, Shire staff, Council, core technical stakeholders and Shire appointed consultants. One of the first recommendations of the strategy is the establishment of a web page for the scheme review that provides an interactive forum for the process. This will be set up shortly and a mail out to all residents and landowners undertaken to provide advice and information on the process.  The Strategy is available for viewing on the Shire's website.  For further information please contact Mersina Robinson, Scheme Review Project Planner on 9781 0342.