Draft Community Engagement Policy

View the draft policy and share your feedback

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Draft Community Engagement Policy

Project Overview

Share your feedback on our draft Community Engagement Policy.

The introduction of the Local Government Community Engagement Charter (the Charter) requires Council to update our Community Engagement Policy to meet its new requirements.

The Charter introduces clearer engagement categories, stronger accessibility considerations, and improved requirements for reporting to the community on how feedback has been used.

We have drafted a Community Engagement Policy to meet the requirements of the new Charter and set the standards and direction for how the community can expect to engage with Council on decision-making matters.

We invite you to review the draft Community Engagement Policy* and provide your feedback. We also want to find ways to improve how we engage with you.

* Legislative requirements, or the Council’s obligations under the new Community Engagement Charter, cannot be influenced.

This consultation is open until 5pm, Thursday 2 July 2026

Read the Draft Community Engagement Policy Here open in new window

Timeline

Timeline item 1 - complete

Endorsed for consultation

Tuesday 9 June 2026
Timeline item 2 - active

Consultation opens

Thursday 11 June 2026
Timeline item 3 - incomplete

Consultation closes

2 July 2026
Timeline item 4 - incomplete

Review of feedback

July 2026
Timeline item 5 - incomplete

Final policy to be submitted to Council for endorsement

August 2026

FAQs

About the Consultation

When is the community consultation taking place?

What happens to my feedback?

Who can provide feedback?

FAQs

About the Consultation

When is the community consultation taking place?

Consultation on the draft policy is open from Thursday 11 June to 5pm, Thursday 2 July 2026.

What happens to my feedback?

All feedback will be reviewed and considered. Where appropriate, changes will be made to the draft Policy. It is important to recognise that legislative requirements contained within the draft Policy can not be varied.

A summary of community feedback, along with the updated draft Policy, will be provided to Council to help inform their final decision.

Who can provide feedback?

Anyone who lives, studies, works in or visits Holdfast Bay is welcome to participate in this community consultation.

How can I provide my feedback?

You can provide feedback in the following ways:

Online: www.yourholdfast.com/engagement-policy

Mail: Engagement Policy
PO Box 19, Brighton, SA, 5048

Email: mail@holdfast.sa.gov.au

Phone: 8229 9999 during office hours

In person: The draft policy and hardcopy surveys are available at Brighton and Glenelg libraries and the Brighton Civic Centre

All feedback must be received by 5pm, Thursday 2 July 2026.

Are comments posted on Facebook or other social media be considered as feedback?

Comments on social media are welcome, but they are not counted as formal feedback. To ensure your feedback is considered, please use one of the official methods listed above.

Who can I contact for more information?

For more information, please contact:

Elena Pereira – Digital Engagement Partner
Michelle Logie - Manager Communication and Engagement

Tel 8229 9999
mail@holdfast.sa.gov.au

About Community Engagement

What is Community Engagement?

Community engagement is how Council involves the community in its decisions.

It gives people opportunities to share their views on issues that affect them, helping Council make more informed decisions.

This can include providing information, seeking feedback, or actively involving the community in shaping outcomes.

Why is Council reviewing its policy now?

Council is reviewing its policy to align with the new Local Government Community Engagement Charter, released in December 2025. All South Australian councils are required to update their policies to ensure compliance with the Charter.

When will the policy be endorsed?

Councils must adopt a policy aligned with the Charter by 11 September 2026.

Following this consultation, Council will consider feedback before making a final decision and updating its policy.

Why do we have a public Community Engagement Policy?

The Local Government Act 1999 (SA) requires all councils to have a Community Engagement Policy. This policy explains the steps we will take to involve our community in decisions, while also meeting our legal obligations under the Act.

What is in the Community Engagement Policy?

The policy outlines the City of Holdfast Bay’s legislative obligations under section 50 of the Local Government Act 1999 (SA), which requires Council to adopt a Community Engagement Policy setting out its responsibilities. The policy also aligns with the Local Government Community Engagement Charter (the Charter), which establishes standards and directions for how the community can expect to engage with Council on matters relating to decision-making.

What’s the difference between a Community Engagement Policy, a Public Consultation Policy, and a Community Consultation Policy?

The terms Community Engagement Policy, Community Consultation Policy, and Public Consultation Policy all refer to the same thing.

The updated policy name reflects the terminology used in the Community Engagement Charter.

What are the categories of engagement as outlined in the Community Engagement Charter?

The Minister for Local Government's Community Engagement Charter establishes different categories of consultation matters, which are listed below:

Significant—Annual Business Plan and Rating Policy: decisions related to a council’s adoption of its annual business plan or proposed changes to the basis of its council rates.

Significant: decisions that a council makes that have a significant impact on most or all ratepayers and residents, or the wider community or area.

Standard: decisions that a council makes that benefit from community input across the council area.

Local: decisions that impact an identifiable smaller group of residents/ratepayers or a local area.

Inform: matters where councils provide information to a community impacted by a decision.

What factors form part of Council's decision-making processes?

Community feedback is one of several factors Council considers when making decisions.

Other factors that make up the decision-making process include:

Council's strategic planning goals
Relevant legislation and policies
Available resources and financial parameters
Environmental, social and economic context
Knowledge of staff and local decision makers
Legal or expert advice

What is the Community Engagement Charter?

The Charter is a legislative Framework under the Local Government Act 1999 that sets out the minimum standards for community engagement across South Australian councils. It ensures councils consult effectively, transparently and consistently when making decisions that affect their communities. The Charter replaces earlier consultation requirements in the Act.

What’s the difference between the Community Engagement Charter and a Community Engagement Policy?

The Community Engagement Charter is a state-wide framework set by the Minister for Local Government that outlines the principles, commitments, and expectations for how councils across South Australia engage with their communities. It establishes a consistent approach and sets minimum standards for meaningful community engagement.

The Community Engagement Policy is developed and adopted by Council in accordance with the Local Government Act 1999 (SA). It sets out how the City of Holdfast Bay will implement these requirements in practice, including the processes and steps Council will follow to meet its legislative obligations when engaging with the community.

What about decisions not mentioned in the Charter?

The Charter covers a wide range of statutory matters, but not every council decision, activity, or process. However, Council recognises that there may be decisions, activities and processes where the Act and Charter are silent on community engagement, but for which community engagement may nevertheless be appropriate.

Council regularly undertakes community engagement activities for community participation in relation to other decisions, activities or processes of the Council not specified in the Charter at its absolute discretion.

For the avoidance of doubt, there is no obligation on the Council to undertake any additional or discretionary consultation outside of the requirements of the Act and Charter.

How can I receive updates on Community Engagements

We provide information about every community engagement via:

Council’s engagement platform: www.Yourholdfast.com
Council’s Facebook page
Councils’ website www.holdfast.sa.gov.au/council/news
Subscribing to Holdfast News – our fortnightly council e-newsletter
In the libraries, Brighton Civic Centre, and community centres

Document Library

Draft Community Engagement Policy
PDF (730.61 KB)
The Community Engagement Charter
PDF (254.55 KB)
Current Consultation and Engagement Policy
PDF (330.29 KB)

Document Library

Draft Community Engagement Policy
PDF (730.61 KB)
The Community Engagement Charter
PDF (254.55 KB)
Current Consultation and Engagement Policy
PDF (330.29 KB)
Printable Survey
PDF (216.48 KB)

Contact Us

Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:

Contact Information
Name	City of Holdfast Bay
Phone	82299999
Email	mail@holdfast.sa.gov.au

Project Team

Michelle Logie
Manager Commications and Engagement

Elena Pereira
Digital Communications Partner

Your Holdfast

Draft Community Engagement Policy

Project Overview

Share your feedback on our draft Community Engagement Policy.

We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the Traditional Custodians of the Adelaide region and respect their spiritual relationship and cultural beliefs that remain important to the Kaurna people today.

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