FAQs

Council is required to update its policy to meet legislative requirements in the Local Government Act 1999 and to align with the SA Government’s new Community Engagement Charter. 

The updated policy will ensure Council's engagement practices are consistent, transparent, inclusive and aligned with current legislation.

The Community Engagement Charter requires different levels of community engagement depending on the type of decision. The Charter establishes a hierarchy of five different consultation categories, each with different engagement requirements:  

Significant – Annual Business Plan and Rating Policy Used for major financial decisions, including:

• Annual Business Plan and Budget
• Rating policies and differential rates
• Separate rates, service rates and service charges
• Changes to how land is valued for rating purposes

Significant Used for important strategic and legislative matters, including:

• Representation reviews
• Strategic Management Plans
• Revocation of community land classification
• Community Land Management Plans
• Sale or transfer of community land

Standard Used for matters such as:

• Community Engagement Policy
• Behavioural Support Policies
• Access to Council meetings and documents
• Powers to make orders
• Principal office location and opening hours

Local Used for decisions that affect a specific area or group, including:

• Commercial activities undertaken by Council
• Road closures or alterations for business activities exceeding 48 hours
• Planting vegetation on roads

Inform Used when Council is required to provide information to the community, including:

• Minor changes to office opening hours
• Short-term road alterations for business activities (less than 48 hours)
• Election information

Community feedback helps Council improve how it engages with residents and stakeholders.

Your feedback can influence:

• How Council engages with the community such as suggestions of how we can consult with the community in an effective way
• The engagement methods used
• How feedback is collected and shared
• Ways to make engagement more accessible and inclusive

Your feedback cannot change:

• Legislative requirements under the Local Government Act 1999
• Mandatory requirements of the Community Engagement Charter
• The requirement for Council to adopt a Community Engagement Policy by 11 September 2026

Once adopted, the updated Community Engagement Policy will replace Council's current Community Engagement Policy.

What are the key changes in the draft policy?

The draft Community Engagement Policy:

• Aligns with the new Community Engagement Charter
• Introduces engagement categories based on the significance of a decision
• Provides more flexible engagement methods suited to different projects
• Improves transparency around how community feedback informs decisions
• Strengthens the focus on accessibility and inclusion

All feedback received will be reviewed and considered by Council.

Where appropriate, changes may be made to the draft Policy before it is presented to Council.

A summary of community feedback and any recommended changes will be included in a report to Council to support its decision-making process.

Anyone who lives, works, owns property, runs a business, or has an interest in the Wattle Range Council area is encouraged to provide feedback.

Comments on social media are welcome but are not considered formal submissions as part of this consultation.

To ensure your feedback is formally considered, please provide a written submission by:

• Uploading it via engage.wattlerange.sa.gov.au
• Emailing council@wattlerange.sa.gov.au
• Posting it to PO Box 27, Millicent SA 5280
• Delivering it to any Council office

Please mark your submission 'Draft Community Engagement Policy'.