This guide has been developed to assist council sustainability practitioners as they work with community, who are part of the story in council’s sustainability journey. It is intended to assist by identifying the ways councils in NSW engage with their communities. The information collected in this guide has come from practitioners who have shared their initiatives with Local Government NSW (LGNSW).
Why should sustainability practitioners involve community in council’s sustainability journey? It is an opportunity to build capacity in the understanding and skills required to build sustainable communities. It strengthens the notion of locally and culturally-appropriate sustainability solutions and builds networks for learning. It builds a strong sense of place within community and creates model citizenship. Councils are obligated under Agenda 21 to involve the community, but longer lasting outcomes in sustainability are achieved with greater political support.
