During September and October 2025, we asked for your help to shape the way we engage in the Adelaide Hills.

The ideas and feedback you shared were used to develop our draft Community Engagement Framework and during March and April 2026, we asked if we heard you correctly.

Thank you to everyone who shared their feedback. You can find out what we heard from our community by viewing the Engagement Summary and Community Engagement Outcomes Report below.

The final Community Engagement Framework was endorsed by Council at the meeting held on 9 June 2026. You can view the final Framework by selecting the buttons below.

Engagement summary

What we asked

From the 18 March to 26 April, we asked our community to share feedback around what you thought of the draft Community Engagement Framework. We asked if there was anything missing or that could be improved.

How we asked

During the engagement period we undertook a range of online and face-to-face engagement activities with community members seeking feedback on our draft Community Engagement Framework. These activities included:

How we engaged

What we heard

  • Support for draft Framework

    General support for the draft Framework and/or particular sections of the draft Framework.

  • What changes?

    How will community input effect council decision-making? What will change through the implementation of the framework?

  • Decision making steps

    Questions or recommended improvements to steps within the Democracy and Decision-Making model.

  • Continuous engagement

    How will the continuous loop of engagement work? How will council close the loop?

  • Levels of engagement

    Clear explanation and examples for different engagement levels

  • Too long / document purpose

    The document purpose seems to be unclear with parts framework, policy and procedure.

  • Practical examples

    Practical examples of how council will put the Framework and principles into action.

  • Measuring success

    How will council measure the success / implementation of the framework?

  • Staff training

    How will staff be supported to improve / grow engagement practices.

  • Expense of engagement

    Costs to implement the Framework and undertake engagement activities.

What we've changed

  • What changes?

    Sentence added to Step 3: Information is shared about the engagement opportunity including how community members can get involved and how their ideas and feedback will inform the decision-making process.

  • Decision making steps

    We have added the following bold text to Step 5: A community engagement plan and approach is developed by the council project team and approved by the relevant council delegate (Manager, Director or Elected Body depending on the scale and complexity of the project).

  • Continuous engagement

    We have added additional text to this point shown below in bold:

    Creating a continuous loop of engagement information from early project planning through to decision-making and outcome delivery. This may include meetings with community members, updates on council websites and social channels, emails to subscribers and promotion through our libraries and community centres.

  • Levels of engagement

    We have added an appendix to the draft Framework called “Engagement Levels”. The appendix includes a table of engagement levels including descriptions and example engagement methods and projects.

  • Measuring success

    We have added a “How we will measure and review” section to the draft Framework.

Community Engagement Outcomes Report open in new window

Guiding principles

Guiding Principles

Our community shared with us what is most important for us to consider and priorities when it comes to good community engagement and council decision-making processes.

Through these discussions with our community members, key stakeholders and council staff, we have developed three guiding principles, which underpin our community engagement practices.

  • Communication and Connection

    We will communicate in ways that are clear, timely and accessible, recognising that our community engages through many different channels. We will grow genuine and respectful relationships and ensure everybody can meaningfully participate in conversations that affect or interest them.

  • Purpose, Influence and Transparency

    We will be clear about why we are engaging and inform our community of the ways in which community engagement can shape and influence local decisions. We will build community trust and confidence by creating opportunities for open and honest conversations and clearly communicating outcomes of Council decisions and project next steps.

  • Active Participation

    We will grow engagement participation and community capacity through embracing local knowledge and lived experience and involving our community throughout decision-making processes.

Feedback form

Documents