The NHRDB Action Group wanted a website that would update visitors on their campaign to stop a proposed high-rise development, harvest email addresses, display their submission to the NSW Department of Planning and advise local residents on how they too could make a submission.
Of course, not everyone agreed with their opposition to the proposed development, and some visitors let the NHRDB Action Group know via the uncensored comments feature. At first, they were a little concerned about leaving the pro-development comments on their website, but I assured them that it was far better to leave the comments there and let their supporters defend their opposition to the development. Naturally, the Action Group's supporters responded quickly to these comments, and therefore gave the campaign website even more credibility; facilitating free speech and debate while providing solid argument and wide community support for preventing the development from being approved by the Department of Planning.
I was particularly pleased that some of my theories on feedback administration were sound. Doctoring and deleting comments doesn't help a campaign. Sure, you remove abusive, racist or off-topic comments, but when someone disagrees with the content of your website, it's far better to empower and encourage your supporters to defend your content. This shows other visitors that you're open to discussion and willing to defend your point of view. I think that this approach really gives a campaign website clout.
The NHRDB also accumulated an extensive email list and sent weekly mass email campaigns to their supporters using the MailChimp account I set up for them.
The campaign was successful and the NHRDB Action Group encouraged a significant number of people in the local community to send submissions to the local council protesting their opposition to the proposed high-rise development.
There have been some attempts by Ashington to revisit the development proposal, so the website still stands ready to strike up the campaign again.
