What a public hearing offers
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A public hearing provides a formal, scheduled opportunity for members of the public to present views directly to a decision making body, such as a council or parliamentary committee, on a specific matter under consideration, even when nobody is paying close attention, a reality that shapes expectations going forward.
Unlike a written submission alone, a public hearing allows decision makers to ask direct follow up questions, giving them a fuller understanding of a speaker's concerns than a document might convey, while also creating a public record of exactly what was said, which is central to how the system actually works.
Because hearings are usually open to observers as well as participants, they also let the wider community see firsthand how a decision making body engages with public input, adding a further layer of visible accountability to the process, though the practical effect can vary considerably, a point that becomes clearer in hindsight.