IT is incredible to think that after some 12 years of discussion over Turner Caravan Park in Augusta, we still haven’t got it right: Caravan Park clash, 3 September 2008.

No matter what level of development is suggested for the park, the anger and frustration of permanent park residents is understandable in the face of Council employees who believe that full-page advertisements constitute community consultation.

Council has a moral and legal responsibility to create opportunities for two-way exchange.

The released feasibility study massively increases the sites and the style of development over suggestions from previous years.

Therefore, it would seem reasonable to do more than simply inform or consult with the community.

Good governance requires much more.

Module 8 of the Elected Member Development Program, sponsored by the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) is a module on Community Consultation and Participation in Local Government.

That module details the five levels of communication a council might use.

When one wants to work with the public throughout a process to ensure consistent understanding and consideration, and further, to partner with the public in each aspect of the decision, including development of alternatives and identifying a preferred position, involvement and collaboration are what is required.

When proper ethics and good technique have not been used, ideas are highjacked by a minority, the public is confused, the community loses faith and trust, and the whole process is a waste of time and energy.

We have too often had this kind of result.

Our Council needs to acknowledge the distress their study and approach have caused and go back to the beginning.

Sit down with a representative community group, outline your goals, and ask the community to become involved in options by collaborating on alternatives.

Then draw up the final plan.

Go on.

I know you can do it.

Let’s for once have a process that builds trust and credibility with an assurance of procedural fairness.

Let’s for once have a respectful process of which we can all be proud.