As no unresolved submissions were received during public exhibition, the Communications and Community Engagement Strategy has consequently been adopted according to the resolution made at the 11 October 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting. >> View the final Strategy here >>

Share your thoughts about our Draft Communications and Community Engagement Strategy

In early 2022 we asked our community how we could improve the way we share information and involve stakeholders in consultations. Responses received to printed or online surveys and in-person at shopping centres were used to develop a draft Communications and Community Engagement which is now publicly exhibited for comment.

The draft Strategy sets a framework to ensure:

• Our growing and diverse community is appropriately communicated and engaged with,
• Our residents and stakeholders are offered opportunities to provide input into significant decision-making activities,
• Our communication and engagement activities are accessible, inclusive, consistent, clear and easy to understand, and
• Council establishes a reputation for connection, inclusion and participation.

Did we get it right?

You're invited to consider our communications approach and have a say about how we involve the community in our decision making processes.

Please take a look at the draft Communications and Community Engagement Strategy and associated report to Council before sharing your thoughts.

• Draft Communications and Community Engagement Strategy (PDF 4MB)
• Council Report and Minutes - 11 October 2022 (PDF 3MB)

Printed copies can also be viewed in person at the:

• Customer Service Centre, 70 Central Avenue, Oran Park
• Oran Park Library, 72 Central Avenue, Oran Park
• Camden Library, 40 John Street, Camden
• Narellan Library, corner Queen and Elyard Streets, Narellan

If you'd like to learn more about our approach please have a chat with our Community and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, Charmaine Cooper, by calling (02) 4654 7790, sending an email to engagement@camden.nsw.gov.au or dropping into:

• Oran Park Library - Wednesday 26 October from 11am to 1pm
• Narellan Library - Wednesday 26 October from 4.30pm to 6.30pm
• Taste Camden event - Sunday 30 October 2022 * CANCELLED due to wet site *
• Camden Library - Wednesday 2 November from 11am to 1pm

Share your thoughts

All submissions must be received by 4.30pm Tuesday 15 November 2022. Submissions can be made:

• using the online QUICK POLL or SUBMISSION FORM ⇩
• by delivering during business hours to our Administration Building, 70 Central Avenue, Oran Park NSW 2570
• by post to the General Manager, Attention Olivia Smith, Camden Council, PO Box 183 Camden NSW 2570
• via email to mail@camden.nsw.gov.au

Thanks for taking an interest in our draft Strategy.

There are two online options provided to capture your feedback by Tuesday 15 November 2022:

• Complete a submission form
• Rate the strategy by using the Quick Poll

Our community is changing.

The Camden local government area (LGA) had an Estimated Resident Population of 119,951 in 2021.

Camden is set to be home to more than a quarter of a million people by 2036, making it one of the fastest growing LGAs in Australia.

Diversity will create a community with a greater range of views and aspirations, in different age groups and household types, from a variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

The statistics shown below are from the 2021 Census of Population and Housing undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. They provide a snapshot of our community right now and remind us to utilise multiple and innovative methods of communication and engagement in order to make sure everyone has the opportunity to shape and feel a valued part of Camden’s future.

To learn more about our community please visit https://profile.id.com.au/camden.

What is ‘community engagement’?

Community engagement is planned, two-way information sharing with the purpose of working with the community and stakeholders to make decisions. Community engagement is often referred to as consultation or public participation.

Why is a Strategy required?

Preparation of a Community Engagement Strategy is a requirement of the Local Government Act 1993 and must be reviewed and updated within 12 months of a Council election.

What consultation took place during the review?

With covid restrictions lessening it was decided to consult using a hybrid of online and face-to-face conversation. The consultation undertaken in May and June 2022 included:

• Online and in-person community surveys available at our libraries, Oran Park Administration Building, Camden Civic Centre, Alan Baker Art Gallery, Mount Annan Leisure Centre;
• Four engagement stalls at Narellan Town Centre, Oran Park Podium, Argyle Street activation corner in Camden and Mt Annan Shopping Centre; and
• Workshop with staff involved in community engagement across Council.
• Survey and engagement questions focused on how the community would like to be communicated and engaged with, while gathering information about preferred communication and engagements methods, as well as identifying areas for improvement.

What were the outcomes of the consultation?

The three key themes taken from the consultation process were:

Council’s communication and engagement activities and programs needed to be accessible, inclusive, consistent, clear and easy to understand.

Our community wanted the option of both online and in-person engagement and physical communication methods.

The importance of an effective framework to support and guide Council staff when engaging with the Camden community.

Does Camden Council already have a Community Engagement Strategy?

Council's current Community Engagement Strategy (2015) can be viewed here. We also have a Community Engagement Policy (2019) and Community Participation Plan (2021).

The strategy is now out of date and requires updating in accordance with the Local Government Act 1993.

Preparation of a Community Engagement Strategy is a requirement of the Local Government Act 1993 and must be reviewed and/or updated within 12 months of any local government election.

In early 2022 we invited the community to complete a survey or chat with us about ways we could improve our communications and community engagement practices. You can still check out the survey and complete it at Consultation and Communication | Your Voice Camden.

Feedback was used to review our current Strategy and prepare a new one.