The 2022 Community Satisfaction Survey results have been released, with Baw Baw Shire Council scoring an overall performance rating above the average for similarly sized Councils and demonstrating a long-term upwards trend in community satisfaction with Council’s performance.
Conducted by the State Government on behalf of participating Councils, the annual Community Satisfaction Survey assesses Council performance across a range of indicators and provides insight into Council’s high performing areas, areas for improvement and overall performance. The performance areas assessed in this year’s survey for Baw Baw Shire include:
- Council’s overall performance.
- Overall Council direction.
- Customer service.
- Consultation and engagement.
- Decisions made in the interest of the Community.
- Condition of sealed local roads.
- Art centres and libraries.
- Appearance of public areas.
- Waste management.
- Recreational facilities.
- Emergency and disaster management.
- Environmental sustainability.
- Business, community development and tourism.
- Lobbying on behalf of the community.
- Council’s value for money.
The survey gathered information from over 400 Baw Baw Shire residents in a range of ages and locations between 31 January and 18 February 2022.
A breakdown of the survey results is as follows.
Overall performance:
For two consecutive years, Council has displayed an increase in its overall performance rating, and this year is rated above the average for the Large Rural Group of councils.
The largest score improvements came in the ratings for Council’s Customer Service and Waste Management services areas, each measuring 70 and 71 respectively – both above the State and Large Rural Group averages.
Council’s Customer Service received its highest score since 2012 with 7 out of 10 residents rating Council’s customer service as good or very good.
High performing areas:
Council has received higher than average Large Rural Group ratings across a range of key service areas including:
- Art Centres and libraries (index score 73)
- Appearance of public spaces (index score 71)
- Waste management (index score 71)
- Recreation/sporting facilities (index score 69)
Council’s waste management services continue to trend upwards, having increased a further 2 points since the previous year, and remains higher than the state-wide average for all councils.
Similarly, Council’s recreational facilities, including sporting fields, remain an area of high community satisfaction with Council scoring 69, compared to the Large Rural Group average of 66.
Areas to improve:
The following areas were identified as focus areas for improvement:
- Consultation and engagement.
- Decisions made in the interest of the Community.
- Condition of sealed local roads.
Council received an index score of 51 across the areas of lobbying, consultation and engagement and decisions made in the interest of the community, falling just under the state-wide averages but on par with the average for similarly sized Councils.
Following an increase of 5 points in the previous year, condition of sealed local roads received an index score 43, falling just below the state-wide and Large Rural Group average of 45. While these service areas reflect a dip in 2022, the figures display an overall long term upward moving trend.
To view the full 2022 Satisfaction Survey Results go to: Community Satisfaction Survey.
Quote attributable to Mayor Cr Michael Leaney
“These survey results provide us with great insight into what’s working well and where, as a Council, we need to improve.
As a region experiencing population growth at a significant rate, it is welcoming to see an overall positive trend in the right direction for Council’s performance. Our interaction with our community is an all-time high and this is something we can strive to maintain”.
