The community has a role in helping to set the strategic objectives, programme priorities and service levels to be pursued by Council.

Community engagement and/or participation refers to the broad manner in which the views, aspirations and values of the community are communicated to ensure they are effectively able to inform, influence and assist in the decision-making of Council.

A comprehensive range of community engagement processes (guided by Council’s Community Engagement Policy)  is available to assist the community to participate in Council decision-making and to be informed about Council activities. In 2019, Council developed the Community Participation and Engagement Plan which sets out our approach for facilitating community participation and engagement. 

The Plan was reviewed in 20/21  to make the document more accessible and easier to read and was adopted by Council on Thursday 14 May 2021.

Check our Public Notices section for a full view of all community engagement activities.

Community Surveys

From time to time, Council will conduct surveys of local residents to help evaluate community opinion and sentiment about specific issues. These surveys may be open to the whole community or directed towards a targeted sector of the community.

2020 Surveys

• Customer Satisfaction

  Council conducts a Customer Satisfaction Survey every two years to help ensure that it is directing its limited resources, in the most cost-effective way, towards the services that the community values. The Survey findings form part of continuing discussions on developing plans and strategies to provide our community with the best possible Council outcomes.
  

  The most recent survey was staged in May 2020. The random, telephone poll gathered responses from 504 people across a wide age and geographic range. It asked residents how important Council services were to them and how satisfied they were with the delivery of those services.

  Read the report on the ​​​2020 Customer Satisfaction Survey.

• Community Wellbeing

  'Wellbeing' is a general term to cover the health, happiness, and prosperity of a community.

  Our Community Wellbeing Survey gauges public opinion about the quality of life in Coffs Harbour. Council surveys local residents every two years to gain feedback on a range of indicators across categories including Community Inclusiveness and Safety, Civic Leadership, Arts and Cultural Activities, Recreational and Sporting Activities, Environmental Access and Learning, and Community Spaces. It is important to note that the survey questions ask about matters that may be outside Council’s direct influence and relate more to a respondent’s personal choices and subjective opinions about Coffs Harbour.

  These findings assist the development and implementation of Council programme​s. They also help inform Council's "End of Term" Report which is tabled at the last meeting of an outgoing Council to assess progress achieved in the implementation of the Coffs Harbour Community Strategic Plan.
  

  The Community Wellbeing Survey was conducted between August - September 2020.
  
  Read the report on the ​​​2020 Community Wellbeing Survey.