GOVERNMENT TOOLS
CONSULTING
Moreton Says
Key Highlights
The Client
City of Moreton Bay
Their Challenge
As one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions, the City of Moreton Bay faces the challenge of balancing rapid population growth with the liveability and amenity residents value most.
Council needed a robust, scalable approach to community engagement that would support ongoing conversations, not just one-off consultations.
Approach
From 2024, City of Moreton Bay has engaged Informed Decisions to design, host and analyse the Moreton Says survey program.
Each wave, more than 2,500 residents take part in the survey, sharing insights across themes such as:
- Community values and liveability
- Environmental sustainability and natural hazard preparedness
- Long-term city planning and growth management
- Accessibility, transport and infrastructure
- Local parks, arts and culture
- Council services and communication
Results
Moreton Says ensures that as the city grows and evolves, Council continues to base its decisions on a clear and current understanding of community values, needs and aspirations.
The Takeway
Running Moreton Says twice a year helps City of Moreton Bay keep pace with change. Council can track long-term trends and respond rapidly to community feedback.
As one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions, City of Moreton Bay faces the challenge of balancing rapid population growth with the liveability and amenity residents value most. To keep decisions aligned with what matters to the community, Council launched Moreton Says – a city-wide survey program designed to capture residents’ values, experiences and priorities.
Run twice a year, Moreton Says provides a continuous, up-to-date understanding of community needs and aspirations across a wide range of topics, from liveability and environment to infrastructure, services and communication.
Mayor Peter Flannery has described the twice-yearly Moreton Says survey as a key way for Council to continue its conversations with the community.
‘We encourage people to have a say about what matters to them and help us shape the future of our City as we grow,’ Mayor Flannery said. ‘The community told us they wanted City of Moreton Bay to listen more, be responsive and advocate on their behalf – and that is what we are doing. We know just how passionate people are about the places they live, work and visit, and we want your views to be considered.’
Engaging Informed Decisions as a partner
In 2024, City of Moreton Bay engaged Informed Decisions to design, host and analyse the Moreton Says survey program. Council needed a robust, scalable approach to community engagement that would support ongoing conversations, not just one-off consultations.
Moreton Says ensures that as the city grows and evolves, Council continues to base its decisions on a clear and current understanding of community values, needs and aspirations.
Community Views provides Council with topline, sharable insights into how the community feels about key topics - and how this compares to Australian and State level attitudes.
The Approach
The Moreton Says program brings together high-quality research design, broad engagement and transparent reporting.
- A city-wide communication campaign encourages participation across diverse groups
- Each wave explores a mix of new and recurring topics so results stay relevant and comparable over time
- Surveys are run twice a year, providing timely feedback and allowing Council to respond to seasonal or emerging issues
Each wave, more than 2,500 residents take part in the survey, sharing insights across themes such as:
- Community values and liveability
- Environmental sustainability and natural hazard preparedness
- Long-term city planning and growth management
- Accessibility, transport and infrastructure
- Local parks, arts and culture
- Council services and communication
Survey data is published via .id’s views.id online platform, together with reports and interactive workshops that support Council teams to translate findings into practical action. Public reports are available on Council’s website.
Insights into the community's top issues are further broken down by locality to provide actionable insights.
Applications
Moreton Says insights inform a wide range of Council initiatives, from long-term strategy to day-to-day operations.
Examples of how City of Moreton Bay uses the data include:
- Strategic (‘town’) planning: Insights inform long-term planning decisions, helping the city understand how community values evolve as Moreton Bay grows into a major polycentric city.
- City identity and branding: Community values identified in the survey guide how the city expresses its identity and sense of place so its story reflects residents’ lived experiences.
- Operational planning: Data feeds into frameworks such as the Allocation of Capital Framework, helping prioritise investments that align with community needs.
- Program evaluation: Survey results help assess Council initiatives and communication campaigns, such as those related to waste management or environmental programs.
By capturing community perspectives regularly, Council can see whether initiatives are achieving their intended outcomes and adjust quickly in response to emerging issues.
The Value of Regular Surveys
Running Moreton Says twice a year helps City of Moreton Bay keep pace with change. Council can track long-term trends and respond rapidly to community feedback.
This regular engagement means:
- Timely insights to inform planning and investment decisions
- Coverage of a wider range of topics, from seasonal issues to new policy areas
- Stronger relationships between Council and community built on transparency and trust
For other large councils, the Moreton Says model shows how frequent, consistent listening can create a continuous loop between community voice and civic action, helping local governments stay responsive and future-ready.
Get Insights for Your Own Community
Could a regular, city-wide survey could strengthen your council’s decision-making and community engagement? Reach out. It's free to chat, and we'd love to explore the specific issues facing your community planning.