Alexandrina Council’s 2021 Village Conversations has won the 2022 Planning Institute Australia (PIA) Award for Stakeholder Engagement. 

The judges said Village Conversations took an innovative and targeted approach to community engagement through the Strategic Plan Consultation process. 

Alexandrina Council says that as a regional council area, it has diverse and unique communities with a proud sense of place and authenticity. 

“In recognising this it was important to approach the consultation with a detailed and varied process to ensure it would appeal to the local communities. 

“The goal was to receive a higher level of participation, with a richer and more considered response.”

The award recognises initiatives and outcomes in implementing best practice public engagement that achieves genuine collaborative outcomes and leads to improved built form, planning processes or social outcomes. 

It is not about the extent of engagement undertaken but the influence, improvement and capacity building that was achieved through the engagement. 

As part of the council’s A2040 Community Strategic Plan 2020-2024, the Village Conversations were designed to disrupt the usual model of engagement to increase community participation in decision-making. 

The 2021 Village Conversations laid the foundation of each township’s Draft Village Innovation Plan to further develop the ‘community-led and place-fed’ approach for future planning. 

Alexandrina Council CEO Nigel Morris says it is exciting for the team to be recognised for their fantastic work.

“It is important for us to not only hear once from the community but to have the ongoing conversations as we plan for the future of each township. 

“The feedback heard through the 2021 Village Conversations provides the much- needed foundation for future phases.” 

“The Village Conversations approach enables difficult decision making to be shared with the community. 

“It gives the community the space to learn, understand and think about local and regional issues more deeply, share their own personal concerns, explore opposing beliefs and new perspectives and contribute to a richer discussion.”