Community feedback ┃ Types of engagement ┃ Good to know ┃ Snapshot of community engagement ┃ FAQs ┃ Contact us

Latest update – 16 December 2025

Community feedback and suggestions have helped to update Boroondara’s Community Engagement Policy.

The updated policy describes:

  • when Council will engage with the community, and
  • how Council will deliver a fair process and listen to views to help make well-informed decisions.

In response to our community’s feedback, Council will continue to focus on:

  • reaching and engaging people in more ways, especially people aged under 35 years and other groups we may hear from less often
  • offering a range of consultation activities, including face-to-face activities
  • showing how Council listens to community feedback.


View the updated policy (PDF 402 KB)


How you participated in this consultation

  • 1. Sharing a comment or idea

    You could upload a comment, submission or an image from a consultation you've liked.

    6 people shared their comments.

  • 2. Completing a survey

    86 people completed the survey.

    • Everyone who participated is connected to Boroondara
    • Participants came from all suburbs in Boroondara, except Mont Albert
    • 53% are women, 41% are men, 6% prefer not to say
    • 19% of participants have a multi-cultural background
    • 76% of participants are aged 50 to 84 years.

What we heard from people who did the survey


Different types of engagement

1. Inform

Council's commitment: We will keep you informed

Community's role: Listen

Examples: Newsletters, letters

2. Consult

Council's commitment: We will listen & acknowledge concerns and aspirations, and provide feedback on how the community feedback influenced the decision

Community's role: Contribute

Examples: Surveys, public comment, drop-in sessions, pop-up stalls, workshops

3. Involve

Council's commitment: We will work with you to ensure your concerns and aspirations are reflected in the alternatives developed

Community's role: Participate

Examples: Community workshops for the Boroondara Community Plan

4. Collaborate

Council's commitment: We will work with you to innovate, seek your advice and incorporate your comments to the maximum extent possible

Community's role: Partner

Examples: Advisory groups

5. Empower

Council's commitment: We will give substantial weight to the recommendations supported by the majority of engagement participants

Community's role: Partner

Examples: Community advisory committees, citizen awards

Based on the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation (PDF 755kb)



Good to know

The current policy states Council may engage with the community when:

  • proposing a change in strategic direction, a service, a program or project
  • proposing a new policy or strategy
  • proposing a change to the way a public space looks or is used
  • making rules or regulations about the use and enjoyment of public space
  • planning major projects
  • proposing urban redevelopment to significantly change an area
  • planning capital works including public buildings or infrastructure
  • the community raises an issue with Council for a decision (or outcome) and there are likely to be competing community interests
  • a proposed change is likely to generate strong and mixed views
  • more information is needed to make an informed decision
  • an issue may significantly affect the community’s economy, lifestyle, environment or amenity.

We invited your suggestions to update this list.

We want more people to be aware they can have a say in Council decisions. Updates to the Community Engagement Policy could include:

  • ways we let people know they’re invited to have their say
  • the topics we consult on
  • the consultation methods and activities to make it easy and rewarding for people to share their views
  • the duration of consultations
  • how we report back after consultations.
  • Every 4 years, we’ll use deliberative engagement methods with community members - to Involve, Collaborate or Empower - when developing Council’s long term strategic direction. This direction is set out in the Boroondara Community Plan and community vision, the Asset Plan and the 10-year Financial Plan.
  • The Community Engagement Policy will continue to apply to:
    • planning and financial management
    • the annual Council plan
    • proposal and/or amendment of a local law
    • selling, leasing or exchanging land.
  • The policy will state community engagement is not appropriate when:
    • it could conflict with other engagement being led by Council. We may defer engagement until a more appropriate time
    • in the weeks before Council elections
    • it conflicts with local laws, the Local Government Act, or other Victorian or Commonwealth laws or regulations.

Snapshot of community engagement

Boroondara residents, students, workers, local businesses, property owners and community groups have a strong tradition of engaging on issues that affect or interest them. We want even more people to get involved in the future.

In the 2 years to June 2025

  • 106 consultations with 17,500+ participants

    via online and paper surveys, phone surveys, comments on interactive maps, workshops, drop-in sessions, presentations to Councillors

    Sign up for consultation alerts 

  • Many supports offered

    including translations into 9 languages, accessible website and a choice of online or offline ways to have your say

  • 5,400+ participants in our biggest consultation

    who told us in their own words what Council should focus on. This feedback becomes the Boroondara Community Plan, which is Council’s leading strategy

    Find out more