Our Bass Coast. Our Future.

Establishing a community panel is one method of running a ‘deliberative’ community engagement process.

A deliberative engagement process puts the community and/or stakeholders affected by a decision at the centre of the decision, and brings citizens closer to decision makers and affairs of government. It’s built around a number of principles. These principles include:

• A diverse sample of people affected by the decision are selected to participate
• Participants are provided with detailed, in-depth information from a range of sources that helps them to understand the issues and options associated with the decision
• Participants are given the time and support they need to consider and discuss information and ideas, weigh up issues and options and agree on recommendations
• Participants will write their report which is presented directly to Council. The recommendations in their report will influence outcomes or decisions

The Panel will meet up to four times, with their discussions supported by professional, independent facilitators. Over these workshops, the Panel will discuss and share ideas based on a wide selection of information, including the results of broader engagement processes. A fifth workshop will take place in September to discuss and feedback received from the community on the draft Community Vision.

Understanding what is important for the community and future generations of Bass Coast will help Council respond to environmental, social technological and infrastructure challenges and more.

The Community Panel will offer an opportunity for up to 43 representative community members who will be provided with enough time and information to take a deeper dive into the issues relating to the future of Bass Coast.

This Community Panel, in conjunction with a wider community engagement process, will help to provide Council with a clear direction on the communities values and priorities and will establish a set of recommendations for Council which will be used to inform the following:

• Community Vision 2041
• Council Plan 2021-25
• Long Term Financial Plan

The Community Panel will meet over five non-consecutive workshops.

Panel members will receive presentations from a range of Council Officers and subject matter experts as well as representatives of special interest.

Community Panel members will also participate in interactive, facilitated workshops to analyse data gathered from the broad community engagement and develop recommendations.

The Panel will work together (with the support of professional facilitators) to consider a wide range of inputs, ideas and evidence, discuss the question and decide a response. This response will be detailed in a report that the Panel members will create together and present to Council.

Workshops will be held:

Workshop one – meet and greet

Tuesday, 1 June, 6.30pm – 8.30 pm – online

Workshop two – deliberation and small group workshops

Tuesday, 8 June, 6.30pm – 8.30 pm - online

Workshop three – work together with support on creating the Community Vision

Saturday, 26 June, 10.00am – 4.00pm – face to face – Kilcunda Community Hall

Workshop four – bringing it all together

Tuesday, 6 July, 6.30pm – 8.30pm - online

Workshop five – return to discuss feedback before Council adoption

Tuesday, 7 September, 6.30 – 8.30 pm – online

We understand this is a time commitment so participants will be paid $200 for attending all workshops. This is a great opportunity to have your say and be involved in local decision making and participants will be compensated for their time and effort.

Unfortunately, we require Panel members to attend all workshops. We understand that life happens and unforeseen circumstances that arise during the Panel period will be managed on a case by case basis.

All expression of interest applications will be reviewed by our community engagement consultant to ensure the panel represents the diversity of our community. The Panel will be made up of people of all ages, and abilities, including residents, workers, volunteers, business owners, residents, ratepayers and young adults.

Council has engaged Conversation Caravan, an experienced facilitator specialising in Community Engagement, bringing a multidisciplinary approach. Conversations Caravan has extensive experience in state and local government, community and private sectors.

Conversation Caravan will work with the Panel on: promoting informed discussion

• Enabling everyone have a chance to participate and contribute
• Remaining neutral and not having a stake or interest in the content or outcome
• Responding and adapting to the group’s needs, and
• Guiding the process in a way that helps the participant to do their work as effectively as possible

The Community Panel will meet both online and face-to-face if appropriate, depending on COVID-19 restrictions.

Face-to-face workshops will be held at a Kilcunda Community Hall

Online workshops will be hosted via Zoom – and links to access these will be made available.

We conducted a survey an online survey during March to April to find out what our community sees for the future of Bass Coast. This survey is now closed, thank you for your responses.

Drop in sessions were held across Bass Coast during March:

• Corinella - Monday, 15 March, 6.30pm - 8.00pm, Corinella Hall (COVIDSafe Event Registration)
• Cape Paterson - Tuesday, 16 March, 6.30pm - 8.00pm, Cape Paterson Hall (COVIDSafe Event Registration)
• San Remo - Wednesday, 17 March, 6.30pm - 8.00pm, San Remo Recreation Centre (COVIDSafe Event Registration)
• Wonthaggi - Monday, 22 March, 6.30pm - 8.00pm, Wonthaggi Workmen's Club (COVIDSafe Event Registration)
• Kernot - Tuesday, 23 March, 11.00am - 12.30pm, Kernot Hall (COVIDSafe Event Registration)
• Rhyll - Wednesday, 24 March, 6.30pm - 8.00pm, Rhyll Mechanics Hall
• Cowes - Monday, 29 March, 6.30pm - 8.00pm, Phillip Island Football Netball Club social rooms
• Grantville - Tuesday, 30 March, 6.30pm - 8.00pm, Grantville Hall
• Inverloch - Wednesday, 31 March, 6.30pm - 8.00pm, Inverloch Community Hub Hall

Online Facebook Q&As were held on our Facebook page on:

• 23 March, 6.30pm - 8.00pm

• 13 April, 6.30pm - 8.00pm

The Long Term Community Vision sets out the direction for what Bass Coast will look like in the year 2041. The Engagement Plan below outlines how we'll develop this in partnership with our community.

The Council Plan outlines the actions that will be taken to work towards the Community Vision during the current Council Term.

The 10-year Financial Plan provides the detail on how investment will be made to deliver on both the Long Term Community Vision and the Council Plan.

The Health and Wellbeing Plan is an integrated plan that guides the work of Council and partner organisations to improve the health and wellbeing of the Bass Coast community.

Some emerging themes include:

· Tackling climate change and its impact on health

· Reducing injury in the community

· Preventing all forms of violence

· Increasing healthy eating

· Decreasing the risk of drug-resistant infections in the community

· Increasing active living

· Improving mental wellbeing

· Improving sexual and reproductive health

· Reducing tobacco-related harm

· Reducing harmful alcohol and drug use

· Healthy Ageing

· Accessible and inclusive environments

· Support vulnerable families / communities.