Community engagement gives the community an opportunity to share ideas, discuss important topics, provide feedback and participate in projects that will shape the future of our region and help make Baw Baw Shire a sustainable, healthy and thriving community. Community Engagement is ‘working in partnership with the community by tapping into their expertise and experience during the planning and design of community assets, programs and services’ - Council Plan 2025-2029
Baw Baw Shire’s Community Engagement Policy 2026, follows the 5 principles outlined in the The Local Government Act (Vic) 2020, Section 56:
a community engagement process must have a clearly defined objective and scope
participants in community engagement must have access to objective, relevant and timely information to inform their participation
participants in community engagement must be representative of the persons and groups affected by the matter that is the subject of the community engagement
participants in community engagement are entitled to reasonable support to enable meaningful and informed engagement
participants in community engagement are informed of the ways in which the community engagement process will influence Council decision making.
We are also committed to engagement that is clear, respectful and purposeful and aim to deliver through our consultation process:
Transparency – clearly communicate the purpose, process and outcomes, including what is open to influence
Proportionality - match the level of engagement to the level of impact, risk and community interest
Accessible information - provide timely, accessible and relevant information
Inclusiveness - include diverse and underrepresented voices
Accountability - use community input to inform decisions where appropriate and not undertake engagement where it would create false expectations of influence
Continuous Improvement - engagement practices will be reviewed regularly
Our first Community Engagement Policy was adopted in 2020. The Local Government Act 2020 requires all Victorian councils to review and renew their Community Engagement Policy every four years.
In 2025, we reviewed and updated our Policy to ensure it aligns with Baw Baw Shire Council’s Council Plan 2025-2029, Community Vision, legislative requirements, and contemporary engagement best practices.
As part of this review, we consulted with the Baw Baw community in June 2026 on the draft Community Engagement Policy. The feedback and insights received helped shape and finalise the Policy. Read more about this consultation.
Click here to view the finalised Community Engagement Policy document.