Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) has consulted and involved the community in a range of community engagement activities over the year. These community engagements have sought views and ideas from the community to deliver infrastructure and services that are meaningful to them. We aim to reach a wide range of audiences and do this through both online and face to-face channels.
For the first time, TCCS used a deliberative democracy process to consult with the community on city service priorities as part of the Better Suburbs Project. Deliberative democracy opens up a way of communicating between Government and the community that is more meaningful than standard consultation practices. Kitchen table conversations and a Citizen’s Forum were the deliberative democracy activities used as part of the Better Suburbs community engagement.
Project | Summary |
---|---|
Garema Place micro park | In July 2017 a call went out for the community to design a transportable micro park to activate Garema Place. Fourteen entries were received including concepts and ideas for playgrounds, art and/or environmental installations, skateboard ramps, lit dance floors, modular gardens with seating, object swaps and wishing trees. The submissions were shortlisted by a jury to six designs based on how well each met the design brief criteria and the feasibility to construct it within the budget. The shortlisted designs included: The Grounds of Garema, Hakanasa, Springtime Dreamtime, Green Square, Angles and Round. The public voted on the shortlisted submissions in August 2017. Votes were collected electronically on YourSay, in hard copy at ACT public library branches and at the temporary pop up voting booth at Garema Place. Over 220 votes were received to decide the winner of the design competition and the Grounds of Garema took out first prize with 80 number one votes. An awards ceremony was held for the winner, runners up and each of the entrant received recognition for their participation. The winning design was then developed by a Landscape Architect in consultation with the family who made the submission and constructed by a landscape contractor. The micro park opened in November 2017. It stayed in place at Garema Place for approximately six weeks, a small survey was run in Garema Place. The micro park was relocated to the Woden Library forecourt for a further couple of months. A small survey was run during this time that was available to the public in the library. |
Better Suburbs | In September 2017 the first phase of engagement to involve the community in the development of a Better Suburbs Statement commenced. A Better Suburbs Statement will identify a vision for city services in the ACT leading up to 2030 with the servicing priorities for the next four years also defined. This engagement activity includes a trial of deliberative democracy activities – Kitchen Table conversations and a Citizen’s Forum. Deliberative democracy opens up a way of communicating between Government and the community that is more meaningful than standard consultation practices. The first phase of engagement focused on seeking stakeholder and community views on their suburb, primarily via an online survey and discussion forums. Over eight weeks, drawing to a close on 15 November 2017, we heard from:
Over 86 per cent of survey respondents indicated that they would promote their suburb as a great place to live. The quality of facilities and standard of service is also important to Canberrans. A strong majority (82 per cent) of people responded that they prefer having less infrastructure but of a higher quality and servicing, to having more infrastructure with less servicing. Overall, survey respondents are satisfied with community facilities and have further ideas for their improvement. The top five features the community identified as contributing most to a great suburb were:
A summary of feedback was released on the YourSay website in May 2018. A Kitchen Table Discussion Guide has been developed from Phase 1 consultation findings, to share some insights from Phase 1 and seek out deeper knowledge about city servicing priorities that are important to Canberrans. On 25 June 2018 the second phase of engagement commenced and the Kitchen Table Discussion Guide was released on the YourSay website as well as made available in hard copy at all ACT public library branches. A communications campaign was implemented to encourage Canberrans to host a kitchen table discussion with family and friends. Kitchen table conversations could be held until 23 July 2018. Feedback from the kitchen table conversations and the community survey will be presented at a Citizens' Forum in July/August 2018 where randomly invited community members will be gathered to deliberate about the operational priorities of City Services and craft the content of the Better Suburbs Statement, which will be released in September 2018. |
ACT Container Deposit Scheme | Ahead of the introduction of the ACT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) on 30 June 2018, we asked the community some important questions on how the scheme should operate. A discussion paper and survey were released in October 2017 for public consideration. Some aspects of the scheme had already been defined to ensure consistency with the NSW scheme. The community were able to influence some key features and were asked to help identify where collection points should be located, what days they should be open, and what would encourage people to return their empty beverage containers. A total of 250 responses were received which identified the importance of using social enterprise as part of the approach. A social enterprise model was subsequently developed for the CDS, creating potential for new employment opportunities for Canberrans, as well as raising funds to provide services and support for those in the community who need it most. |
Kambah Village Upgrade | In mid-2017 high priority improvements were delivered at Kambah Village. The improvements focused on the central courtyard area and were guided by consultation with the local community. Prior to the delivery of further improvements at Kambah Village the community was invited to take part in a second stage of consultation in November 2017. Feedback was sought to help finalise the design for the Stage 2 works, in particular, the features of the new playground and recreation space. Over 330 online and hard copy surveys were completed. Key stakeholders including local businesses were consulted, with a face-to-face session held with Mt Taylor Primary School who had their say on their vision for the playground. Feedback including the need for additional shade and seating, real irrigated grass and an inclusive playground is being incorporated into the final sketch plans which will be released in 2018-19. Construction will also be completed in 2018-19. |
The Development Control Code for Best Practice Waste Management in the ACT | The ACT Government sought community and industry views on how to improve waste management outcomes in Canberra’s new building developments. The Development Control Code for Best Practice Waste Management in the ACT provides detailed directions for building designers to ensure that best practice waste management facilities are incorporated in the built environment. This consultation was part of a review of the Code to help balance priorities of high quality urban design, building functionality and practical waste management outcomes. In November 2017 community and industry were invited to provide feedback on a discussion paper through a survey available on the YourSay website and at all ACT public library branches. Submissions could also be sent in via email. A public drop-in session was held as part of the consultation which also involved discussions with key stakeholders in both the waste and construction industries. Approximately 25 submissions were received which will help inform the final Development Control Code for Best Practice Waste Management in the ACT to be released in 2018-19. |
Page and Hughes Age Friendly Suburbs | Page and Hughes were identified for path network improvements as part of the Age Friendly Suburbs program. Community feedback was sought to inform a list of priority improvements that would allow older persons to safely and more easily move around the two suburbs. Residents and business owners of Page and Hughes received a survey in their letterbox with a reply-paid envelope in early December 2017. The survey was also available on the YourSay website. Residents and frequent visitors were asked to provide a response to questions on regular destinations they walk/cycle to and from, issues that impede active travel by seniors, localised issues that impede active travel and ways that these issues could be addressed. A workshop was held at the community centre in Hughes and Ridgecrest Village in Page to allow people to provide face-to-face feedback as well as drop-in sessions at the local shops in both suburbs. A total of 142 surveys were received for Hughes and 134 surveys were received for Page. These responses identified improvements including new refuge islands, a speed hump, new kerb ramps, completed path connections and a new shelter in the form of a bus shelter which are detailed in the engagement report available on the YourSay website. The delivery of these improvements commenced in May 2018. |
Draft Peafowl Management Plan | The ACT Government has records of nuisance complaints about peafowl in the Narrabundah and Red Hill area dating back to 2003. Following the peafowl trapping and relocation program undertaken in 2015, the ACT Government committed to implementing a more strategic approach to the management of the ACT’s feral peafowl populations. The draft Peafowl Management Plan was released in April 2018 and local residents and the wider community were invited to provide feedback via a form on the TCCS website. More than 400 submissions were received via the TCCS website, email, Access Canberra call centre and post. From the consultation it was clear that there is overwhelming support for the peafowl to remain. However the ACT Government acknowledges that there have been a number of complaints over the years and it is important that these are not ignored and they will be taken into account as part of the community-led discussions. The next step will be to facilitate the formation of a community group in 2018-19 that is representative of the community as a whole to assist with the development of a peafowl management plan. |
Belconnen Bikeway | The Belconnen Bikeway will be a 4.7 km bikeway connecting the Belconnen Town Centre with the University of Canberra and other key educational institutions to the east of the Town Centre and provides connectivity to western suburbs. It will link with the Benjamin Way connection that will provide 750 metres of protected bike lanes from College Street to Emu Bank, safer crossings at key intersections and improvements to the public verges. The Belconnen Bikeway preliminary design was developed in consultation with key stakeholders including Pedal Power, the Belconnen Community Council and the Heart Foundation to determine the best alignment for the bikeway which will also reuse the old Belconnen Busway. In May 2018 the preliminary design was released for public comment. Feedback was sought on the proposed bike path alignment, connections to nearby areas and facilities and the location of key infrastructure such as drinking fountains and seating. An interactive Social Pinpoint map was made available on the YourSay website to identify key safety concerns, key destinations, key facilities and general comments. Submissions could also be sent through via email or provided at a drop-in session held along the alignment. Over 270 pieces of feedback on the interactive map were received in addition to 10 written submissions which will be used to inform the Bikeway’s final design to be released in 2018-19. |
Waste Feasibility Study | The Waste Feasibility Study presents a clear roadmap for tackling waste and improving waste management practices in the ACT. The recommendations have been carefully developed over the last two years and could take the ACT’s resource recovery rate from the current level of around 70 per cent to a nation leading 87 per cent, with the potential to divert 170,000 tonnes of waste from landfill. In May 2018 the Study’s final report was released and the community and waste industry were invited to have their say on the report’s recommendations and help inform government on how they could be implemented. Over 90 submissions were received on the YourSay website, via email, post and in person at two information sessions held for the community and industry stakeholders. The feedback received will inform implementation approaches of the roadmap recommendations. |
New Bus Network Community Consultation | Phase 1 consultation was held from 3 November to This consultation sought community feedback from on public transport experiences, transport needs and what support they will need to use public transport in the future. It offered an opportunity to broaden the conversation to cover potential future innovations for the city’s public transport network - discussions about Demand Responsive Transport (DRT). Phase 1 used a mix of online and face-to-face engagement to reach a diverse audience with a range of interests, and capture feedback. Online engagement was based around a survey hosted on the YourSay website and this was supplemented by pop up stalls/intercept sessions across Canberra, presentations and briefings to key stakeholders. Over the consultation period, we heard from:
A summary of feedback was released in April 2018. Canberrans told us they want public transport to be quicker and more frequent. People said they want more services at all times of the day and week. Key findings included:
|
New Bus Network Community Consultation (Phase 2) | On 18 June 2018 Phase 2 of the consultation commenced and is designed to allow for discussion on individual routes and the mix of local services and flexible options. It invites the public to tell Transport Canberra how to help them use the new network. Consultation in Phase 2 is tailored to local areas and continues to use a combination of online and face-to-face engagement. |
Veterinary Practice Bill | Consultation on the Veterinary Practice Bill was carried out with the veterinary profession and the community from In November 2017 the Veterinary Surgeons Board also hosted a face-to-face consultation session that was open to all veterinary practitioners and the community, to discuss the proposed Bill. |