Under the Local Government Act 1999 (the Act), every council is required to maintain a Community Engagement Policy. The Community Engagement Policy sets out our formal commitments, statutory requirements and minimum standards for community engagement.

The review of our existing Public Consultation Policy was delayed while we waited on the release of the Minister for Local Government's Community Engagement Charter (the Charter). The Charter was released in December 2025.

We have updated our Policy to align with the requirements of the Charter and related amendments to the Act. Now we'd like to know what you think of it.

You can view the existing Policy and the draft Policy, by selecting the links below:

Sharing your feedback

There are a variety of ways that you can provide your feedback on our draft Community Engagement Policy:

  • Online - complete our online feedback form below.
  • Hardcopy feedback - collect a hardcopy feedback form from any of our libraries or customer service centres or print your own from the Document Library.
  • In writing - submit your ideas or feedback in writing via email (engage@ahc.sa.gov.au) or via letter addressed to 63 Mount Barker Rd, Stirling SA 5152.
  • Phone - give us a call on 8408 0400.

Community engagement closes on Sunday 26 April 2026.

Feedback

Categories

Public consultation categories

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

  • Significant – Annual business plan & rating policy

    • Adopting an Annual Business Plan.
    • Changes to basis of rating, declaring differential rates, imposing a separate rate, service rate or service charge, or changing the basis on which land is valued for the purpose of rating.

  • Significant

    • Representative reviews.
    • Change of status of council or name change.
    • Strategic Management Plans.
    • Changing of differential rates.
    • Revocation of classification of community land.
    • Community Plan Management Plans.
    • Alienation of community land.
    • Making By-laws.

  • Standard

    • Opening hours and place of principle office.
    • Community Engagement Policy.
    • Council behavioural support policies.
    • Access to meetings and documents.
    • Power to make orders.

  • Local

    • Carrying out commercial activities.
    • Proposed permit or authorisation for alteration or use of a road for business purposes for more than 48 hours.
    • Proposed planting of vegetation on a road.

  • Inform

    • Minor changes to opening hours and place of principle office
    • Proposed permit or authorisation for alteration or use of a road for business purposes for less than 48 hours.
    • Election information

Documents