Does your council invest enough in Better Streets?

Act now for your chance to influence that!
​Every May/June, all NSW councils, by law, have to seek public input on their budget and plans for the next year (operational plan) and four years (delivery plan). By law, they have to take into account any submissions. But hardly anyone does give input, so it’s very easy for you (and maybe a couple of neighbours/friends) to make your input count. 
Follow these easy steps:
Step 1: search for “[council name] operational plan and budget 2023” on the web OR go to the council home page and look for a “Have your say” or “Community Engagement” link where you should find it. If not, call or email the council to ask for the link. 

Step 2: Make a submission before the deadline which will be soon – late May or early June. Some councils provided below
Two-minute version: in the comment box, or in an email to the email address shown, make a general, or specific comment.
For example:

• “Please invest more in traffic calming around XYZ school”; or

• ​“build more pedestrian crossings near the shops”; or
• “allocate more budget to build more of the bike plan in the next four years”; etc.  - you get the idea. It’s that simple. ​

One-hour version: 
Download the operational plan (which usually includes the budget near the end) and skim through it, noting or highlighting the useful bits. Look out for council’s strategic objectives and targets – these usually have good “Better Streets” related ideals that you can hold them to. Then look at the actions, and the budget figures (under capital expenditure). Start with praise for the good actions, targets and budget items, and then point out any gaps or areas to improve. Ideally, link your suggestions back to their strategic objectives that support your case. It works best if you underline or re-state at the end your clear and specific recommendations

• Recommendation: spend the $50,000 allocated for upgrading the car park on Smith Street to a new pedestrian crossing instead, or
• Recommendation: increase the budget for XXXX.

Here is a long submission example to give you ideas, but remember even one sentence will work.

Step 3: amplify your submission - they’ll have to consider your recommendations and comments, but it will have even more influence if others make similar comments. Email it to a few friends or neighbours and encourage them to copy a point or two. Maybe post it on the local or school facebook group. And, best of all, email a copy to the councillors, so they can also see what input the community is giving – they might decide to vote for changing the budget to include your suggestions.
Late in June, council will decide on the final budget along with any changes made based on the feedback from community or councillors.
Go for it! Make your views count.

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Links to some councils provided below:

• Blacktown: https://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Have-Your-Say/Council%E2%80%99s-plans-for-202324 by 6 June 2023
• Blue Mountains: https://yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/draft-operational-plan-2022-2023-including-draft-fees-charges-2022-2023 by 26 May 2023
• Camden: https://yourvoice.camden.nsw.gov.au/draft-operational-plan-and-budget-2023-2024 by 16 May 2023
• Hills Shire: www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/Contact-Us/Have-Your-Say/Have-your-say-on-the-Draft-2023-2024-HILLS-SHIRE-PLAN by 17 May 2023
• Hornsby: https://yoursay.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/dpop by 15 May 2023
• Inner West Coucncil https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/about/news/announcements/2023-announcements/draft-operational-plan-2023-24-open-for-community-feedback by 19 May 2023
• Liverpool - could not find online
• Moree Plains Shire: https://yourvoice.camden.nsw.gov.au/draft-operational-plan-and-budget-2023-2024 by 2 June 2023
• Parramatta https://www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/about-parramatta/news/on-exhibition/dpop-24 by 6 June 2023
• Penrith: https://yoursaypenrith.com.au/draftoperationalplan2023-24 by 1 June  2023
• Randwick: https://www.yoursay.randwick.nsw.gov.au/budget2023-24 by 5 June  2023
• Wollondilly: https://www.yoursay.wollondilly.nsw.gov.au/draft-operational-plan-2023-24 by 28 May 2023
• Wollongong- could not find online