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Services · Government And Council Engagement

Councils & Government

Notting Hill Advisory is adept at delivering community engagement programs for councils and government agencies — the consultation that sits behind local plans and new community infrastructure that shape day-to-day life.
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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. Communities that feel ignored almost always do.
We design engagement programs that take this seriously not as a compliance exercise, but as a strategic input to project success.
What we deliver

What we deliver

01

Consultation on local plans and strategic documents

Planning scheme and local plan amendments, community strategic plans and visions, and place-based strategies.

02

Engagement on new local infrastructure

Libraries, community centres, parks and open space, aquatic and recreation facilities, depot relocations, waste and resource recovery facilities.

03

Statutory consultation under local government legislation

Engagement that meets your state’s integrated planning and reporting obligations and your adopted community engagement strategy.

04

Independent issues management

Structured response to contentious local proposals, with evidence and balance rather than political messaging.
How we work

How we work with councils and agencies

We work as an extension of your in-house communications and engagement team. Most councils we work with have capable internal teams; what we bring is independence, additional capacity at peak project moments and our unique Whole of Community Engagement methodology for sensitive land use changes and disruptive infrastructure delivery.
Who we work with

Who we work with

Local councils across Australia, joint organisations and regional groupings of councils, state and territory agencies, statutory authorities, and major public sector landowners.
We can be engaged for a one-off consultation, a full program of works across a strategic plan cycle, or as a standing panel for ad-hoc engagement support.
Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions

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.
Yes. We design and deliver SSD engagement programs that meet the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure’s requirements, including consultation outcomes reports that withstand independent assessment.
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.
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.
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.
Get in touchFrequently asked

Ready to talk?

Whether you’re scoping a new project or refining an existing program, we’d welcome a conversation.
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