Client: Lake Macquarie City Council

With planning for coastal zone management comes levels of fear and uncertainty for property owners related to their future safety and property values.

PlanCom developed a community engagement plan and facilitated workshops for the exhibition of the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan. The project was to inform the community about the proposed coastal zone management actions and the costs and implications of those actions for all stakeholders.

A report on the outcomes of the consultation was developed using the data from workshops alongside the information that came from online input using Engagement HQ and the face to face contact through pop-ups in the Local Government Area.

It was important to ensure that the message about the Draft Coastal Zone management plan and its potential implications reached most especially those that might be impacted. It was also important to have time for impacted property owners to view the inundation plans and to talk to Council staff about the implications for their own property and situation and their future options.

A report of the consultation looked at the priorities expressed by the public and this was used to finalise the Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan.