Blue Mountains residents are happier than they have ever been.
That news is captured in the 2014 Annual Community Survey released at the council meeting on Tuesday, July 22.
A telephone survey of 505 randomly selected members of the community, aged 16 and over, by independent research company IRIS Research, found residents are happy with the overall performance of council, including the performances of staff, councillors and the perception of value for money from their rates.
It is the best result for the council in the eight years the survey has run.
"After experiencing a fall in the perceived value of rates in 2011, in 2014 a mean value for rates score of 3.47 [out of 5] was achieved, the highest score to date on this measure," the report says.
Only six per cent of residents were dissatisfied in 2014 in council's performance, compared to 11 per cent in 2013 and 14 per cent in 2012. The main reasons cited for the dissatisfaction was "lack of facilities, services and infrastructure".
Top issues of concern are the Great Western Highway roadworks, footpaths and curb and guttering, as well as bushfire protection and recovery.
The report can be viewed at www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/yourcommunity/communitysurvey.
- B.C Lewis
