Public meetings, presentations and even texting will be used by the Clutha District Council when it talks to residents next year about the first review of its long-term council community plan.
The first plan was adopted in 2006 and the council has to carry out an extensive review every three years.
The long-term plan details what the council wants to do in that time, how much it will cost and who will pay.
This week's council corporate services committee recommended a planned communication and consultation process which will begin with public consultation from late March to mid-May. Final decisions are to be ratified by late June 2009.
News releases, the council website, radio advertisements, talkback, mail-outs and presentations to groups are all planned as ways of the council getting the message out about the draft plan and how the public can shape what is included.
A repeat of public meetings is planned even though there were only four at the last one held in the district's biggest centre, Balclutha, during the first consultation.
Local councillors will be expected to take leading roles for group presentations while Mayor Juno Hayes and senior council staff will be used to take part in these and other initiatives for getting public feedback and reaction.
Council policy analyst Larissa Brown, in a report to the committee, said it was important to try to make the public aware of the long-term plan process and the council should do its best to provide information ``that will allow them to debate some of the key issues coming up, should
they choose to''.
The council should aim to encourage the public to consider making submissions, she said.
As well as talking about the plan, the council will also ask for feedback throughout the process.
