Draft Community Engagement Policy 2026

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Consultation has concluded.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed the draft policy. A project report can be found here. 


The City of Mount Gambier is seeking community feedback on its draft Community Engagement Policy.

Community engagement is an important part of Council's decision-making processes. By providing clear information and meaningful opportunities for participation, Council supports informed community involvement and gains valuable insights into local perspectives, priorities and lived experience. This helps Council make decisions that are balanced, responsive and in the long-term interests of the Mount Gambier community.

In December 2025, the South Australian Government introduced the Community Engagement Charter (the Charter), establishing a consistent statewide framework for how councils engage with their communities. The Charter sets minimum mandatory consultation requirements for a range of council decisions, activities and processes.

The introduction of the Charter has prompted all councils across South Australia to review and update their community engagement policies to align with the new standards and expectations.

The City of Mount Gambier has developed a draft Community Engagement Policy that meets its legislative obligations, aligns with best practice engagement principles and reinforces Council's commitment to transparent, inclusive and effective decision-making.

We invite you to review the draft policy and share your feedback. Your input will help ensure Council's approach to engagement is clear, accessible and responsive to the needs of our community.

You can provide your feedback by:

  1. Reviewing the draft Community Engagement Policy; and
  2. Completing the online feedback form below.

If you are unable to complete the online feedback form, please contact Council on 8721 2555 for assistance.

Feedback received during the consultation period will be considered in the final draft of the Community Engagement Policy which will be presented to Council for consideration at the August Ordinary Meeting. A summary of the feedback and any resulting changes to the policy will be made available following the consultation process.

Feedback can be provided until 5.00pm Wednesday 12 August 2026.

The City of Mount Gambier is seeking community feedback on its draft Community Engagement Policy.

Community engagement is an important part of Council's decision-making processes. By providing clear information and meaningful opportunities for participation, Council supports informed community involvement and gains valuable insights into local perspectives, priorities and lived experience. This helps Council make decisions that are balanced, responsive and in the long-term interests of the Mount Gambier community.

In December 2025, the South Australian Government introduced the Community Engagement Charter (the Charter), establishing a consistent statewide framework for how councils engage with their communities. The Charter sets minimum mandatory consultation requirements for a range of council decisions, activities and processes.

The introduction of the Charter has prompted all councils across South Australia to review and update their community engagement policies to align with the new standards and expectations.

The City of Mount Gambier has developed a draft Community Engagement Policy that meets its legislative obligations, aligns with best practice engagement principles and reinforces Council's commitment to transparent, inclusive and effective decision-making.

We invite you to review the draft policy and share your feedback. Your input will help ensure Council's approach to engagement is clear, accessible and responsive to the needs of our community.

You can provide your feedback by:

  1. Reviewing the draft Community Engagement Policy; and
  2. Completing the online feedback form below.

If you are unable to complete the online feedback form, please contact Council on 8721 2555 for assistance.

Feedback received during the consultation period will be considered in the final draft of the Community Engagement Policy which will be presented to Council for consideration at the August Ordinary Meeting. A summary of the feedback and any resulting changes to the policy will be made available following the consultation process.

Feedback can be provided until 5.00pm Wednesday 12 August 2026.

Consultation has concluded.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed the draft policy. A project report can be found here. 


  • Project report

    Share Project report on Facebook Share Project report on X (formerly Twitter) Share Project report on Linkedin Email Project report link

    Thank you to those community members who took the opporutnity to review the draft policy.

    The consultation was promoted through the following channels:

    • Media release on 22/07/2026
    • Published articles in Mount Gambier times on 31/07/2026 and SE Voice on 30/07/2026
    • Facebook posts on 22/07/2026 and 06/08/2026
    • Facebook/Instagram story posts – 06/08/2026 and 10/08/2026
    • Radio interviews (Triple M 03/08/2026 and ABC South East 07/08/2026)
    • City of Mount Gambier e-newsletter – 04/08/2026

    As a result of the request for feedback via the public survey, the Have Your Say page recorded:

    • 102 visits were recorded to the consultation page
    • 50 participants downloaded a document or visited multiple pages; and
    • 4 completed the digital feedback form.

    Of those who provided feedback:

    • 2 identified that they supported the draft policy
    • 1 identified that they supported it to some degree
    • 1 did not support the document.

    Feedback ranged from support for the draft policy's alignment with the legislative framework and Community Engagement Charter through to suggestions for a more prescriptive community engagement framework. Comments were received in relation to:

    • Council discretion and flexibility in determining engagement approaches;
    • accessibility and inclusive engagement;
    • communication of consultation outcomes;
    • consultation timeframes;
    • engagement planning and reporting;
    • accountability and complaints processes;
    • retention of previous policy commitments; and
    • broader perceptions regarding Council's current engagement practices.

    Administration appreciates the time and effort taken by respondents to provide feedback and has reviewed all submissions on their merits. A table detailing the key themes of feedback received and its consideration in preparing the proposed policy can be found here.

    Full copies of all consultation responses were also provided to Councillors as additional reading.

    As a result of the consultation a minor typographical error was amended in the document. The endorsed policy can be found here.

    A copy of the Council report for the project can be found here.


    Thank you to those community members who took the opporutnity to review the draft policy.

    The consultation was promoted through the following channels:

    • Media release on 22/07/2026
    • Published articles in Mount Gambier times on 31/07/2026 and SE Voice on 30/07/2026
    • Facebook posts on 22/07/2026 and 06/08/2026
    • Facebook/Instagram story posts – 06/08/2026 and 10/08/2026
    • Radio interviews (Triple M 03/08/2026 and ABC South East 07/08/2026)
    • City of Mount Gambier e-newsletter – 04/08/2026

    As a result of the request for feedback via the public survey, the Have Your Say page recorded:

    • 102 visits were recorded to the consultation page
    • 50 participants downloaded a document or visited multiple pages; and
    • 4 completed the digital feedback form.

    Of those who provided feedback:

    • 2 identified that they supported the draft policy
    • 1 identified that they supported it to some degree
    • 1 did not support the document.

    Feedback ranged from support for the draft policy's alignment with the legislative framework and Community Engagement Charter through to suggestions for a more prescriptive community engagement framework. Comments were received in relation to:

    • Council discretion and flexibility in determining engagement approaches;
    • accessibility and inclusive engagement;
    • communication of consultation outcomes;
    • consultation timeframes;
    • engagement planning and reporting;
    • accountability and complaints processes;
    • retention of previous policy commitments; and
    • broader perceptions regarding Council's current engagement practices.

    Administration appreciates the time and effort taken by respondents to provide feedback and has reviewed all submissions on their merits. A table detailing the key themes of feedback received and its consideration in preparing the proposed policy can be found here.

    Full copies of all consultation responses were also provided to Councillors as additional reading.

    As a result of the consultation a minor typographical error was amended in the document. The endorsed policy can be found here.

    A copy of the Council report for the project can be found here.


    Consultation has concluded.

    Thank you to everyone who reviewed the draft policy. A project report can be found here.