Case Study
Facilitation of a Community Reference Group to inform the development of a Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan
Location
Joondalup, Western Australia
Client
City of Joondalup
Description
Following the release of a draft Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP) for community consultation, the City of Joondalup recognised the importance of providing the community with a greater role in shaping the future direction of coastal adaptation planning.
The response was the establishment of an independent Community Reference Group to provide advice, guidance and oversight during the preparation of the revised CHRMAP to manage coastal hazards and sea level rise over the next 100 years in accordance with the State Government’s Coastal Planning Policy 2.6.
Coastal adaptation planning involves balancing a wide range of often competing community values, environmental considerations, technical constraints and financial implications over long time horizons. Previous community engagement identified several important values including maintaining access to the coastline, protecting recreational opportunities, preserving environmental values, ensuring community safety and supporting financially sustainable responses to coastal change.
361 Degrees was engaged as the independent facilitator for the Community Reference Group for the duration of its term extending over several years. The role of an independent facilitator is critical in complex and potentially contentious planning processes, helping to build trust in the process, maintain impartiality and create an environment where all participants have an equal opportunity to contribute to discussions and influence outcomes.
Project Outcomes
361 Degrees has supported the Community Reference Group and City by:
- Providing independent facilitation to support transparent, balanced and constructive discussions.
- Designing meeting formats and engagement activities that enable participants to work through complex technical information and long-term planning challenges.
- Creating a respectful and inclusive environment where all members feel confident contributing their views and experiences.
- Supporting the exchange of local knowledge, technical evidence and community values to inform future adaptation pathways.
- Translating technical coastal planning information into clear, accessible language to support informed participation and deliberation.
- Managing discussions around competing priorities and helping participants identify areas of agreement and key considerations for further investigation.
- Preparing meeting summaries and outcomes reports to provide transparency and maintain continuity across the multi-year engagement process.
- Supporting the City to build community understanding, trust and ownership in decisions relating to the future management of its coastline.
Through independent facilitation and carefully designed deliberative engagement processes, 361 Degrees has helped create the conditions for informed community participation in one of the City’s most significant long-term strategic planning initiatives.
