Community Engagement: Considerations and Challenges
Perth’s rapid growth has meant Local Governments are under increasing pressure to deliver projects that align with strategic vision, while achieving optimal delivery timeline and budgetary outcomes. Often these community assets are called upon to help alleviate a myriad of social concerns, and support participation and resilience as needs and lifestyles change.
These public assets form a region’s resources and identity, so it makes sense that the community should have a say in major projects that will impact them.
So what is the best way to help the community feel invested? And what happens when they don’t?
Community Engagement provides residents, businesses and other stakeholders with the opportunity to discuss and engage with potential projects early during initial planning, and then to gain better understanding of their aspirations as concepts and designs develop. This process ensures the community feels involved, and creates a sense of connection, adding an enduring value that goes far beyond brick and mortar.
As advocates for better, more aligned public buildings, Local Government may seek to connect with a diverse cross section of the community (based on age, gender, culture, interests, background etc). Hearing from many voices can ensure design outcomes are equitable and inclusive, and may reveal important opportunities not possible without local insight. Defining this audience and effectively communicating scope early on avoids wasted time and resources.
It's a delicate balance. Absent or poor engagement can easily allow misinformation, or even opposition to gain momentum. While too much engagement can lead to fatigue and lack of interest.
Delivery Methods
According to Roy Morgan research, in 2019, 89.9% of Australians owned a smartphone, since then this figure has surely increased. In a digitally-connected world, engagement may include online surveys, social media and interactive presentations. Online delivery may also side-step barriers for users with disabilities, where some venues may not be universally accessible. Traditional in-person presentations, signage, exhibitions and focus groups are still necessary to capture additional perspective. A range of delivery methods are especially helpful where the community is passive or diverse.
Keeping the community informed builds trust, but may present a challenge for competing timing and resources for ongoing engagement. Similarly, authenticity is strengthened when the users know the purpose of the consultation, and the level of influence their decisions may have. The AIP2 Public Participation Spectrum provides a best practice framework often utilised by Councils within WA.
Collaborating with Architects
Carabiner believe our role as guides (not gurus) throughout the planning, design and delivery of public buildings means we take our cues from our clients when it comes to community engagement. We work alongside Project Working Groups, Sustainability, Strategic and Commercial experts.
Local Governments know how best to connect with project users, but there are tools and methods we implement as Architects, to help that process run smoothly:
We inform our client of the most effective intervals for seeking feedback, and this forms part of our project methodology
We package options and conceptual designs in ways that are jargon-free and accessible
We bring our expertise to answer stakeholder questions as they may arise
Mitigating risk, as well as developing opportunities are key parts of the process
We assist the client in developing their engagement strategy
We utilise latest tools and tech such as realistic concept renders and 3D flythroughs to support communication materials, and help stakeholders feel an awareness of the space
We empower design champions within Government with information to influence positive design outcomes
When there are many (sometimes competing) opinions of varied authority, effective stakeholder contribution requires distilling and coordination. Carabiner work with our clients and project partners to identify and categorise trends and themes within the consultation process. We then utilise our expertise (supported by business case findings and analysis) to incorporate the benefits of this feedback within the design.
Integrating feedback from stakeholders within the design can be a complex process, but is ultimately rewarded when the project connects to, and celebrates its community.
For more information about our engagement process, contact us.