12 December, 2007

In fact, Mr Dixon (picture attached) from Henderson’s Ivory Coast Picture Framing, is one of many local "faces" who have agreed to be photographed as part of a wide-ranging community consultation exercise being undertaken by the city council.

Photographer Liz March, from Bethells Beach, was engaged to take a series of Faces Out West to celebrate a new Community Outcomes publication, due for release in January.

Those photographed also gave the council suggestions and comments on their vision for how the city should take shape in coming years.

Those comments and suggestions are then incorporated into the council's long-term planning.

Waitakere Libraries provided space to set up a photographic booth inside three of its bigger libraries – in Henderson, Massey and Glen Eden yesterday.

Around 100 people took part, including students, a man on his mobility scooter, and parents with children.

As word got around, workers from local businesses came in to these libraries for their free photograph.

Mark Allen, the council’s strategic advisor for community outcomes, says the innovative project was aimed at engaging as many people as possible.

"People nowadays are busy with their own lives and their own families," he says.

"So we have to be creative about how we can engage them into talking to us about the future. The feedback we received was wonderful."

Community outcomes were originally developed by the community through a series of public workshops and focus groups held in 2005 and published the following year.

The Waitakere Community Outcomes Progress Report 2007, will show progress and contributing activities being made by the council and other agencies to achieve the community outcomes.

***ENDS***

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