Engaging communities
The National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and the Natural Heritage Trust (the Trust) provide a new approach to community-based, integrated regional natural resource management (NRM). This approach depends on effective communication, involvement and engagement between regional NRM bodies and community groups, industry groups, local government and private individuals in their region.
There are many ways in which people can be engaged in integrated regional NRM activities. These include:
- information provision and sharing
- representation on committees
- consultation through participation
- participation in delivery of on-ground outcomes identified in the regional plan
- full engagement through partnership approaches
These activities provide for varying levels of stakeholder influence. The different activities are all useful in the planning, management and implementation phases, and can be used in various combinations.
On 3 May 2002, the NRM Ministerial Council agreed on criteria for the accreditation of regional NRM plans. The criterion relating to community engagement highlights the need for these plans to:
- be based on engagement with communities
- involve the full range of key stakeholders
- understand their capabilities
- build commitment to implementation
Community engagement requires:
- a coordinated approach to maximise efficiency and consistency, and reduce duplication
- clearly described principles for engagement, including fairness, equal opportunity, inclusiveness, cultural sensitivity, and relevance
- an understanding of the range of key interest groups, community groups and sectors with interests in NRM in the region and
- identification of the range of proposed engagement activities for the NRM region including responsibilities and timeframes
Publication
The Overview guidelines for community engagement by regional NRM bodies is part of a suite of information produced by the NRM Ministerial Council to guide regional NRM bodies and state government agencies involved in the NAP and the Trust programmes. It encourages a consistent approach to community engagement by regional NRM bodies. The guide is also useful to jurisdictions and state governments as a basis for developing more specific, detailed resources. The Guideline sets out:
- state government and national expectations for a planned and documented approach to community engagement by regional NRM bodies
- minimum requirements for engagement at each phase of the planning cycle to be met and documented for funding and accreditation
Key
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