Data

General Issues
Housing
Planning & Development
Environment
Specific Topics
Housing Planning
Elderly Housing
Sustainable Development
Collections
OECD Project on Representative Deliberative Processes
Location
Canberra
Australian Capital Territory
Australia
Scope of Influence
Regional
Files
Housing Choices and Collaboration Hub - Government Response
Housing Choices Discussion Paper Community Engagement Report - May 2018
Links
ACT Government Housing Choices
Summary by newDemocracy Foundation
Videos
ACT Housing Choices Collaboration Hub
Start Date
End Date
Ongoing
No
Time Limited or Repeated?
A single, defined period of time
Purpose/Goal
Make, influence, or challenge decisions of government and public bodies
Make, influence, or challenge decisions of private organizations
Approach
Consultation
Spectrum of Public Participation
Involve
Total Number of Participants
38
Open to All or Limited to Some?
Mixed
Recruitment Method for Limited Subset of Population
Stratified Random Sample
General Types of Methods
Deliberative and dialogic process
Planning
General Types of Tools/Techniques
Facilitate dialogue, discussion, and/or deliberation
Collect, analyse and/or solicit feedback
Specific Methods, Tools & Techniques
Workshop
Deliberation
Survey
Q&A Session
Legality
Yes
Facilitators
Yes
Facilitator Training
Professional Facilitators
Face-to-Face, Online, or Both
Both
Types of Interaction Among Participants
Discussion, Dialogue, or Deliberation
Ask & Answer Questions
Express Opinions/Preferences Only
Information & Learning Resources
Written Briefing Materials
Expert Presentations
Decision Methods
Voting
If Voting
Super-Majoritarian
Communication of Insights & Outcomes
Public Report
New Media
Type of Organizer/Manager
Regional Government
Non-Governmental Organization
Funder
ACT Government
Type of Funder
Regional Government
Staff
No
Volunteers
No
Evidence of Impact
Yes

CASE

ACT Government Housing Choices

August 4, 2020 Joyce Chen
September 14, 2019 Lucy J Parry, Participedia Team
September 3, 2019 Scott Fletcher Bowlsby
June 29, 2019 Lucy J Parry, Participedia Team
June 22, 2019 Lucy J Parry, Participedia Team
General Issues
Housing
Planning & Development
Environment
Specific Topics
Housing Planning
Elderly Housing
Sustainable Development
Collections
OECD Project on Representative Deliberative Processes
Location
Canberra
Australian Capital Territory
Australia
Scope of Influence
Regional
Files
Housing Choices and Collaboration Hub - Government Response
Housing Choices Discussion Paper Community Engagement Report - May 2018
Links
ACT Government Housing Choices
Summary by newDemocracy Foundation
Videos
ACT Housing Choices Collaboration Hub
Start Date
End Date
Ongoing
No
Time Limited or Repeated?
A single, defined period of time
Purpose/Goal
Make, influence, or challenge decisions of government and public bodies
Make, influence, or challenge decisions of private organizations
Approach
Consultation
Spectrum of Public Participation
Involve
Total Number of Participants
38
Open to All or Limited to Some?
Mixed
Recruitment Method for Limited Subset of Population
Stratified Random Sample
General Types of Methods
Deliberative and dialogic process
Planning
General Types of Tools/Techniques
Facilitate dialogue, discussion, and/or deliberation
Collect, analyse and/or solicit feedback
Specific Methods, Tools & Techniques
Workshop
Deliberation
Survey
Q&A Session
Legality
Yes
Facilitators
Yes
Facilitator Training
Professional Facilitators
Face-to-Face, Online, or Both
Both
Types of Interaction Among Participants
Discussion, Dialogue, or Deliberation
Ask & Answer Questions
Express Opinions/Preferences Only
Information & Learning Resources
Written Briefing Materials
Expert Presentations
Decision Methods
Voting
If Voting
Super-Majoritarian
Communication of Insights & Outcomes
Public Report
New Media
Type of Organizer/Manager
Regional Government
Non-Governmental Organization
Funder
ACT Government
Type of Funder
Regional Government
Staff
No
Volunteers
No
Evidence of Impact
Yes

The ACT (Australian Capital Territory) Government undertook a consultation process to engage Canberrans in decisions about future housing. The process included wider community consultation as well as a 'Collaboration Hub' deliberative process.

Problems and Purpose

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is the region in Australia including Canberra and surrounding area. Canberra’s population and the number of older residents is set to increase in coming years, meaning that the government needs to consider appropriate housing strategies to meet this need, alongside the challenge of having limited land available [1].

The changing demographics of Canberra require reconsideration of the capital’s housing planning and development. The existing housing and planning system was found wanting and not conducive to meeting these challenges because ‘currently, planning rules potentially don’t let people create the dwellings and neighborhoods they want to create’ [2].

The government undertook a multi-stage engagement process in order to engage the ACT community and generate recommendations on housing choices. A central element of this process was a ‘Collaboration Hub’, a deliberative process bringing together a random sample of citizens to deliberate upon and develop a set of recommendations [3].

Background History and Context

In recent years the ACT government has undertaken a number of community engagements, some of which have deliberative or participatory elements, operated through their YourSay portal.

Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities

The entire engagement process was convened by the ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, part of the ACT government. newDemocracy Foundation, an independent non-profit, were enlisted to design and oversee the Collaboration Hub, the deliberative element.

Participant Recruitment and Selection

According to the ACT Housing Choices webpage, 38 Participants took part in the Collaboration Hub stage of the process, but the number is noted as 31 in the Hub’s final report. 15,000 invitations were sent by post to potential participants, and from the positive responses a representative sample was drawn matching the demographics of Canberra by age, gender, location and household type (e.g. property owner, tenant).

The overall engagement process involved multiple stages outside of this where more people participated. This included an online portal and community presentations and workshops where participation was open to all.

Methods and Tools Used

Surveys

Workshops

Online consultation

Q&A with experts and officials

Deliberation

What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation

The first stage of the community engagement involved the release of a government discussion paper which laid out the issues facing the region relating to housing. Feedback on this paper was gathered through a number of methods, including written submissions, online surveys, interactions on the YourSay portal, workshops for stakeholders, industry and community groups, social media, postcards handed to residents, and kiosks set up at community centres for people to talk to planners face to face and share their views [4].

The outcomes of this community engagement were then fed into the Collaboration Hub which followed. The members of the Collaboration Hub met five times on Saturdays from May – July 2018, for a total of 40 hours. Prior to meeting, they were provided with an information pack detailing the various issues and possible solutions.

On the first three days of the Hub, participants heard from a range of industry, stakeholder and expert representatives on the issues relating to future housing choices in Canberra, presentations of whom can be viewed here. They were able to request further information and hear from specific people during this time [5].

On the fifth day, participants presented their final report and 13 recommendations to the Minister for Planning, Mick Gentleman. Within this there were two minority reports alongside the 13 recommendations [6].

Prior to the process, the ACT government had agreed to respond to all recommendations within 45 days and give reasons for any recommendations that were rejected [7].

Influence, Outcomes, and Effects

The ACT government agreed in principle to adopt all of the Hub’s recommendations. In practice, this means that they agree to the ideas laid out in the recommendations and will undertake further research and develop for them to be implemented [8]. As of September 2019, members of the Hub and stakeholders have been invited to work further on implementing some of the recommendations. This is ongoing [9].

Analysis and Lessons Learned

Want to contribute an analysis of this initiative? Help us complete this section!

See Also

References

[1] newDemocracy Foundation (2018). ACT Government Housing Choices. Available at: https://www.newdemocracy.com.au/2018/03/13/act-government-housing-choices/

 [2] newDemocracy Foundation (2018). Process Design - ACT Government Housing Choices. Available at: https://www.newdemocracy.com.au/2018/03/13/act-government-housing-choices/

[3] ACT Government (2019). Housing Choices. Available at: https://www.yoursay.act.gov.au/housing-choices

[4] Ibid.

[5] ACT Government (2018). Housing Choices and Collaboration Hub - Government Response. Available at: https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/hdp.au.prod.app.act-yoursay.files/5215/3740/2339/Housing-Choices-and-Collaboration-Hub-_Government_Response.pdf

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] ACT Government (2019). Housing Choices. Available at: https://www.yoursay.act.gov.au/housing-choices

External Links

ACT Housing Choices

newDemocracy Foundation

Notes