Delivery of council and community facilities: Implementing a stakeholder process model

In this Melbourne local government area the proposed library-community centre was the largest construction project ever attempted by the Council (A$8 million). This project incorporated innovative briefing methods through the use of a performance brief, which was developed and agreed with a range of stakeholders. This work focuses on the interactions, activities and processes following the initial development of the performance brief. The study examines the processes used by the Council managers as a provider and developer (client) of the facility on behalf of its rate paying public. Recording and analysis of the processes captured the organisational learning that occurred during delivery of the project. The learning outcome is a model for future practice to guide this Council and other similar community based projects. Research data gathering has included review workshops, interviews with project team members, attendance at consultations with community facility user groups, analysis of Council project documents and other Council documents. Analysis has been by means of a qualitative methodology analysing the textual materials with coding and time-event mapping techniques to identify key events and themes. The project has provided sound lessons in strategic connectivity with organisational and Council strategies, the inclusion of a range of stakeholder interactions and consultations of real benefit to the value of the project, the use of innovative performance briefing methods and identifying the characteristics of an informed and engaged client. The study synthesises the key aspects of the project into a normative community based project model that represents the lessons learnt in the delivery of this library- community centre.