24Section 70DA inserted

24 Section 70DA inserted

After section 70D of the Principal Act , the following section is inserted in Division 2:

70DA.   Community engagement strategy

(1)  A council must establish and implement a strategy for engagement with the community when developing the council’s plans, policies and programs and for the purpose of determining its major activities.

(2)  A council is to consult with the community and any authorities and bodies it considers appropriate when preparing a proposed community engagement strategy or reviewing an established community engagement strategy.

(3)  A community engagement strategy is to contain –

(a) strategies to ensure that the community is informed about, and has reasonable opportunity to contribute to, the decisions, activities and services of the council; and

(b) principles and procedures that the council will follow when engaging and consulting with the community; and

(c) such other matters as may be prescribed.