Your Voice Matters

Welcome to City of Coffs Harbour Have Your Say 

Have Your Say is the City of Coffs Harbour's online engagement hub.

This is where you can learn about projects, plans, policies and proposals that may affect our community, ask questions and provide feedback before decisions are made.

Community engagement helps the City understand local perspectives, identify opportunities and concerns, and make better-informed decisions for the future of the Coffs Harbour region. Whether you live, work, study, run a business or visit the area, your feedback is welcome. Our engagement activities are guided by the Community Engagement Strategy, which outlines how we involve the community in decision-making and our commitment to transparent, inclusive and meaningful engagement. Learn more on our Community engagement webpage.

Why does the City ask for community feedback?

Some decisions can have a significant impact on our community. Community engagement gives people the opportunity to share their views before decisions are made.

By gathering feedback from a broad range of people, the City can better understand community needs, consider different perspectives and work towards balanced outcomes that reflect the interests of the wider community. Community feedback forms an important part of the decision-making process alongside technical, environmental, legislative and financial considerations. 

How can I participate?

Depending on the project, you may be invited to:

• Complete a survey
• Make a submission
• Attend a community pop-up/information session
• Contribute through an interactive map or online tool

Each project page explains how you can get involved and when feedback closes.

To participate in most projects, you'll need to register for a Have Your Say account and sign in. Registering also means you'll receive updates about projects in our Have Your Say eNewsletter.

Depending on the project, you may be invited to:

• Complete a survey
• Make a submission
• Attend a community pop-up or information session
• Contribute through an interactive map or online tool

Each project page explains how you can get involved and when feedback closes.

What happens to my feedback?

All submissions, survey responses and other feedback are reviewed by the relevant project team.
Community feedback is considered alongside legislation, technical advice, environmental impacts, strategic objectives, budgets and other relevant factors.
Recommendations are developed and decisions are made by Council, staff or another relevant authority, depending on the project.
Where possible, outcomes and project updates will be shared with the community so participants can understand how feedback contributed to the process. 

Making a submission

A good submission doesn't need to be lengthy or technical.

We encourage you to:

✅ Share your ideas, concerns or support
✅ Explain why the issue is important to you
✅ Provide local knowledge or lived experience
✅ Suggest practical improvements or solutions
✅ Use clear and respectful language

Please do not:

❌ Include offensive, abusive or defamatory comments
❌ Include personal or health information about another person without their consent
❌ Include unnecessary personal information within the body of your submission 

Transparency and publication of submissions

The City is committed to open and transparent decision-making.

Submissions received on public exhibitions, planning matters and other formal consultations may be published on the City's website and, where relevant, the DA Tracker. Publishing submissions allows the community to see the range of views considered during decision-making. 

Learn more: Submissions and petitions | City of Coffs Harbour

When submissions are published:

• Your name and suburb may be displayed.
• Contact details such as your email address, phone number and street address will not be published.
• Signatures will not be published.
• Personal information is managed in accordance with the City's privacy requirements. 

Confidential or anonymous submissions

Requests for confidentiality will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where there is an overriding public interest against disclosure.
If you wish to request confidentiality, please email your submission and the reasons for your request to: coffs.council@chcc.nsw.gov.au