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Services · Community Engagement Consultants

Community Engagement Consultants

Notting Hill Advisory delivers community engagement strategies that build social licence, surface genuine community sentiment, and de-risk the planning approvals process.
We work with developers, councils, infrastructure proponents and government agencies across Australia to design and coordinate consultation programs that withstand scrutiny — from rezoning and pre-lodgement through to state significant and major project assessment.
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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.
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

Engagement strategy and consultation plans

Phased, measurable, and tailored to individual projects.

02

Community sentiment research

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

03

Pre-DA and pre-lodgement consultation

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

04

Major project and state significant engagement

Programs compliant with the relevant state planning authority’s requirements, in every jurisdiction.

05

Issues management

Working through organised opposition with evidence, not assumptions.

06

Engagement outcomes reporting

Defensible documentation that supports your assessment and withstands review.
Data Driven

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. The result is a clear, defensible picture of where the community actually sits, not just where the most vocal residents do.
That distinction matters when a consent authority asks you to demonstrate genuine consultation.

Who we work with

Who we work with

We engage on behalf of Tier-1 property developers, public infrastructure agencies, state and local government, energy and resources proponents, and urban planning practices.
Our team draws on senior experience inside government and senior roles in social planning and communications — so we understand both the regulator’s expectations and the proponent’s commercial reality.
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 engagement programs that meet the relevant state planning authority’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 touch

Ready to talk?

Whether you’re scoping a new project or refining an existing program, we’d welcome a conversation.
Request a Proposal
Book a Discovery Call