Help Shape Lane Cove Council’s Priorities and Future Planning

Have you ever wondered how Lane Cove Council identifies the community’s main priorities and aspirations for the future …the answer is a Community Strategic Plan (CSP).

A CSP is a community’s 10-year roadmap. It’s a big-picture document directing efforts and resources toward a clearly defined vision.  The CSP outline the community’s objectives on a broader scale. A CSP does not include individual actions and projects required to achieve those objectives. Those steps will be set out in a four-year delivery program and annual operations plans.

Every council in NSW is required to develop a CSP.   Lane Cove Council’s role is to develop the plan on behalf of the community.  Once the CSP is drafted, the public can make comments and the final plan is presented to Laen Cove Council for adoption.  The CSP determines priorities until the next council election when the plan will be reviewed again.

Where Can I Find the Existing CSP?

Lane Cove Council adopted a new Community Strategic Plan – Liveable Lane Cove 2035 in June 2018.

Time to Review the CSP and Provide Your Feedback

It’s now time to review Liveable Lane Cove 2035 to ensure it is still relevant and reflects the aspirations of the Lane Cove community.

This is a good opportunity for locals to provide feedback to Lane Cove Council about the issues important to them and to help shape the long term plan for Lane Cove – so get involved!!

Mayor Andrew Zbik would love you to get involved.

https://www.facebook.com/andrew4lanecove/videos/371860011451714

How Do I Provide My Feedback and Comments?

Until Friday 25 March 2022,  the Lane Cove community is being encouraged to participate in reviewing the CSP through a range of consultation methods, including:

• A phone survey (not every resident will be surveyed – residents are randomly selected.  It is not opt-in.
• An online survey  – complete the online survey here.
• Interactive community workshops:
  • Wednesday 16 March 2022 – 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • Wednesday 16 March 2022 – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  • Thursday 17 March 2022 – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
  • RSVP to attend a community workshop session
• Make a submission to the General Manager by:
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Post: PO Box 20, Lane Cove 1595
  • Fax: 9911 3600

How Do Other Local Councils Obtain Feedback and Comments?

Many local councils adopt the same approach as Lane Cove Council (surveys and workshops) but is that enough to get real community involvement?  One of the first articles ITC wrote in 2012 was about how Lane Cove Council needs to find a better way to seek community feedback.

North Sydney Council has some interesting ways of collating feedback on their CSP from their residents including:

• survey – prioritised the plan’s current directions, outcomes and strategies, and identify new issues and priorities.
• online map – dropping a pin on the online map to helped identify issues/concerns (and assign a category – value most, fondest memory or please improve).
• story sharing – community members of all ages could share their stories and experiences about the North Sydney area using the Stories tool (see below) or via Instagram or Facebook.
• photo album – share a photo of what you love most about the North Sydney LGA (e.g. favourite location, feature or experience) on Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #mynorthsydney. Photos will be displayed during 2022. Selected photos will feature in the final plan.
• children’s artwork – children up to 12 years could visually depict their vision for the future of North Sydney on the provided template or any A4 format. Artworks will be displayed during 2022. Selected artworks will feature in the final plan.
• round tables – peak bodies across a range of themes/services areas gathered online to identify emerging issues and priorities, and to discuss suggested solutions. Feedback will also be used to inform the development of Council’s Community Development Strategy.
• submissions – there was an online submission form or alternatively email and postal submissions were considered
• market stalls – stalls were held at local markets providing the opportunity for face to face meeting

The Midcoast Council have had some issues, but they developed a system where you could complete the full survey or just list some top priorities

Port Macquarie/Hastings Council had some great ideas to include feedback from younger residents including a Minecraft competition.

Tweed Shire Council made sure all groups were represented and reached out to numerous community and sporting groups.