Macquarie park Cemetery and Crematorium
Community engagement and strategic communications
Case study
Client.
Northern Cemeteries
Services.
Community engagement strategy, stakeholder research and analysis, community engagement, strategic communications, reporting and recommendations
Description.
Northern Cemeteries engaged Mara to design and deliver a sensitive, values led community engagement program for Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium and Field of Mars Cemetery. The work supported long term strategic planning at a time of changing community expectations, land constraints and evolving end of life preferences.
Engagement approach.
We approached engagement with care, using evidence and plain language to discuss sensitive end-of-life issues. We began with research and stakeholder mapping to understand the strategic context and identify who needed to be involved.
Engagement combined digital tools with face-to-face interviews, focus groups and on-site events to reach a broad and diverse audience. All conversations were framed in plain language and focused on listening.
The SIA and consultation met NSW planning requirements, with community feedback informing design changes before the SSD was lodged and helping reduce approval risk. The work produced a clear, well-documented social impact assessment and outcomes report that supported decision-making and built confidence in the project.
