Have your say on Council's vision for the next 20 years

Published on 01 April 2025

The community has an opportunity to have their say on two key vision documents for the Kempsey Shire including the updated Community Strategic Plan which outlines the 20-year vision for the Kempsey Shire, and the Community Engagement & Participation Strategy which outlines how and when the community can participate in council decision making.

The Community Strategic Plan: 2045 Your Future! has been updated to coincide with the new term of council. This Plan provides a 20-year vision for the Kempsey Shire, informed by ongoing conversations that we have had with people who live, work, and visit here. It is council's master plan guiding all the other plans and providing a roadmap for tangible progress.

In the three years since the Plan was first approved, there have been many conversations and opportunities to connect with and learn what matters most to the people of Kempsey Shire. 

The changes made to the Plan reflect our strong and ongoing commitment to financial sustainability, plus a renewed focus on investing in our young people, safer communities, supporting the local economy, protecting our environment, and prioritising quality engagement with the community. 

Read the Community Strategic Plan

The Community Engagement & Participation Strategy explains the process Council undertakes when planning community engagement, the topics that are appropriate for public feedback and the legislation that guides informed decision making in Local Government.

The Plan makes a firm commitment to an engagement approach that is guided by principles of being authentic, inclusive, timely and genuine. The importance of Council investing resources into closing the loop and reporting decisions back to community who have participated in engagement has also been recognised in this updated draft.

We recognise that engagement and participation involve a dynamic two-way conversation between Council and the community, and these conversations are vital to ensuring good decisions and the best outcomes for our community.

In that spirit, please go to our Your Say Macleay page, download and read the draft plans, and tell us what you think, either by completing a survey or by sending in a submission.

Read the Community Engagement & Participation Strategy