Have your say┃ Snapshot of community engagement ┃ Our approach ┃ Good to know┃ FAQs┃ Contact us

You can help Council keep improving how we consult and engage you in Council decisions.

Your feedback and suggestions will help us update Boroondara’s Community Engagement Policy. This policy is a commitment to community consultation and public participation in council decision-making.

Share your thoughts before 9 am on Monday 11 August 2025.

How to participate in this consultation

  • 1. Quick feedback: Share a comment or idea

    Upload a comment, submission or an image from a consultation you've liked. This is quicker than doing the survey.

    These won’t be publicly displayed.

    Go to upload section 

  • 2. Complete the survey

    Most questions are optional so it will take between 5 - 10 minutes depending on how many questions you choose to answer. If you would like a paper version, please see the ‘Contact us’ section for details.

    Go to survey section 

Snapshot of community engagement

Boroondara residents, students, workers, local businesses, property owners and community groups have a strong tradition of engaging on issues that affect or interest them. We want even more people to get involved in the future.

In the past 2 years, to June 2025

  • 106 consultations with 17,500+ participants

    via online and paper surveys, phone surveys, comments on interactive maps, workshops, drop-in sessions, presentations to Councillors

    Sign up for consultation alerts 

  • Many supports offered

    including translations into 9 languages, accessible website, choice of online or offline ways to have your say, visits to schools

  • 5,400+ participants in our biggest consultation

    told us in their own words what Council should focus on. This feedback becomes the Boroondara Community Plan, which is Council’s leading strategy

    Find out more 

Our approach to consultation

✔ Clearly communicating the purpose of each engagement.

✔ Providing information you need to participate meaningfully and running consultations for at least 2 weeks.

✔ Reaching people and groups that will be impacted, including children (with ChildSafe methods).

✔ Being inclusive and accessible, so everyone who wants to have a say, can have their say (in Boroondara’s most used languages).

✔ Being transparent about the level of influence the community has on a Council decision.

Different types of engagement

1. Inform

Council's commitment: We will keep you informed

Community's role: Listen

Examples: Newsletters, letters

2. Consult

Council's commitment: We will listen & acknowledge concerns and aspirations, and provide feedback on how the community feedback influenced the decision

Community's role: Contribute

Examples: Surveys, public comment, drop-in sessions, pop-up stalls, workshops

3. Involve

Council's commitment: We will work with you to ensure your concerns and aspirations are reflected in the alternatives developed

Community's role: Participate

Examples: Community workshops for the Boroondara Community Plan

4. Collaborate

Council's commitment: We will work with you to innovate, seek your advice and incorporate your comments to the maximum extent possible

Community's role: Partner

Examples: Advisory groups

5. Empower

Council's commitment: We will give substantial weight to the recommendations supported by the majority of engagement participants

Community's role: Partner

Examples: Community advisory committees, citizen awards

Based on the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation (PDF 755kb)

Good to know

The current policy states Council may engage with the community when:

  • proposing a change in strategic direction, a service, a program or project
  • proposing a new policy or strategy
  • proposing a change to the way a public space looks or is used
  • making rules or regulations about the use and enjoyment of public space
  • planning major projects
  • proposing urban redevelopment to significantly change an area
  • planning capital works including public buildings or infrastructure
  • the community raises an issue with Council for a decision (or outcome) and there are likely to be competing community interests
  • a proposed change is likely to generate strong and mixed views
  • more information is needed to make an informed decision
  • an issue may significantly affect the community’s economy, lifestyle, environment or amenity.

You may have suggestions to update this list.

We want more people to be aware they can have a say in Council decisions. Updates to the Community Engagement Policy could include:

  • ways we let people know they’re invited to have their say
  • the topics we consult on
  • the consultation methods and activities to make it easy and rewarding for people to share their views
  • the duration of consultations
  • how we report back after consultations.

Several elements of Boroondara’s policy won’t change because the Local Government Act requires each council to have a community engagement policy.

  • Every 4 years, we’ll use deliberative engagement methods with community members - to Involve, Collaborate or Empower - when developing Council’s long term strategic direction. This direction is set out in the Boroondara Community Plan and community vision, the Asset Plan and the 10-year Financial Plan.
  • The Community Engagement Policy will continue to apply to:
    • planning and financial management
    • the annual Council plan
    • proposal and/or amendment of a local law
    • selling, leasing or exchanging land.
  • The policy will state community engagement is not appropriate when:
    • it could conflict with other engagement being led by Council. We may defer engagement until a more appropriate time
    • in the weeks before Council elections
    • it conflicts with local laws, the Local Government Act, or other Victorian or Commonwealth laws or regulations.