Wednesday night marked the eighth and final Citizens’ Panel session for 2023.
The panel gathered at the Safety Beach Sailing Club to reflect on their year and were joined by CEO John Baker, Mayor Councillor Steve Holland and Councillors Dixon, Gill, Mar and O’Connor. Mayor Holland presented each member with a certificate of appreciation and gift voucher to thank them for their contribution.
Since their initial meet and greet session in March, our Citizens’ Panelists have been instrumental in providing feedback on a range of complex issues including our Open Air Burning Local Law, Visitor Paid Parking Pilot, Waste Collection, Urban Forest Strategy, Safer Speeds and our Road Safety Strategy.
This is the third year of our Citizens’ Panel. An innovative initiative that began in 2021 when the first panel created a Community Vision for the Peninsula. The Mornington Peninsula Shire holds a unique position in the local government sector with their commitment to a standing Citizens’ Panel each year.
Panel member Sherie said she had a great experience explaining that “Being part of the Citizen’s Panel really educated me on exactly what Council does.”
“It was empowering to see how our feedback helped shaped the decisions made by Councillors. I have enjoyed my time with the Citizens’ Panel!”
Invitations for the 2024 Citizens’ Panel will be posted to 10,000 random Peninsula addresses in early 2024. Stay tuned for more updates by visiting our website: mornpen.vic.gov.au/citizenspanel
Quotes attributable to Mayor Councillor Steve Holland:
“It’s been wonderful to see the continuation of our Citizens’ Panel, a Victorian first for community engagement.
“As Councillors, we often have to make difficult decisions on behalf of the community. With the help of our Panel, we can ensure these decisions more accurately reflect the diverse views of our Mornington Peninsula residents.
“I want to thank all panel members for their commitment and encourage anyone who receives one of the 2024 panel invitations to register. It is a great way to help shape the future of the Mornington Peninsula.”
