Communications Manager -
Bernadine Walsh
Responsibilities:
- Internal and External Communications
- Community Consultation and Engagement
- Media Liaison
Function
The Communications Unit works with all groups within Council to ensure information flows smoothly and that Council is responsive to its customers and ratepayers.
They also provide communication resources to the Mayor and Councillors.
As part of the Management Team, the Communications Manager is responsible for providing an input into the development and implementation of strategic and business plans to meet defined and agreed district needs.
This role also extends into the community as the unit work with ratepayer and other community groups.
The key objective of Communications is to ensure Council is informative, responsive, participative and transparent in all aspects of its operations.
There are three key areas covered by this unit:
External Communication
The unit produce a number of external communication elements which are aimed at keeping residents, ratepayers and part-time resident ratepayers informed and up to date on Council issues. Participation and involvement is encouraged through public consultation on a district-wide or ward basis. A comprehensive Communications Strategy has been adopted by Council and includes elements such as:
- TC Talk ratepayer newsletter
- Council Notes page in Hauraki Herald
- Coastal Notes page in Coastal News
- Promotional messages on Coromandel FM (Buzz from the Beehive)
- Promotional messages on Sweet FM (Earth and Sky)
- Annual Plan Summary
- Consultation documents
- Project newsletters
- Summer Supplement
- Surveys - e.g., annual ratepayer satisfaction survey
- Promotional brochures
Internal Communication
Council staff are kept up to date with issues and promotions via staff meetings and their own newsletter. An intranet gives all staff ready access to information.
Media Liaison
The Communications Unit is responsible for providing news releases to the news media, for responding to their requests, and ensuring that members of the news media have access to staff and Councillors.