How you can contribute to Council’s decisions
We welcome community contributions to decision-making.
There are lots of different ways the community can contribute to Council’s decision-making process, whether through direct communication, community engagement opportunities, or sharing ideas and concerns with staff or Councillors. Sharing your feedback is an important democratic step and it’s a priority for us.
Woollahra Council values the community as a source of local expertise and actively seeks community feedback and input to help shape decisions that affect residents and people who visit, work or go to school in Woollahra. Council also commits to making access to engagement opportunities easy and equitable, and we accept feedback via a range of methods such as online, via email, post and face-to-face.
We hope this information will help guide you on how best to contribute to decision-making and that it helps you understand how decisions are made.
A brief summary of the services, assets and issues we make decisions on:
Australia has three levels of government: federal, state and local.
Woollahra Council is a local government organisation that is responsible for providing a range of services and facilities to residents and the community in our Local Government Area (LGA). You can refer to the map of LGA to identify your elected representative and your Ward. Our Local Government Area is made up of five wards and each ward is represented by three Councillors, who are your elected representatives.
Understanding Woollahra Council’s priorities and responsibilities will help inform community feedback, ideas, concerns, questions and submissions.
Vision and Mission
Our Vision and Mission are supported by the following principles:
- Prioritising carbon neutrality, environmental sustainability and community resilience to meet the challenges of climate change and social and economic wellbeing.
- Acting as custodians and stewards of our highly valued natural environment, including our harbour foreshore and marine ecosystems, and our leafy streetscapes and urban forest.
- Acknowledging the Aboriginal custodianship of Woollahra and fostering greater community understanding and appreciation of our Aboriginal history, heritage and culture.
- Celebrating the unique built heritage of our area by honouring it and furthering generational efforts to conserve it.
- Creating opportunities for community connection, engagement and partnerships so we can be proud of our shared commitment and achievements.
- Demonstrating our commitment to customer experience by being respectful, open, responsive, accountable and agile.
- Building long term financial sustainability so we are in the best economic position to provide for the diverse needs of our community now and in the future.
Community Strategic Plan Goals
Based on community engagement feedback, we have five Community Strategic Plan Goals and they shape our decisions. They are:
- Well-Planned Neighbourhoods: We acknowledge controls for future growth and plan for it responsibly.
- Effective Infrastructure: We have safe and reliable infrastructure and spaces that meet our daily needs.
- Sustainable Environments: We protect what we have and prepare for the future.
- Connected Community: We are an inclusive community connected to each other and our local places.
- Working Together: We work effectively between community, government and others to deliver outcomes to meet community needs.
Service Areas
There are our 14 main service areas at Woollahra Council. Many of our decisions relate to one or more of these services:
- Development Assessment
- Strategic Planning, Heritage Conservation & Place
- Compliance
- Land & Building Services
- Transport & Engineering
- Environment & Climate Change
- Waste & Cleansing
- Parks, Trees & Recreation
- Community Services, Culture & Arts
- Library Services
- Woollahra Preschool
- Customer Experience & Engagement
- Corporate Services
- Governance
How decisions are made
At Woollahra Council, decisions are made through an open and transparent process. Issues are discussed at committee meetings, where members of the public are welcome to share their views. Find out more. Final decisions are then made at Council meetings. In certain cases, Council may delegate specific decisions to the Mayor or General Manager.
We are committed to community engagement and actively seek input from local residents when developing policies, strategies, and projects. Community participation and contribution helps shape the future of Woollahra.
Councillors rely on community feedback, as well as recommendations from staff and subject matter experts to help inform the decisions they make. They are also required to respond to legislated requirements and will also be influenced by Council’s Vision, Mission and Values that help direct the Council’s agreed priorities, actions and financial sustainability set out in our Community Strategic Plan.
During the decision making process, consideration is also given to the long term impacts on future generations. Councillors will often need to strike a balance between a range of competing priorities and concerns.
The Local Government Act, 1993 ((section 8A(2)) outlines the following principles for decision-making:
- Councils should recognise diverse local community needs and interests.
- Councils should consider social justice principles.
- Councils should consider the long term and cumulative effects of actions on future generations.
- Councils should consider the principles of ecologically sustainable development.
- Council decision-making should be transparent and decisionmakers are to be accountable for decisions and omissions.
Our commitment to community engagement and how your feedback matters
Through community engagement Woollahra Council will:
- Ensure Council decisions reflect the whole community by incorporating the community's views, concerns and aspirations into the decision-making process.
- Increase community confidence and trust in Council by building or improving relationships with the community through on-going, open and meaningful two-way conversations.
- Encourage the community to actively participate in civic life and to take responsibility for identifying and providing solutions to their concerns.
- Strengthen community capacity by building the community's understanding of how local government operates, how decisions are made, and how they can participate.
Council’s Community Engagement Strategy and Community Participation Plan have been developed using our values, the principles of social justice and the IAP2 spectrum.
How to contribute to decisions
Here are some of the ways community members can stay informed and contribute to the decision-making process:
Council Elections
Councillors are elected every four years by eligible voters. Residents, property owners, and occupiers in the Woollahra Council area are encouraged to enrol to vote in the next council election.
Council Meetings
Council meetings are open to the public (online or in person). Agendas and minutes are published online.
Speak at Council Committees or Meetings
Council committees meet to discuss issues and make recommendations. You can:
Find out more information on our meetings
Comment on Development Proposals
Residents can provide feedback or objections on development applications. Read more here. Development matters may be determined by Council employees, the Local Planning Panel, or other delegated bodies.
Strategic Planning
Woollahra’s strategic planning process is informed by state and regional policies. We welcome community input on planning changes, proposed works, and maintenance projects. Visit our Your Say webpage to learn more.
Updates and Support
Woollahra Council keeps the community informed about decisions and updates. Council meeting minutes and decisions are published on our website. You can also subscribe to our enewsletters to receive project updates and notifications or follow us on social media.
Sign up
If you need assistance, Woollahra Council offers support services, including:
- a hearing loop at the Council Chambers to assist hearing impaired members of the public who wish to attend Council and Committee meetings "in person" or via correspondence and submission.
- Disabled parking and an accessible location.
- Translating and Interpreting Service for non-English speakers and Auslan language interpreting for meetings and workshops can be provided with two weeks advance notice and subject to availability of service providers. Please contact our Governance team for assistance: 9391 7000.
Contact Woollahra Council for more information:
Email: records@woollahra.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 9391 7000
Contact us online