Photo booths exploring excellence in engagement

There are three more opportunities this week to step up to one of Sunshine Coast Council’s roving photo booths and have your say on what an engaged community means to you and take home a free photograph as a keepsake.

The Exploring Excellence in Engagement pop-up photo booths will be in  Beerwah (Tuesday), Caloundra (Thursday) and Mooloolaba (Friday).

The booth has already received plenty of interest in visits to Coolum, Nambour and Maleny.

Mayor Mark Jamieson invited the Sunshine Coast community to share their thoughts to help inform the future of council’s community engagement approach.

He said his view of an engaged community was one where it is second nature for people to connect with each other and what is happening around them.

“An engaged community recognises opportunity, takes responsibility for securing it and works together to confront challenges,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“Council, along with the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), have a commitment to work together to maximise effective engagement with the valued voices of our Sunshine Coast community.

“Council has recently signed a Regional Partnership Agreement with USC to collaborate on a range of important topics, including economic development and infrastructure; research; smart city and operational efficiencies; and community engagement.

“The Exploring Excellence in Engagement program is the first step in a community visioning process to develop a concept for a centre of excellence in community engagement.

“Working together will ensure we build and support an even more connected, engaged and resilient Sunshine Coast community, living in what we hope will be Australia’s most sustainable region – healthy, smart, creative”.

Community Portfolio Councillor Jenny McKay said an engaged community was one that is informed and involved in decision making and a strong partner with local government to deliver positive results for their communities.

“Council’s Sunshine Coast Social Strategy 2015 sets the social direction for further developing and benefitting from our strong community here on the Sunshine Coast,” Cr McKay said.

“To achieve our social vision, a series of aims and key initiatives have been developed including the importance of maintaining a resilient and engaged community.

“With a focus on collaboration, council is seeking to enhance the ways we can support an open and ongoing dialogue with our community and using our community’s input to generate better decisions for the whole of the region.

“We are hitting the streets throughout August and September, visiting six locations across the region to encourage this open discussion and to explore what excellence in community engagement looks like with you.”

Head to one of the following photo booths this week to have your say on what an engaged community means to you and take home a free photograph:

Beerwah – Beerwah Library from Tuesday, September 5 from 10am - noon

Caloundra – Felicity Park, Bulcock Street from Thursday, September 7 from 10am - noon

Mooloolaba – Cnr Brisbane Road and The Esplanade (outside The Coffee Club) on Friday, September 8 from 10am - noon

Visit council’s website for more details and to complete the short 5 minute survey by Tuesday, September 26, 2017.