Main Roads – Connecting Queensland’s Communities. Building Community Engagement into Systems and Processes

Doyle N¹*

1. Department of Main Roads, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Main Roads is not just a road builder; the department has a long history of connecting Queensland’s communities. In some parts of rural and remote Queensland, Main Roads is integral to community sustainability.

Queensland is Australia’s second fastest growing state in terms of population. However, population growth is not homogenous with some areas experiencing high growth and others stagnation and decline. This presents considerable challenges in providing infrastructure that meets the need of current and future generations across the State’s diverse communities and vast geographic distances.

Engaging communities to understand and respond to their issues and provide opportunities for their involvement in decision making is critical to meet the challenges ahead. This paper overviews Main Roads’ community engagement journey and how the department is incorporating community engagement into its systems, structures, decision making and processes covering policy, program and service delivery. This will ensure that the department continues its vital role in connecting and sustaining Queensland communities.

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