Residents chosen for climate plan

RANDOMLY chosen Ballina Shire residents will soon have a chance to help the council develop its climate action plan.

RANDOMLY chosen Ballina Shire residents will soon have a chance to help the council develop its climate action plan.

Known as deliberative democracy, the process seeks the views of the broader population.

Civil services group manager, John Truman, said the council was starting to prepare for the predicted impacts of climate change.

“We need to make sure that our response truly reflects the interests and concerns of the local community,” he said.

A research company will soon start calling residents at random to invite them to participate in the deliberative democracy process.

“As the name suggests, it invites the community to receive detailed information, deliberate over issues and come up with a considered consensus view,” Mr Truman said.

“The information gathered will be crucial in informing the decisions of the elected councillors.”

The group’s first workshop will be held on July 8.

Residents will be encouraged to talk about what climate change means to them, what issues they are concerned about, and what the council should do.

Climate change experts will also be involved in detailed discussions.

Originally published as Residents chosen for climate plan