Have Your Say on Our Communications and Engagement Strategy 

Shellharbour City Council is asking residents to give feedback on the Draft Communications & Engagement strategy 2025-2029. 

The strategy is a plan that helps improve how Council communicate and engage with the community. It supports the Community Strategic Plan and includes goals and actions to make sure Council keep getting better at what it does.  

Caption: Community information session at Warilla Beach Surf Club. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council. 

Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer encourages residents to share their thoughts on the plan. 

“We know the way people find, and access information is constantly evolving,” he said. 

“We’re keen to hear feedback from the community to help us make sure the strategy meets the current needs of our city.” 
Council’s aim is to make sure the community’s voice is at the centre of the services and infrastructure provided.  

Council wants to be creative, proactive, transparent, and genuine in communication, and ensure staff and Councillors are well-informed and always improving. 

This strategy was developed with input from the community through pop-up information sessions and activities, online engagement, workshops with Councillors and staff for internal perspectives, and by looking at the best practices in Local Government across the country. 

The community told Council that communication and engagement should be: 

• Accessible 
• Inclusive 
• Consistent 
• Clear and easy to understand 

With this feedback, Council shaped its goals for the new strategy. These goals for the next five years are to: 

• Enhance community awareness 
• Foster community participation 
• Build trust and transparency 
• Support councillors and staff 
• Promote innovation and engagement 

While the strategy is a five-year document, it will be reviewed every year to make sure it stays relevant and up-to-date in our fast-changing world. 

The Council has approved the Draft strategy to be put on public exhibition for 42 days. This means Council wants your feedback on the draft plan, its focus areas, and actions to ensure we’re on the right track. 

Please note that formal submissions must be made to provide feedback. The submissions period runs from Thursday, 19 December 2024 to 4pm Thursday, 30 January 2025. 

You can submit your feedback online through Let’s Chat; by emailing council@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au; or by sending a letter to The Chief Executive Officer, Locked Bag 155, Shellharbour City Centre NSW 2529. 

You can read the draft strategy by heading to the Let's keep chatting page. 

For more information please contact:  

Toni Lindwall – Shellharbour City Council 

0404 467 684 

mediaenquiries@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au