Modernising community engagement for better planning

Modernising community engagement for better planning

Consulting the community is now a standard part of land use and strategic planning, and for good reason. It helps planning authorities understand local values, concerns and priorities. But in regional WA, it’s becoming clear that traditional engagement methods don’t always deliver the full picture.

Back in the 1960s, Cherie Arnstein developed the Ladder of Public Participation. This model is still used today to describe levels of community involvement. But communities have changed since the sixties. People are time-poor, more informed, and often sceptical. The challenge now is to design ways of gathering advice that genuinely adds value to planning decisions, rather than just collecting opinions for appearance’s sake.

Community workshops, social media feedback, surveys and public meetings are common tools used by local government and planning teams. But time-poor communities can become disinterested or fatigued, particularly when faced with complex or highly technical topics. The loudest voices are often heard the most, while less vocal participants feel overlooked or frustrated.

This creates a challenge. Consultation is expected, even mandate, but it doesn’t always deliver representative, useful or practical insights.

Why a new approach is needed
When feedback is dominated by a small number of highly engaged stakeholders, decision-makers can grow sceptical. Likewise, communities become disheartened when their feedback doesn’t appear to make a difference or is discounted due to feasibility or policy constraints. And while some planners may benefit commercially from extended consultation processes, repeated or ineffective engagement can inflate costs without adding much value.

To deliver better outcomes, we need to rethink how we involve the community. At Land Insights, we prioritise meaningful community advice over tick-the-box consultation. This advice can then be used to develop options that are more likely to work on the ground.

What communities expect now
Today’s communities are informed, cautious and time-conscious. They often want to understand context before contributing their views. This includes:

• Baseline data
• Clear reasons for proposed actions
• Evidence of previous feedback and how it was used
• Realistic options, not hypotheticals

This shift in expectations calls for a more transparent and responsive approach to engagement. People don’t want to be asked what they think until they know what’s really going on.

Designing better engagement processes
Land Insights has developed an approach to community engagement that is pragmatic, respectful and effective. We tailor communication and advice-gathering strategies based on the needs of each project. And, strategies are always mindful of resourcing and community context. Our work typically involves:

• Informing – Sharing clear, honest information about what’s being planned, why it matters, and how people can be involved.
• Scoping – Identifying real issues that can be addressed, rather than simply gathering complaints.
• Calling to action – Highlighting who has the influence to implement changes, so community expectations are directed in a productive way.
• Using technology – Spatial tools, scenario modelling and visualisation techniques help communities grasp complex planning ideas and see the impact of different options.

This method bridges the gap between technical planning and lived experience, giving community input a defined role in decision-making.

Working with complexity, not against it
We recognise that even well-supported plans can encounter resistance when implementation begins. That’s why our approach focuses on setting expectations early, refining how we engage, and clearly showing how community input has influenced the final plan.

With over two decades of experience supporting local governments across regional WA, Land Insights understands the planning pressures faced by councils. Our goal is to support projects that are not only compliant and consultative, but genuinely beneficial to the communities they affect.

If you need support with your community engagement or planning strategy, please get in touch.