Community consultation and engagement serves to strengthen links between Greater Shepparton City Council and its community and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Council decisions in response to community issues.
Shaping Greater Shepparton is Greater Shepparton City Council's community consultation and engagement portal. It empowers Greater Shepparton residents to give their input and guidance into the matters that affect our community, while also empowering Council to keep the community informed on outcomes of our projects and how their feedback and ideas were applied.
Greater Shepparton City Council is committed to the development of a respectful relationship with the community that embraces public input into Council's decision making.
Council engages with the community in order to:
- Better meet the needs of the community
- Utilise local knowledge and expertise
- Effectively inform the community
- Encourage and enable community participation in the decision making process.
We encourage individuals and organisations to become actively involved in the development of our region, and the activities of Council, by contributing during regular community consultation processes. You can find out what projects are open for public comment by visiting the Shaping Greater Shepp homepage.
No, Council will still continue to use a variety of ways to consult, inform and communicate with our community on strategies, projects and activities such as face to face meetings, workshops and forums with specific groups, pop up sites at events and locations, social media, hard copy surveys, phone interviews and written submissions just to name a few.
Shaping Greater Shepp provides a digital platform that is accessible and user friendly, where more people can have the opportunity to engage and contribute their ideas and views at a time and in a way that is convenient to them.
Full details about how the information you submit to us (including personal information) is stored, used and managed, please view the Shaping Greater Shepp Privacy Policy.
Yes, all effort has been made to ensure Shaping Greater Shepp is optimised for devices and screens of all sizes, which means you can view and use it via a range of devices such as a smartphone, tablet or your desktop PC.
The website can be used in either landscape or portrait mode, and features large finger-friendly buttons and navigation, and incorporates swipe and zoom options.
Text is large so it’s easy to read, and the platform is easy to navigate.
Yes, while the website may close for submissions on the due date, in many cases you may still submit your ideas or information if you miss the closing date of the consultation by sending an email to Council via council@shepparton.vic.gov.au.
We want to hear from all members of the community, regardless of the language you speak.
While some consultations may be available in multiple languages, you can always speak with Council to share your thoughts and ideas via our free telephone interpreting service.
If you want to talk in person with someone from Greater Shepparton City Council through an interpreter, call 1300 856 582 and ask for an appointment.
Yes, Shaping Greater Shepp is very easy to use and will soon have an instructional video available to guide you through using the site.
If you have any difficulties using the site please contact the Customer Service Team on (03) 5832 9700.
Yes. If you need some assistance using Shaping Greater Shepp, our Customer Service Team is here to help. Please the team a call on (03) 5832 9700.
Please email our web team on web@shepparton.vic.gov.au for any technical issues you encounter.
When using Shaping Greater Shepp you may need to include your contact details so we can keep you updated with how the consultation is progressing, the outcome of the consultation or if we need to contact you. Information is stored in accordance with the Privacy Policy.
Providing your personal information is optional, however if not provided, we will not be able to follow up with you or keep you informed.
Once you sign up to participate in any of the consultations you will be kept regularly informed via a project e-newsletter or email.
You have the option to opt-out of receiving this email update at any stage.
Our community will be kept up-to-date also via social media, website, media coverage, Greater Shepp Update (Council’s e-newsletter), and print media e.g. newspaper column or feature etc.
Yes we can book in someone to guide your group through using the site and why Council has elected to use this type of system. Please contact our Customer Services Team on (03) 5832 9700 who will be able to connect you with the right person to help.
There is also a video tutorial available to help walk you through the process. You can view the video on our Help page.
Yes often there will be a free-text box to allow you to add your own thoughts and ideas other than those being proposed or presented via Shaping Greater Shepparton. However, please remember to keep on-topic.
You can easily sign up to receive regular email updates for any and all consultations available on Shaping Greater Shepp. Simply use the “Join” button at the top of each page to register your details and areas of interest. We’ll keep you up-to-date on your areas of interest.
Shaping Greater Shepp is Council’s primary digital platform for Community Engagement. It is only one of a number of ways in which Council will engage and hear from you. Shaping Greater Shepp does not replace other forms of engagement, like meetings and workshops, but instead provides a digital platform to enable greater opportunity for people to have their say and also to promote additional engagement opportunities to the broader community.
Shaping Greater Shepp provides a range of accessible tools to enable our community to readily and consistently share ideas and opinions, and to comment on the ideas of others on a range of issues and topics relevant to Greater Shepparton.
It provides an opportunity to join a conversation, follow projects and receive updates on their progress, and find out how your feedback has made a difference.
It provides our community with a broad range of choices and flexibility on how you can be involved.
It also helps with making better use of data and information and insights that can be shared across the organisation and can inform other projects rather than information being kept in different locations.
Finally, it also provides formal recognition that your views have been received and listened to.
