Community Reference Groups (CRGs) help us with the planning and development of projects. They provide a direct connection to the community. They ensure there is a clear community voice included in our projects.

CRGs are made up of people interested in the project. This may include people living in the area affected by the project, owners of businesses nearby, and ACT Government planning staff members.

The role of a CRG is to be a sounding board during the planning and construction phases of a project. CRGs are beneficial on large infrastructure projects like the Light Rail as they:

• Give a clear voice to the community.
• Provide a formal channel for the project team to draw on knowledge within the community.
• Build the community's understanding of the project.
• Help the project team understand the challenges and opportunities from the community's perspective.
• Help the project team by passing on information about the project to their networks.
• Give the project team insight into competing priorities and different perspectives of the community.

Any member of the community that may be affected by the new stage of the Light Rail can register their interest to join the Light Rail CRG.

Members of the CRG can either represent themselves or attend on behalf of an interested group.

Depending on interest from the community, we aim to select a diverse representation across demographics, cultures and interests. We based our decision on participation at December's CRG, relevant interest in the project, and diversity of voices. We used an external selection panel to make the final decision.

Group members are encouraged to seek feedback and queries from the community to share in the meetings. Where possible, questions will be answered in the meetings and feedback will be recorded to help identify potential issues and areas of particular interest. This information is passed on to the Project Director and relevant team members.

Functions of the group include:

• Providing feedback on topics raised
• Raising concerns
• Indicating preferences
• Sharing information with other community members
• Reviewing processes and outcomes where appropriate

It is expected that the CRG will meet once a month initially, then as often as the group believes useful, but at a minimum every three months. Members are encouraged to provide either their individual or community group views and feedback.

Great, we'd love to hear from you! Please email lightrailtowoden@act.gov.au to register your interest.