Timeline and community and stakeholder engagement

Table 1 identifies the timeline for the strategy outlining the different stages involved with creating and implementing the plan and the level of community engagement involved at each stage based on the IAP2 Spectrum (International Association of Public Participation, 2014).

The Wyndham Cycle Strategy Cyclist Feedback (WCSCF) of 2017 compiles the input and feedback from the community identifying their concerns and needs regarding cycling in the municipality including Tarneit. It is assumed to be the product of the first stage for the purpose of this plan to benefit from the community engagement recently conducted by City of Wyndham. This plan is currently at Stage 2 of the process identified below where the outcomes from the community consultation have been identified and the plan is at the draft stage waiting on council approval.

The total time duration expected for the completion of the plan is 3 years (7 months remaining as at October 2018). The short time frame for the roll out of the plan and beginning of implementation is due to the urgent need to pre plan the physical infrastructure needed in the face of the rapidly growing Tarneit North and Tarneit West. Tarneit is one of the top 3 rapidly growing suburbs in the municipality based on the total number of buildings permits received by City of Wyndham to date (City of Wyndham, 2018a). This strategy is an attempt at proactive planning to have essential cycling infrastructure in place prior to residents occupying their lots and foster a cycling culture in a growth area which is unlikely to be serviced by bus services until providers are satisfied with the potential number of patrons that may be captured (See Bus Association Victoria, 2011; Jacks, 2018). Overall it aims to provide means for convenient, safe and healthy means of travel to local destinations necessary for day to day life such as the Tarneit Station, the shopping centres and library. The strategy is expected to be completed and have implementation begun by May 2019. The time duration for each stage was adapted from City of Melbourne’s community consultation plan for its 2016-2020 Bicycle Plan (City of Melbourne, 2018) to draw on a precedent and have a realistic and practical timeline.

Table 1 Timeline for the implementation of the strategy and the identification of community involvement at each stage based on the IAP2 Spectrum (Table adapted from the Wyndham Community Engagement Framework 2018- 2021)

How the stages identified above meet City of Wyndham’s community engagement principles (City of Wyndham 2017a) is outlined below (Table 2).

Principle

Confirm the engagement purpose and scope Know the community and stakeholders’ interests, values and opportunities for engagement Relevant stage

1 1-5

1 Response to principle

The scope of the plan was decided by the Council prior to engaging with the community: the suburb in focus is Tarneit and the focus of the plan is cycling for travel. The different levels of engagement and their purposes are identified in Table 1 Victoria, schools, shopping Comments prizes shared via the Council community not-for-profit such as Level of engagement by the community

Residents: 9-5 workers, Different means of engagement cyclists, children, immigrants, were adopted to give everyone a senior citizens, indigenous voice: Australians, youth - an online survey incentivised by Others: website, Facebook page and Vicroads, Public Transport Victoria, Victrack, Bicycle Twitter –reaches youth, 9 workers, immigrants -5 centres, traders, town centre - community engagement property owners, community stations at popular destinations groups (e.g. Tarneit Cycling such as the shopping centres, Club) station, community centre, and Inform Consult

Design a tailored engagement approach

Engage in a respectful and genuine manner 1,3 and 5

1-5 Sufficient time is provided for community feedback, and the role of the community and their influence at each stage will be identified explicitly and also informed to the community at all engagement events. Different means of engagement at different times are adopted to provide all with the opportunity to provide their input. Hard to reach groups such as the homeless and elderly are reached through engagement with key stakeholders such as Salvation Army and engaged via means they prefer. Salvation Army to have direct engagement with the community and people of varied ages, interests and diverse backgrounds –to learn of their interests, values in relation to cycling and receive feedback for improvement.

- reach out to the other stakeholders. Such as visiting schools to talk to teachers and students to identify interests, needs and concerns.

In the survey it allowed Community mapping, photo respondents to identify if elicitation, games and other tools interested in further were adopted to help the engagement and if yes, how community effectively engage they would like to be with the project and provide engaged over the course of feedback. The different tools the project. allow those who have difficulty A range of tools allowing for with English engage with the different types and levels of questions inquired and provide engagement are used and their thoughts and ideas. It also translators were on hand at helps children and others to the engagement stations. engage with the project more easily.

A hackathon is to be held at Stage 3 for the community to work collaboratively with planners to address issues and

concerns identified. Consult

Involve Collaborate

Involve

Analyse and interpret the engagement information Close the loop on the engagement process, project outcomes and decisions Evaluate the effectiveness of the engagement 2 3 5

The data collected will be analysed to identify themes, preferences and priorities Share the findings with the public and be explicit with how the findings shaped the plan and associated outcomes. Invite feedback on the engagement process. Assess the feedback received on the engagement process and conduct the council’s own assessment of the quality of the feedback (e.g. did we reach hard to reach groups?)

None Inform

Consult None

Table 2 How the plan meets City of Wyndham’s community engagement principles (City of Wyndham 2017a)