We have to question what is really happening with consultation in Glen Eira. Residents and councillors are literally snowed under with a plethora of current consultations. After tonight’s council meeting there will be seven issues that are currently open for input/submissions. Very soon, another 2 important planning items will be added – the Bentleigh and Elsternwick structure plans.
Questions abound! Why so many, why now, and how vital are they all at this point in time? And most importantly, what impact does a deluge of consultations have on community feedback and on councillors themselves? Was it really necessary that we now have a consultation on gambling, or even the economic plan? Considering that the budget will be discussed tonight, then surely this should precede an ‘economic plan’ so that the budget would set the parameters.
It is asking a lot for residents to partake in any meaningful manner on these consultations. Admittedly, not every issue will be of concern to all residents. Some may be interested in the annual budget, and not in gambling policy. People will pick and choose and decide if they have the time and energy to provide feedback. Glen Eira will of course continue the rhetoric that it cares about consultation and consults regularly. Over the years however, feedback on many of these consultations have been extremely poor – apart from the really contentious issues such as the Inkerman bike path, or the Queen’s Avenue cycling path. Yet, council has never really investigated why there has been a low feedback rate, and nor have they come up with any answers.
If there is simply apathy, then it is incumbent on council to explore why. Could it possibly be that once bitten twice shy? When people have taken the time to provide feedback and then discover that nothing they have said has been responded to or even listed in summary reports they give up and believe that council simply doesn’t listen or act upon their suggestions? This would be enough to put anyone off from trying again! A truly responsive council is one that monitors and investigates the results of all its consultations. We don’t believe this is happening in Glen Eira!
We have long advocated for the following to occur:
- A short succinct summary of proposals that don’t require residents to plough through hundreds of pages (mostly of spin) prior to submitting their feedback
- Surveys that are deliberately open ended instead of question upon question that is geared to garner the required response.
- The involvement of councillors and the consultation committee in vetting questions and processes prior to consultation
In the next month or so residents and councillors will be confronted with up to 9 consultations occurring simultaneously. That is nothing but a recipe for disaster! But is this what council really wants?
Glen Eira Debates 
May 1, 2024 at 1:21 PM
I agree completely. I refuse to answer bullshit questions. I don’t want to have to read zillions of pages to find out that we’re being screwed.
May 2, 2024 at 9:47 AM
When the housing strategy came up for consultation I literally spent hours going through all the papers and then more hours trying to understand what it all means and how my area would be affected. I then took time to put in my response. I would say that all this took at least 5 hours.
I also thought the questions asked were basically useless. Even the comments I made after thinking very carefully did not get a mention when the report came out.
This experience has left me averse to undergoing a similar exercise. I’m not apathetic. I care about my suburb and what’s happening. I’ve basically come to the conclusion that whatever I say will be ignored and not even acknowledged.
May 2, 2024 at 12:42 PM
In my experience their consultation processes are rigged and the conclusions are foregone. Our councillors must be held to account for this appalling situation as they put up with this behaviour without so much as a whimper.
May 2, 2024 at 6:36 PM
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May 2, 2024 at 7:33 PM
Certain elements of council are determined to bamboozle people, make it difficult or painful to read and give feedback, because they don’t really want it. They have an agenda and are determined to get it their way.
May 3, 2024 at 2:23 PM
I suspect “consultation” is done as a tick-box item, not to gain valuable feedback about matters overlooked or not addressed. Over the years, I have provided feedback on many issues and rarely seen it go anywhere. A related problem is that officers decide what they want and then set about manipulating Council to support that decision. If you look at the background information provided by officers in the recent Queens Ave shared user path consultation, they desperately tried to discourage people from choosing “do nothing”, whereas “do nothing” is what they’ve done about all the streets with multiple casualty accidents involving cyclists. I find it hard to believe Council policy is to spend money where it is least needed.