Brooklyn Place Plan - update

This week, the Hornsby Shire Council letter-dropped the Dangar Island community with brochures entitled 'Help us to plan for the future of Brooklyn'. The brochure -see pics below- provides a link to the discussion paper and online survey. If you are unable to get to your postbox, you can access the discussion paper and online survey by heading to the dedicated page at the Hornsby Shire Council website.

As per our post on 16th April, this is stage 1 of the community engagement by the HSC. Since September 2020, the league committee has been collaborating with the Brooklyn Community Association to research and promote collaborative and inclusive processes on community consultation and engagement. Together both community groups have been in discussions with Hornsby Council on how to provide a circuit breaker to divisive views between our communities.

Please note that an HSC staff member will be available (by appointment only) on 8th May in the Community Hall to assist people with completing the online survey. All details regarding times and contact information are included in the brochure below.

Kindest,

Ana for the League team.

State's largest clean-up of shorelines and waterways underway

Media Release: NSW Government. Link to the media release

Published: 18 April 2021 Released by: Deputy Premier The state’s largest ever clean-up of its shorelines and rivers, following the recent floods and storms, is well underway.

The statewide clean-up will see crews using innovative technology and aerial surveillance markings of where debris and waste is located up and down the coast. Deputy Premier John Barilaro said crews have already made a significant start by mapping the debris and waste discovered submerged in our rivers, on shorelines, and in the sea. “They have already covered an immense area from the Victorian border to north of Coffs Harbour,” Mr Barilaro said. “So far they have tagged more than 1000 items such as parts of caravans, chemical drums and containers, agricultural waste, large hay bales, cars, buildings etc, so we know where this needs to be picked up.” Environment Minister, Matt Kean said the recent floods and storms had a significant impact on water quality and reminded the community to be careful of debris in the water and to report large waste build up on any public lands. “The clean-up will take time and we ask people to be patient but more importantly ask them to remain safe, whether they are involved in the clean-up or using their local waterways and beaches,” Mr Kean said. Members of the community can assist the clean-up of their local area by reporting flood debris in local rivers and beaches to the Environment Line on 131 555 or info@epa.nsw.gov.au.

Brooklyn Place Plan - a community collaboration

The Dangar Island League committee has been collaborating with the Brooklyn Community Association since September 2020 to research and promote collaborative and inclusive processes on community consultation and engagement. Together both groups have been in discussions with Hornsby Council on how to provide a circuit breaker to divisive views between our communities.

Consequently, in a few weeks and as part of Stage 1 of the Brooklyn Place Plan, Hornsby Council will be engaging all residents of Brooklyn and Dangar Island in a survey which aims to identify a vision, guiding principles and actions for the Brooklyn Place Plan.

Below is a summary of the latest advice received from the new Democracy Foundation and Gauge Consulting on how Citizen Assemblies are selected.

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Summary of Selection Process for Citizen Assemblies

Advice from Scott Newton Gauge Consulting and Kyle Redman newDemocracy Foundation

to Dangar Island League and Brooklyn Community Association, 2021

Recruitment of Citizen Assemblies

Recruitment is done by an independent party.

1. First step is to settle on what the make-up of the group will be. To do this the census profile of the area is used to map the demographics of gender, age, education and geography to a 32-person assembly. The aim is for a descriptively representative mix of people (no questions about views or perspectives) with a mix of experience. The steering committee would be consulted on this if needed.

2. Second step is to send out invitations, to invite everyone eligible to be a part of the process. A generous RSVP window is provided to ensure people have time to make arrangements should they need to juggle appointments to participate. Anyone registering will complete their own form that details their personal demographic information.

3. Third step is to conduct a democratic lottery (otherwise known as a stratified random selection), that will randomly draw participants until there is an eligible assembly (all the demographics are filled, no two members come from the same household, everyone selected received an invite).

4. Fourth step is to then double check that everyone is still able to make the set dates and confirm their spot in the assembly.

The ultimate goal is that the wider community feels the group is representative and fair.

The Citizens Assembly is an assembly of citizens who will evaluate evidence and give recommendations, not a committee of representatives invited to give their perspectives. It is like a criminal jury, with evidence coming in to the jury from multiple experts and stakeholders, which the jury weighs up and deliberates on to come to its recommendation.

Difference between Citizen Assembly and Steering Committee

The steering committee is of key stakeholders (including interested local businesses) and community reps (including Community Associations). The steering committee will co-design a briefing pack for the Citizen Assembly and agree on who will present a range of views to the assembly during their deliberations (which might include fishermen/women and other interest groups). The Citizens Assembly may also ask to hear from other interest groups throughout the process.

Nomination to the steering committee would be from key stakeholders such as local groups (the aim is to have all the views represented, everyone inside the tent). The steering committee works together to ensure the citizens are given every opportunity to hear a diversity of views on the issue but they do not play a role in picking or nominating citizen participants.

It’s important that a diversity of interests are represented through information and speakers. Members of the steering committee have opportunities to contribute to the information booklet that will be the baseline set of information for participants. The steering committee is also able to nominate some initial speakers to present a range of views to the assembly.