This week, our Kiama Municipal Council started a process that it hopes will deliver an enduring “culture of meaningful engagement with community and stakeholders”. An online survey of around a dozen questions and associated community pop-ups will ask the community who they are, what they’re interested in hearing about, how they get their information from council and most importantly how they input into Council decision making.

And so, begins the much talked about reboot of Council’s “Community Engagement Strategy”. Clearly the refresh of the 2013-2023 strategy could not have come at a better time. With significant controversies and criticisms laid at Council regarding its communication on significant issues like Blue Haven; Council’s overall financial situation; internal legal spats; and how it communicates regarding growth and development, the time seems right for “Your Community, Your Say” to really hit its mark. 

Because it’s merely the start of this process, The Bugle’s View is that we must wait and see if there are genuine outcomes and changes in practice.

This week we heard from local contributor Lynne Strong who had some powerful words regarding community engagement and a ‘solutions-focused’ approach. The Bugle wholeheartedly agrees that genuine engagement is not about highlighting and focusing on problems, especially when they are the problems of only a few.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. NIMBYs. Recreational complainants. The Bugle has received countless feedback from members of the community who have witnessed Council pander to those who do not want to focus on solutions, they want to focus on stopping anything and everything. 

The silent majority. Which also includes young adults. Aspirational entrepreneurs. These are the people that need to feel empowered to engage with Council, be proactive, input into solutions and shape the future for the next generation of our community.

We hope that Council is genuine and transparent about this process.

We hope that Council will provide for an equitable discussion that includes all parts of the community, both current and future.

We hope that Council is ready to embrace the change that is needed to have solution focused conversations with community about the challenges we face. 

We hope the community is ready to genuinely engage in this process and set about a course of positive change. 

This is The Bugle’s View and we hope we are right.