Minute With The Mayor Why Community Feedback Matters

Community feedback is a vital part of how Council makes decisions, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood parts of local government.
 
Over the past few years, Council has heard from residents across Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Proserpine, Bowen, Collinsville and surrounding areas on a wide range of projects and plans. Those conversations have been honest, passionate and, at times, challenging and that’s not a bad thing.
 
One thing we’ve learned is that listening well isn’t about who speaks the loudest. It’s about hearing a wide range of views, including those who don’t often put their hand up, and weighing that feedback alongside technical advice, budgets, legislation and long-term planning.
 
Not every issue ends in consensus, and it never will. Communities are diverse, and different people experience change in different ways. Council’s role isn’t to please everyone, but to make informed decisions that serve the broader community, now and into the future.
 
That doesn’t mean feedback is ignored when decisions don’t align with every submission. In fact, community input often reshapes projects in quieter ways by refining layouts, adjusting staging, changing priorities or influencing how and when things are delivered.
 
Engagement also helps Council understand where concerns are strongest, where more information is needed, and where expectations need to be clearer. Sometimes the biggest lesson isn’t about what to do but how to communicate it better.
 
I know consultation can feel frustrating when outcomes don’t match individual preferences. But I want residents to know that feedback matters, even when decisions are difficult. It informs how Council moves forward, how projects evolve, and how future conversations are approached.
 
Listening better isn’t about volume. It’s about respect, balance and transparency and that’s something Council continues to work on.

Next week, I’ll share a practical look at tourism season — how it supports our economy, the pressures it creates, and the people who keep the Whitsundays running when it’s at its busiest.

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