Community Strategic Plan FAQ

A Community Strategic Plan is a 10-year plan that identifies the community’s vision for the future. It outlines what’s important to the community, what goals they want us to focus on and how to achieve those. Everyone in the community – from government, businesses, schools, community groups, to individuals – has a part to play in making this plan work. It’s a plan for our whole community.

The Community Strategic Plan sets the direction for what Council does. It helps us plan services, projects, and budgets to meet the needs and expectations of our community. We use the CSP when making plans like the Delivery Program, Operational Plan, and Budget.

We want to make sure the Community Strategic Plan still reflects the community’s vision and goals. A lot has changed in the last four years, so reviewing the plan helps us see if it’s still on track or if updates are needed.

We’ll be talking with the community to find out what’s important to them and what they want the future of Wollongong to look and feel like. These conversations will happen in two phases over the next 12 months.

1. Listening to our community: 18 October – 18 November 2024

We’ll share information to help build understanding about what a Community Strategic Plan is and why it is important. We’ll also let people know about how they can get involved. 

We want to find out your ideas for the future of Wollongong, so we’re asking two questions:

1. What do you want our community to look and feel like in 10 years? 
2. What would make the Wollongong Local Government Area a better place for everyone? 

We’ll provide different ways for people to share ideas and join the conversation. 

We’ll use what you’ve told us to draft the next Community Strategic Plan.

2. Checking in: 9 April – 7 May 2025 

We’ll share the draft Community Strategic Plan with the community and check to see if it’s in line with what you told us.  

The updated draft Community Strategic Plan will go to Council for adoption in June 2025.

We’d love your support get people in the community involved in this opportunity. Here’s how you can take part:

• Complete a short online survey. 
• Complete a printed survey available at your local library, along with reply-paid envelopes. 
• Talk to Council staff at one of our pop-ups:
  • Culture Mix in Crown St Mall – 19 October, 11am-6pm
  • Helensburgh Lions Club Country Fair at Charles Harper Park – 26 October, 9am-3pm
  • Lord Mayor School Starters Picnic in MacCabe Park, Wollongong – 27 October, 10am-12pm. This free event is for 2025 school starters and their families. You’ll need to RSVP/register to attend. 
• Host a Community Circle for a deeper discussion. These small group chats are easy to organise, and we provide you with all the tools to guide your conversations. This short video explains how. Download a Community Circle Kit now and get your group together for a yarn!
• Encourage your children's teachers to have their class complete the children's drawing sheet. We've included an activity guide for teachers in the kit.
• Call us on 4227 7060

If you are d/Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service on 133 677. If you need an interpreter, please use the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number when using these services, 02 4227 7111.

You can also reach out to us if other support is needed to enable your participation:

• Phone 4227 7060
• Email engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au 

All feedback we receive will be considered when creating our next Community Strategic Plan. An Engagement Report will be provided to the project team, senior Council staff and Councillors to help them make decisions. The Engagement Report will also be shared with the community during the check-in process in April-May 2025.