Stakeholder Engagement & Social Impact

Notting Hill Advisory helps developers, councils and government agencies understand the communities their projects affect — with engagement programs and impact assessments that stand up to scrutiny, anywhere in Australia.

120+

Engagement programs delivered

Notting Hill Advisory specialises in stakeholder engagement and social impact advisory for major projects, helping proponents build trust, manage risk and support planning approvals.

Who we work with

Tier-1 Developers, Infrastructure Agencies & Government Clients

Our team draws on senior experience inside the NSW Government and senior roles in social planning and communications so we understand both the regulator’s expectations and the proponent’s commercial reality.

Why it matters

The Importance
of Good Community Engagement

Whether it is a residential development, a renewable energy facility, a hospital expansion or a public utility upgrade, the strength of a community engagement program directly influences approval timelines, conditions of consent and the public conversation that follows.

Communities that feel heard rarely become organised opposition.

We design engagement programs that take this seriously — not as a compliance exercise, but as a strategic input to project success.

What we deliver

Practical Capability Across the
Engagement Lifecycle

01 Engagement Strategy

Phased, measurable, and tailored to individual projects.

02 Community sentiment research

Surveys, interviews, doorknocks and digital listening producing defensible data.

03 Pre-DA & Pre-lodgment Consultation

Early engagement that shapes a better design and reduces objection risk.

04 State Significant Development

Comprehensive engagement programs for major projects.

05 Issues Management

Working through organised opposition with evidence, not assumptions.

06 Engagement Reporting

Defensible documentation that supports your assessment and withstands review.

Methodology

Data-Driven, not Anecdotal

Many engagement programs rely on the loudest voices in the room. We do not. We combine quantitative survey methodology with qualitative methods that bring nuance and lived experience to the data.

Sample sentiment

“Do you think local housing options are affordable for most residents?”

Agree

18%

Neutral

24%

Disagree

58%

Frequently asked

Questions Clients
Ask Before We Start

Don’t see your question? Get in touch and we’ll respond within one business day.

When in the project lifecycle should we start community engagement?

As early as possible. Early-stage engagement — before a design is locked in — typically delivers the highest return on investment, because community input can still meaningfully shape the project. Late-stage engagement conducted only to satisfy compliance requirements rarely builds genuine support and often triggers stronger opposition.

Do you handle state significant and major project engagement?

Yes. We design and deliver engagement programs that meet the relevant state planning authority’s requirements — including consultation outcomes reports that withstand independent assessment.

How do you measure community sentiment fairly?

We use mixed-method research: statistically valid surveys, in-person engagement opportunities and digital touch points to gain a Whole of Community perspective. We report what the data shows — including findings that are uncomfortable for the proponent — because the value of our work depends on it.

Can you manage organised opposition campaigns?

We can, but our preference is to engage early enough that organised opposition is rare. Where it does emerge, we work through it with evidence, transparent communication, and pragmatic design responses — not by going to war with the community.

How much does community engagement cost?

It depends on scale, complexity and the regulatory pathway. We scope every program against the project’s specific anticipated impact on a community. Request a proposal and we’ll come back with a tailored fee.

Insights