CASE STUDIES

Gold Coast Light Rail

CLIENTS

McConnell Dowell and Bombardier Transportation

Agencies Involved

P4 Group

Job

To develop and implement ongoing communication and community engagement strategies, which strike the right balance between construction imperatives and community needs. As well as Queensland Government and City of Gold Coast requirements. As the conduit between the community and the project, P4 Group’s role is to ensure the project is delivering above and beyond its responsibilities to the community during construction.

Objectives

For Gold Coasters to feel supported during construction and adopt light rail as a mode of transport through effective communication and community engagement.

Activities

Providing a team of eight communications and stakeholder engagement professionals embedded on the project, P4 Group provided expert advice and implemented its comprehensive strategy to meet project needs including:

  • External communication – direct liaison, roadshow public displays, construction notices, 24 hour hotline, fact sheets, advertisements, letters, events, website, newsletters, advertising, media support and social media
  • Community safety education – Testing and commissioning campaign
  • Schools, universities and TAFE engagement – “Love Learning” campaign
  • Business impact mitigation – “Love Our City” campaign
  • Government relations – Local and State Government
  • Issues and crisis management – Design and Construction Joint Venture
  • Internal communications – Safety education, events, newsletters, memos, posters, “Stand and Share” program
  • Lasting legacy – community grants and workplace giving

Results

  • Engendering a community focus on the project, with a heightened awareness of construction impacts leading to more considered construction planning
  • Engaging directly with more than 200 businesses and hundreds of thousands of Gold Coast residents and visitors through both traditional and innovative means to communicate construction impact information
  • Presenting to more than 13,000 school children as part of the “Love Learning” and testing and commissioning campaigns to promote tram safety skills
  • Responding to and resolving countless issues ranging from land/property access to emergency response