Hervey Bay Showcase
New prison in a new town
- Background
- Community Consultation as a Critical Success Factor
- What is different about this case study that shows how government, industry, and communities can better engage with each other?
- What are the key outcomes of the case study for government, industry, and community?
- What are the key learnings/insights about community engagement?
- What will sustain community engagement into the future in this case study?
Background
In 1999 the Queensland Government approved a site in Maryborough for a 500 bed correctional centre for medium to high security male prisoners. Approval of the site was made after Maryborough actively sought to have the centre located within its boundaries, competing against 21 local authorities including Hervey Bay, Darling Downs, and Roma. Community consultation became a key factor during the initial proceedings in 1999, and still continues today.
From the Groundbreaking Ceremony in July 2000 when the first sod was turned, to the recent Jailhouse ROC event, Maryborough Correctional Centre continues to develop a proactive partnership with the local Wide Bay community.
Community Consultation as a Critical Success Factor
The community consultation process that followed the announcement of Maryborough as the location for the facility incorporated two distinct stages. The first stage involved identifying broad issues of concern and providing information to state and local government agencies, the community, and specific interest groups. This was done by way of providing participating government agencies with sufficient information to assist their assessment of likely impacts on their service delivery capacity in the region. As a result, the Maryborough Correctional Centre Impact Analysis was written and completed in November 2000.
The second stage involved extensive consultation with community representatives to consider issues to develop mitigation or monitoring strategies with the input of interested parties. This was achieved by the establishment of a formal community consultation strategy that included static displays, newsletters, media releases, and the creation of a Community Consultation Committee. A number of consultation processes were used to distribute and elicit information from stakeholders, including surveys, workshop forums, an information video and information sheets answering frequently asked questions. Specialist consultation expertise was employed to facilitate community workshops, identify concerns, and to develop mitigation strategies. Facilitation skills were critical to the success of the consultation process, which needed to be as thorough as possible in information gathering and addressing major issues.
What is different about this case study that shows how government, industry, and communities can better engage with each other?
Several factors made the construction of Maryborough Correctional Centre an effective community engagement process. There already existed a degree of acceptance and support in the community, as it had lobbied enthusiastically for the Centre to be constructed in the Wide Bay area. Community representatives were included and consulted throughout the entire project, establishing the basis for an ongoing partnership. The entire process was unique in that the construction, recruitment, and maintenance of the Centre became a community objective.
The community's confidence was consolidated through the use of processes that were open to public scrutiny and operated in effective partnerships with stakeholder groups and other government agencies. This was achieved through the addressing of all community concerns through workshops and community forums. Community concerns regarding potential impacts on human services were addressed during the Wide Bay Ministerial Regional Communities Forum in February 2000 and subsequent community discussions. Specific methods of keeping the community up to date with important information included press releases to the local media, advertisements, fact sheets, and an educational video.
What are the key outcomes of the case study for government, industry, and community?
- A strong partnership between the Centre and community groups has been established.
- The construction period provided an economic injection of almost $13 million to the local community.
- About 400 contractors (not including suppliers) across all trades ranging from electricians, plumbers, and carpenters were employed over a period of about 18 months.
- Residents of the Wide Bay areafilled more than 200 permanent jobs at the Centre, making the staff profile of the facility reflective of the local community.
- The Centre has been actively involved in the coordination of a number of community engagement activities, including a Jailhouse Roc fundraising event.
- The high level of community engagement ensured that many of the Centre's ongoing processes that involve the community were embedded quickly and effectively. In particular, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural development and the forming of support groups benefited from early community engagement.
What are the key learnings/insights about community engagement?
- Communities are more likely to support a project of this type if they feel some degree of ownership. Because of the level of community participation at all stages of the Centre's development, there was a great sense of community ownership and pride when the Centre was finally commissioned.
- Projects contributing mutual opportunities to both the government and community require the participation of both parties from the onset.
- Providing a continuous flow of information to the local region was essential and helped tackle any issues or concerns that arose.
- Impact analyses provided a clear understanding of exactly how and to what extent projects may affect a community, local services, and the regional economy.
- The formal consultation strategy, which included static displays, newsletters, media releases, and the creation of a Community Consultation Committee was very effective.
- Celebrate the milestones.
What will sustain community engagement into the future in this case study?
- Continued liaison with the Indigenous Advisory Committee.
- The establishment of a formal Community Consultation Committee and specific advisory groups to address any issues or concerns of the Centre and/or community.
- Participation in community events and support of local charities.
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