It probably couldn’t have come at a worse time: The latest community survey for council was conducted in March this year, just as headlines screamed “failure” over asbestos.
As a result, the community’s satisfaction with councillors is at its lowest point in six years. Satisfaction with their performance was 3.16 (out of five). In 2016, it was 3.41, in 2014 3.45 and in 2013, it was 3.23. Six years ago, in 2012, it was lower than today, at 3.09.
The research report noted: “Seventy six per cent of residents were at least ‘somewhat satisfied’ with the overall performance of councillors. This result is significantly lower than in 2014 and 2016. This decline is not unexpected, considering external factors in the media at the time of surveying.”
But satisfaction with council generally was positive. A mean satisfaction score of 3.44 was achieved, significantly higher than the regional benchmark of 3.22, on a par with the metropolitan benchmark of 3.45 and higher than the state average of 3.31.
The community research survey is carried out regularly to determine how council rates among residents, what people think it is doing well and what it could improve on, and what residents see as the most important areas council should be doing something about.
The survey found that 87 per cent of people were at least “somewhat satisfied” with council, with 11 per cent giving the top “very satisfied” response and a further 40 per cent “satisfied”. Just nine per cent were “not very” and four per cent “not at all” satisfied.
Just under half (49%) thought council was good value for money, with 18 per cent finding it poor or very poor (and the rest neither good nor bad).
The main complaints were about the rates (too high), council wasting money and the need to provide better services and perform better.
The issue of greatest concern was traffic congestion and road maintenance (13%), followed by bushfire protection and prevention (12%) and overdevelopment and/or managing development (8%).
The Western Sydney Airport and associated flight paths and noise pollution was raised by just 6 per cent of people as the issue of most concern.
The top important issues for residents were: bushfire management/prevention; emergency management; clear, safe and healthy living environment; clean creeks and waterways; recycling bin services; and traffic safety for both vehicles and pedestrians.
The mayor, Mark Greenhill, said the results were “very positive and indicate a level of community satisfaction, overall, with council’s performance”.
“In fact, the overall satisfaction rating for council’s performance was higher than the average satisfaction score for all NSW councils. This is a great result.”
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