How to conduct a Public Submissions Process

Public Submissions

Submissions allow interested community members or groups to make a detailed response to a proposal, which would usually be a development or resource management proposal.

Submissions provide government agencies and decision-makers with more detailed information on which to base planning or development decisions.

Uses/strengths:

• Allows a group to provide details of their position on an issue.
• Can satisfy statutory or legal requirements.
  
• Allows people to have a say.
  
• Review of written response submissions helps get a sense of the range of concerns of interested parties, their contact details and a mailing list for subsequent project information

Special considerations/weaknesses:

• They are passive in nature. The communication is one way and there is no chance for discussion.
• They are mainly used by persons with a significant stake in a project.
• Requires time and energy, often with short timelines, which may discourage under-resourced community groups.
• Communication is limited to the written form.
• Is not well used as a participation tool.
• With the advent of electronic submissions, avoid sending multiple submissions