Balancing water use within the Basin Plan to meet both legislative and engagement requirements.
Communication Link partnered with Bluegrass Consulting to develop a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan in support of two critical Basin Plan projects that sought to optimise water use within southern NSW National Parks.
Engagement needed to balance the diverse views of stakeholders with the legislative and statutory engagement requirements. To address this challenge, we created a multifaceted engagement program that added value and accommodated various legislative requirements. This involved an exclusive 'inner circle' consultation process, allowing key stakeholders from state and federal government, project teams, and community representatives to provide input from the project's outset. We conducted stakeholder identification, message development, and engagement principles co-design, resulting in a strategy that gained increasing support across diverse stakeholder groups.
We authored the Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy and Implementation Plan, adapting to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with innovative online engagement methods. This approach allowed us to workshop strategy approaches, key messages, and navigate online collaboration across broad geographic areas.
Our collaborative efforts led to the development of a robust strategy that received growing support from a wide range of stakeholders. This case study highlights our success in navigating complex regulatory landscapes, facilitating collaborative engagement, and ensuring effective communication to drive environmental excellence.