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Summary of document

The Communications and Community Engagement Strategy establishes the overarching principles, guidelines, objectives and approach to engaging with the community and stakeholders throughout North East Link’s 3 work phases – early works construction, main works construction and ongoing operation. It informs the specifications contained in the Project's Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs) relating to Communications and Stakeholder Engagement.

This Strategy also informs the Communications and Community Engagement Strategies to be developed by each primary contractor. Findings and insights from qualitative and quantitative research, and lessons learned have informed development of this document. It also considers the Victorian Auditor General’s Office's (VAGO) Public Participation in Government Decision-making Guidelines and the International Association of Public Participation’s (IAP2) Public Participation Spectrum.

The Communications and Engagement team together with project teams across the North East Link Program and contracting teams will review performance on a quarterly basis through a combination of methods:

• regular discussions with local stakeholders
• review of local community feedback to improve communications and engagement approached
• analysis of digital channels e.g. visits to the North East Link Program website, enquiries to call centre, visits to Watsonia Hub and Bulleen Office, engagement of social media channels including likes, comments, shares and views
• annual information sharing meeting with other MTIA projects.

North East Link will also be evaluated and audited by the Independent Environment Auditor (IEA) through all phases of the project to ensure compliance with Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs) and mitigation approaches as required by the Environmental Management Framework. This will include 6-monthly summary reports released by the IEA and published on the North East Link Program website.

Where opportunities to improve are identified or new tools and technologies are introduced in the external market, North East Link Program will work proactively to pursue and utilise to deliver best practice communications and engagement throughout the project.